You are kidding - Rampage beat Machida on Saturday night??? What were the judges thinking? Obviously, Machida is gaining strength and kicking some ass on Rampage in Round 3. Rampage was lucky.
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Rampage looked a beaten man as he awaited the official verdict (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) and his shock was clear for all to see when his hand was raised in victory. His aggression in the opening two rounds earned him a slender win over The Dragon, despite being comprehensively outclassed in the third period.
Jackson said: "I think my aggressiveness was the only thing that earned me a decision because Machida whooped my ass tonight.
"That fight was so close, it was unfair for Machida. Even though I don't want to, I have to give him a rematch." Machida, as predicted, seemed content to dance his way around the Octagon and landed leg and body kicks at will.
Jackson charged those strikes in an attempt to land counter punches but few landed significantly. But Machida lost the fight in the clinch. On quite a few occasions the fighters would tie up against the cage, Machida would work to over-under, turn Rampage against the fence and then do... nothing!
If he had tried his luck with knees or even foot stomps he could have turned one of those 28 scores to a 29 but he just seemed content to hold Rampage. The third round was the only one with a clear winner as the Brazilian appeared to rock Jackson with strikes before taking him down, working to mount and attempting an arm bar.
But Rampage — who hasn't been submitted in almost a decade — worked his way on top and attempted to slam him. Machida wisely chose to abandon the submission attempt rather than suffer a potentially concussive landing.
After the fight Rampage suggested an immediate rematch which in sporting terms makes sense — it was a razor thin decision — but from a fan perspective does not. This bout, while having huge implications for the division, was hardly a barn burner saved by the last round's action, and UFC boss Dana White doesn't seem too keen on a rematch either.
I'm not sure that Rampage should face the winner of Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight belt either. That match is a long time coming and Jackson may want to capitalise on this win and the 're-invention' of his fighting style with another bout in the interim.
He still showed that he's susceptible to kicks and a Muay Thai supremo like Rua would have a field day chopping away at his legs over 25 minutes. But overall it was a big improvement on his performances from recent times. It's back to the drawing board for Machida though.
He could have beaten Jackson over five rounds but he failed to set up his game plan accordingly to end the bout in the required three. Was he too cautious? Too timid? Too respectful? Only Machida knows but he certainly took too long to get going on Saturday.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/ufc/3240181/Hardly-a-Rampage-into-contention.html
