Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans

The light heavyweight championship clash between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida was one of the most memorable in the sport’s history. In fact, the fight itself was historic in that it represented the first time two undefeated fighters competed for a major world championship.

Although both men were undefeated heading into their title bout, Brazilian Karate expert Lyoto Machida was a slight favorite over the champion. Machida was expected to dance, stick and move, frustrating Evans into making a fatal mistake. On the flip side, some thought that Evans’s unique blend of wrestling and striking speed, combined with his ability to stay low and dart in and out, would allow him to keep up with the most elusive fighter in the game.

When the fight finally took place in May of 2009, Machida’s gameplan played out to a T. Throughout the first round, Evans barely managed to get any offense off on the elusive Machida. Machida, for his part, hurt Evans on two exchanges, dropping the champion with short, straight punches when the opportunity presented itself.

Heading into the second round, it was clear that Evans had to become the aggressor. Machida was too fast to time coming in, so Evans’s usual counter striking style was ineffective. After a lengthy period of range-finding from both fighters, Machida began to land at will. A straight left down the pipe started it all. Evans could not regain his equilibrium, and tried to stumble back out of the way.After dropping Evans yet again, this time at the edge of the cage, Machida attacked full bore.

Evans was forced up against the cage by the charging Brazilian and was eventually overcome in a firefight. As a disoriented Evans gamely swung, attempting to catch Machida with a knockout punch, he received an endless barrage of accurate straights to his face and chin. Machida separated himself from Evans against the cage, using the moment to create space, and then floored the champion with a picture-perfect left hand to the chin that send Evans literally flopping like a fish to the canvas, out cold.

With the victory, Machida became the Light Heavyweight Champion and the first fighter to defeat Rashad Evans. In the process, he notched one of the most exciting knockouts in MMA history.