LYOTO MACHIDA

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

LYOTO’S LEFT STRAIGHT

Level 3—Both Standing, Striking Range

The speed, range, and accuracy of this punch make it the backbone of Machida’s elusive striking style. Land plenty of these hard quick strikes to rapidly batter the opponent’s face.

LYOTO’S RIGHT HEAD KICK

Level 3—Both Standing, Striking Range

Machida’s stiff kicks are even more painful than his punches, and the range of this high head kick makes it ideal for cracking the opponent from the outside.

DIRECT CATCH TO ARM TRIANGLE CHOKE

Level 3—Side Control, Top

Though he’s not particularly known for his submissions, “The Dragon” can apply a deadly choke if he can move into Side Control. This is one of his best subs.

STRENGTHS

• Karate

• Unorthodox style

• Speed

A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida dominated his opponents with his family’s own fast and elusive style of “Machida karate” striking.

Machida’s opponents have trouble keeping up with him on the feet, because “The Dragon” has exceptional striking speed and footwork.

Land his long left straight over and over to brutalize rivals from the outside.

He also has excellent kicks that come with great speed and force—use these to add depth to his stand-up game.

Though he can work some very effective ground-andpound, Machida struggles to work in the clinch and escape from the bottom—unless the opponent is an unskilled grappler, it’s usually best to keep the fight standing and punish rivals with his excellent speed and striking technique.

WEAKNESSES

• Strength

• Clinch striking

• Ground bottom grappling

“The Dragon” is such a strong and elusive defensive fighter that being aggressive and bringing the fight to him can be difficult—and dangerous.

Be conservative with your offense instead and try to score short takedowns to bring him to the mat, where he is least dangerous.

Masters of the clinch position may have success in controlling him in the clinch as well, landing strikes or scoring trips and takedowns from there.

Though he’s a skilled ground fighter from the top, he’s fairly easy to control while trapped on bottom—bring him to the ground and focus on keeping him there as you work a fairly conservative ground-and-pound game from the top.

Machida has excellent submission defense, so don’t attempt to lock in subs without first rocking him or wearing him down with plenty of hard body shots.