Lyoto Machida controlled the distance effectively and used his kicks to keep away Gerard Mousasi in the main event of UFC Fight Night Live Saturday night in Jaragua, Brazil.
Mousasi was unable for the most part to penetrate The Dragon’s defences and when he did, Machida made sure to counter.
With this win, The Dragon continues to stay in the middleweight title picture, currently occupied by #1 challenger Vitor Belfort and champ Chris Weidman.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman breaks it down:
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman. She is a martial artist with over six years of study. Training primarily in South Korea, the proud Canadian from Roberts Arm, Newfoundland is proficient in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Muay Thai kickboxing. Image courtesy Steve Bartlett
CHARLES OLIVEIRIA VS ANDY OGLE
WINNER: CHARLES OLIVIEIRA VIA SUBMISSION
Wiseman: It may have taken almost three rounds, but it wasn’t surprising to see Oliveira get the submission win over Ogle. Ogle is a sturdy fighter and he did make it a fight with slams of his own, showing good posture in various dangerous situations on the mat, but ultimately the ground game of Oliveira was just at a different level. This is only the second time that Ogle has ever been submitted, so he should at least look at the level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), he displayed before getting caught in a triangle choke. Great fight, both fighters showed their desire to pull of the win.
VISCARDE ANDRADE VS NICO MUSKOKE
WINNER: NICO MUSKOKE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: For me, the story of the fight is the early celebration by Andrade in the first round. Yes, we can all agree that Musoke was hurt, rocked even, but Andrade gave him a few seconds to recover which apparently that’s all he needed. Musoke came back to make it more of a challenge in the second and third to get the decision win. Maybe Andrade got a little tired, but his pace didn’t slow to make that apparent. Maybe he got frustrated because Musoke just wouldn’t go away. Whatever it was, Musoke showed heart in this match, his fighting spirit which didn’t allow him to quit.
ERICK SILVA VS TAKENORI SATO
WINNER: ERICK SILVA VIA KO/TKO
Wiseman: Who expected anything else? Anyone? Of course not. Silva is a beast, aggressive, powerful, and in your face in a hurry. Sato, it didn’t matter how prepared he was, Silva is just at a completely different level. The heels to the face while Sato tried for the single, the powerful body shot that hurt Sato, ground-and-pound, etc. Just a complete clinic by Silva.
RONALDO SOUZA VS FRANCIS CARMONT
WINNER: RONALDO SOUZA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: What was expected was an explosive TKO or submission by Souza. However, credit has to be given to Carmont who made it a fight. Of course Souza had the ground advantage, why wouldn’t he have the advantage over in this division? Carmont was able to last through the storm in the first, make it more of a battle in the second, but go back to surviving the third. Carmont needs to work on his submission defense before he can mingle with someone on the level of Souza, but with that said, considering it was someone on Souza’s level he did well. Powerful performance by Souza and it was awesome to see Carmont rise to the occasion.
MAIN EVENT
LYOTO MACHIDA VS GEGARD MOUSASI
WINNER: LYOTO MACHIDA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: I knew that Machida would win, but I thought it would be via finish. Thinking about it again, it makes sense that it was a decision win. Machida is more of a counter-striker and with Mousasi not throwing enough throughout the five rounds, Machida kept his distance while scoring off each flurry from Mousasi. It was evident that Mousasi was frustrated at times in the fight as he struggled to find the range. He had success in the second round, again in the fourth, but it was the Machida show. No one can do distance like him. Mousasi landed a few flurries and his kicks were showing promise, but just not enough of either were thrown due to Machida countering. If Machida gets a title fight after Belfort vs. Weidman, and IF Weidman wins, it will be interesting to see how Weidman will deal with the counter striking of Machida, his speed, and ground game.
