Gymbo Knows

After watching Machida dismantle Rashad Evans Saturday Night I was trying to figure out who has the tools to beat this guy.  Rampage Jackson.. eh maybe… Forrest Griffin… eh I don’t think so…Shogun… eh maybe… Rashad Evans in a rematch… ha ha I doubt it…

Out of the top contenders I just named I’d say Rampage Jackson has the best chance to beat him.  Not because Rampage is the most skilled fighter but purely because of his strength and athleticism. Rampage is very strong and poses a problem for any fighter. If Rampage fights like the old Rampage and uses his wrestling ability mixed in with his fierce striking he could give Machida some problems.  If Rampage fights like he did when he fought Forrest Griffin then he’s just gonna get smacked like Rashad Evans did.

The only two people who I see that has a real shot at beating Machida would be George St. Pierre and Fedor and they aren’t even in Machida’s weight class. GSP isn’t going to bump all the way up to 205 and Fedor isn’t going to come to the UFC to fight at 205.  Other then those two I don’t give much of the stacked 205 lb division a chance.

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Another playoff series and another sweep for LeBron James and his Cleveland Cav’s. Its been a dominating team effort so far.  Even with LeBron James not putting up dominating numbers other players have stepped up big for Cav’s. This is a much better Cav’s Team that made it to the finals two years ago.  This time they have the look of a champion.

Is there anyone out there that can at least slow them down?

Well, the Celtics can slow down the Cav’s but without Kevin Garnett I doubt they win more then two games in the best of 7 series.  I thought the Orlando Magic had the best chance against the Cav’s  but now it seems the Magic is falling a part down the stretch and won’t even make it past the Boston Celtics.

The LA Lakers look like the only team that can stop LeBron James and the Cav’s. If the Lakers meet the Cav’s in the NBA Finals I can see them pushing it to a game 7. I still can’t see the Lakers beating the Cav’s though.  The Cav’s are a very good defensive team and they look like they have bought into the team concept and they are playing excellent basketball. The Lakers just have Kobe Bryant carrying them everyngiht and if Kobe doesn’t have a good night its game over for the Lakers.

So… Can they bring the title back to Cleveland?

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We got a big fight in the UFC is coming up May 23rd between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. It should be a good fight, well.. it can’t be worse then the last UFC card Anderson Silva vs  Thales Leites..

Fight Breakdown

On one hand you got the TUF fan favorite Rashad Evans vs the hardcore MMA fan favorite Lyoto Machida.  All the new wave fans are saying Rashad’s a beast he’s gonna crush Machida.  While all the hardcore MMA fans are saying Machida is going to expose Rashad and dominate him and take the title away. So we’ll see whos right the Hardcore MMA fans or the new wave TUF fans.

Rashad’s style is a wrestling base with vastly improved striking game.  Right now one could argue that Rashad Evans is one of the most well rounded fighters in the sport today.   The only thing Rashad may lack is submission skills but that’s not that important if your always knocking people out.

Lyoto Machida is a very unorthodoxed fighter and his style is a mixture of Karate, Judo and Muai Thai. He actually reminds me more of boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. then any other MMA fighter because both are very defensive fighters and believe in the style of “Hit without being Hit”.  The only thing Machida may lack is the ability to put on an exciting fight because he never gets into a slug fest.

Who’s Gonna Win?

Lyoto Machida is gonna win because of his awkward style.  No one has figured out a way to stop him yet and I  don’t see Rashad being the first.  Rashad is going stand with Machida and look for that one big strike like he did in the Chuck Liddell fight and the Forrest Griffin fight.  Sorry to say but Rashad is not going to find that one big punch.  While he’s looking for that big strike Machida is going to pick him apart and eventually break him.  Machida by TKO in either the 2nd or 3rd round. Rashad will suffer his first loss. Winner: Machida via TKO Round 3

NOTE: I was correct except on the round.  Rashad only lasted to round two.

The Rest of the Card

Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra

These two guys really hate each other so this should be an interesting fight. Matt Serra loves to run his mouth and he’ll talk shit about Matt Hughes for as long as someone wants to listen to him.  Hughes can’t stand the annoying Long Islander and wants nothing more then to smash him into nothing. If I have to pick I’m going with Serra by TKO.  I think Serra has gotten under Hughes skin enough to bait him into a stand up battle.   Winner: Serra via TKO Round 2

Note: Incorrect here Hughes wins via Dec.  The fight could of went either way.  Hughes didn’t try and finish the fight he just stalled on top and earned the Dec.

Dan Miller vs Chael Sonnen

Miller and Sonnen are both very good fighters with very similar styles. This is a big test for Dan Miller and if he is able to win this fight it will set him up for bigger match ups in the future. Miller is a very solid fighter and this is a test I see him passing. Dan Miller will win a close decision. Winner: Dan Miller via Dec.

Note: Incorrect.  Sonnen was just too overpowering.  He Dec. Miller and gave him the ground and pound.  I should of known Miller has a hard time with solid wrestlers his other loss is to one Jersey wrestler Mike Messinzo.

Sean Sherk vs Frankie Edgar

This probably going to one of the better fights of the night.  Both guys are high energy guys and they are going to go at each other non stop.   Frankie’s a tough kid and I got a feeling he’s going to pull off the upset.  Sherks wrestling is no where near the level of Gray Maynard’s so I don’t see him bullying Frankie around that easy.  Frankie is gonna win the exchanges on the feet and win a split decision.  Winner: Frankie Edgar via Split Dec.

Note: Correct! Frankie Edgar gets the upset.. I was wrong on the split Dec. Edgar won by unanimous Dec.

Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam

McFedries is very heavy handed but other then that he’s not really great in any area of MMA.  McFedries is probably gonna come out swinging for the fences and if he doesn’t get the big KO then he’s going to lose. If Xavier can avoid the big shots he can get McFedries down to the ground and make this an easy fight.  Winner: Xavier Foupa-Pokam via TKO Round 2.

Note: Incorrect again.  McFedries got the big KO that I was worried about.  Xavier never had a chance to take this fight to the ground.