I like Shogun and I really want him to take the belt but Machida will win. Shogun is a great fighter and definately has enought power to potentially do some damage but Machida is simply a beast.
Shogun is fast, but Machida is faster. Shogun fights smart, but Machida fights smarter. I predict Shogun will get KO’d in the second round. Just like everyone Machida fights, Shogun will get frustrated by his unique style and will get too aggressive. Then he’ll get caught.
and btw people, just because Machida never gets taken down, doesn’t mean he is bad off his back. If Shogun does manage a takedown (which even Tito and Rashad couldn’t do) he will probably still have his hands full with Machida

He has the ability, I just don’t think he’ll be able to capitalize on it. In prime shape, with a good game plan, and no mistakes, I’d say he’s got a 30% chance at best of beating Machida. He’s a very dynamic striker and is probably better on the ground (though not by much), and he’s probably the most complete fighter Machida has faced, but with his footwork, it’s hard to see The Dragon losing a fight in the cage, which gives him plenty of room to move.

I’m with dantheman. I recently became a fan of Shogun. I saw his highlight reels and some of his matches on youtube. Shogun is a nightmare and if he can come back to his prime he will beat Machida. Machida’s chin hasn’t been put to the test and his ground skills haven’t shown anything more than his ability at a takedown in fact he has only one submission victory.
Clearly his expertise is in striking so this will be interesting and I’m behind my boy Shogun.
If Shogun wins as well, all of the sudden people will say “I always was a fan of Shogun” and “I was going for him always!”

i never got the chance to see shogun while he was in pride, but i’ve seen a few of his matches on tape and his highlight reel, and i agree with peolpe like joe rogan who say if he gets back in that form than yes he can have a very good match with machida and maybe win, id give it 50/50 at that point. the reason why machida has been so great besides his coutnering, is cause he brings an acutal martial art to the cage, thus his movemnts his thoughts etc are different than ussual. so many mixed martial artsists are so similar in there styles, which is why mma can now be tought at a school and thats fine. Machida has been so beast cause he fights differetnly than eveyrone else, who basiclay fight the same jsut with different strengths and weaknesses.
wicch brings me back to shogun. in pride he was ebast cause his offense was so irregular, machida hasn’t faced somone liek that. s if shogun is throwing thsoe types of moves at him than yes, i tink this will be a great fight. if shogun decided to attack and move liek eveyrone else has, than he will go down liek everyone else has

Uh, I support Machida, But Machida is going to get hit, Shogun’s a beast,
everybody rides Machida’s nut, I dont, I just dont see shogun’s style technical enough to beat Machida’s
However,
Shogun will show us a battle, Machida will bleed,
But Machida’s samarai skill, will make him win.

Shogun is gonna knock machida ot, i’m sure that machida can not knock out shogun. Shogun is strong dude, it is going to be machidas toughest challenge. If machida wins i’ll quit watching the ufc.

A fighter has to be judged on his last performance. Machida handing a wooping over to Rashad Evans shows a lot. Shogun getting poor wins over coleman says nothing to me. Machida will kill him at the 3rd, by KO.

he doesnt… and shogun will never return to the form he was in because he was a good ring fighter… octagon fighting is way differant. lyoto will walk around him like everyone else

NOOO Machida is gonn win.

SHOGUN IS TALENTED ENOUGH TO BEAT LYOTO BUT WILL IT HAPPEN, I DON’T THINK SO

I don’t and that seems to be the general consensus with everyone I know.

hell no