The interest behind a fight comes from a variety of factors: rivalry, promising contenders, previous performances etc, but for Machida and Romero this bout is noteworthy for other reasons entirely. Making an unusually quick turnaround following the worst defeat of his near-thirty fight career, Machida is hoping to erase the nightmare of his last outing and once again move back into the title picture. Romero, on the other hand, hasn’t been seen inside the Octagon since his highly controversial TKO victory over Tim Kennedy back at September’s UFC 177. At 38 years of age, time is fast running out for the ‘Soldier of God’ to secure a lasting legacy.
Widely considered as one of, if not the greatest karate practitioner to ever compete in the sport, Lyoto Machida has already accomplished much over the course of his 8-year tenure with the promotion. Mixing high-level unorthodox striking from a Shotokan karate background with excellent grappling skills, Machida remains a tough test for anyone in the division. Highly elusive, difficult to take to the ground and a fan of the counter strike, ‘The Dragon’ has shown an incredible ability to use his opponent’s aggression against them, something he will almost certainly attempt to do against his latest opponent.
A highly accomplished Freestyle Wrestler for his native Cuba, Yoel Romeo has been on an absolute tear since making his bow for the organisation two years ago. Boasting a 9-1 MMA record with all but one of his wins coming by way of stoppage, Romero has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the division’s scariest finishers. Due to repeated success on the feet Romeo rarely utilises his grappling skills, usually only seeking a takedown in the event of fatigue or immense pressure from his opponent.
Prediction: The outcome of the fight rests almost entirely on which Lyoto Machida turns up on the night. At his most effective the Brazilian offers the perfect solution for Romero’s aggressive style, but his ability to withstand punishment is rapidly declining, a fact that has been all too apparent in recent years. Romero definitely has the ability to finish the fight the fight with a single blow, but his gas tank has been extremely suspect. Machida may be entering the twilight of his career, but his experience, conditioning and unusual skillset should result in him finishing his Cuban opponent with strikes inside the championship rounds.
UFC Fight Night Main Card Predictions - Picks in bold:
Featherweight - Hacran Dias vs. Levan Makashvili
Middleweight - Thiago Santos vs. Steve Bossé
Middleweight - Antônio Carlos Júnior vs. Eddie Gordon
Welterweight - Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Lorenz Larkin
Middleweight - Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero
UFC Fight Picks 2015 Record: 43-18
What do you think will happen at UFC Fight Night? Leave your predictions below!
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Widely considered as one of, if not the greatest karate practitioner to ever compete in the sport, Lyoto Machida has already accomplished much over the course of his 8-year tenure with the promotion. Mixing high-level unorthodox striking from a Shotokan karate background with excellent grappling skills, Machida remains a tough test for anyone in the division. Highly elusive, difficult to take to the ground and a fan of the counter strike, ‘The Dragon’ has shown an incredible ability to use his opponent’s aggression against them, something he will almost certainly attempt to do against his latest opponent.
A highly accomplished Freestyle Wrestler for his native Cuba, Yoel Romeo has been on an absolute tear since making his bow for the organisation two years ago. Boasting a 9-1 MMA record with all but one of his wins coming by way of stoppage, Romero has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the division’s scariest finishers. Due to repeated success on the feet Romeo rarely utilises his grappling skills, usually only seeking a takedown in the event of fatigue or immense pressure from his opponent.
Prediction: The outcome of the fight rests almost entirely on which Lyoto Machida turns up on the night. At his most effective the Brazilian offers the perfect solution for Romero’s aggressive style, but his ability to withstand punishment is rapidly declining, a fact that has been all too apparent in recent years. Romero definitely has the ability to finish the fight the fight with a single blow, but his gas tank has been extremely suspect. Machida may be entering the twilight of his career, but his experience, conditioning and unusual skillset should result in him finishing his Cuban opponent with strikes inside the championship rounds.
UFC Fight Night Main Card Predictions - Picks in bold:
Featherweight - Hacran Dias vs. Levan Makashvili
Middleweight - Thiago Santos vs. Steve Bossé
Middleweight - Antônio Carlos Júnior vs. Eddie Gordon
Welterweight - Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Lorenz Larkin
Middleweight - Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero
UFC Fight Picks 2015 Record: 43-18
What do you think will happen at UFC Fight Night? Leave your predictions below!
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