Weidman vs. Machida

This is the official discussion thread for Weidman vs. Machida. Let's see what you've got.

This fight could be awesome or the most boring championship fight of the year. Machida has the striking finesse to win, but all Weidman needs to do is be more active and pull a split decision over him like Rampage or Phil Davis. The question is can Weidman penetrate the solid TDD of Machida and get him to the ground.

Machida gets taken down, beaten up and submitted.

5dimes opened the lines at -140/+110. Seems about right.

Weidman is a monster, but maybe the betting public will back him more than he deserves in this matchup. Here is hoping that they undervalue Machida. If it reaches +170 somehow, instabet imho.

* Edited at 03.01.2014, 1:17 AM ET *

Boring?

Ask Thiago Silva, Rashad Evans, and Ryan Bader how "boring" Machida is.

I think Weidman is a very intelligent fighter and Phil Davis laid out a great gameplan for defeating Machida's in and out point striking. Just stay busier, connect with leg kicks before and after his attacks whenever possible and you can beat him at his own game.

Machida ftw

I think speed and cardio will play a factor here.

I wouldn't bet on Weidman's cardio failing miserably, but he has shown signs of slowing down a bit, or at least a difference in his speed between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Silva fights); his takedowns lose power and his striking and movement is a little slower, although still effective.

Also, Weidman is not quick, his striking and movement is pretty slow, maybe average for a middleweight while Machida is much quicker and as Goldie likes to point out, very elusive, he is also used to being in fights that go the distance in 3 and 5 rounds. If Chris doesn't develop a good strategy to cut Machida off, I can see him struggling to find him in the stand up and to take him downb, while getting tired and frustrated in his attempts, giving way for Machida to capitalize in the later rounds.

if Machida is able to make Weidman work and avoid being controlled on the ground (I think he can and will), especially the first two rounds, he'll be able to outpoint him in the later rounds for a 48-47 or maybe even get a TKO.

This is a very tough fight to predict, in my opinion it all comes down to if Weidman can take Machida down and keep him there. I think he will be able to take him down a couple of times but I don't see him doing this repeatedly and controlling this fight on the ground for 5 rounds or long enough to get a sub, especially as the fight moves on and he gets tired and they're both sweaty.

My money is on The Dragon.

I have Weidman right now, but I'm very likely to change it back and forth several times. Honestly, I wasn't very impressed with Machida's last fight. Not the first time either. Only time Weidman put on a poor performance was against Maia and that was on a week's notice.

i am very interested in this fight. It will either be very technical or it will be a grind. I would have loved to see Weidman vs Vitor tbh. But this fight will be good. For some reason I think it will some what like how Machida vs Bader ended. I guess that is my 2 cents.

I said it before he fought Silva, I'll say it again, Weidman is going to be atop the heap at 185 for a few yrs to come. Before people know it, theyre gonna be talking about a potential Weidman VS Jones superfight instead of Silva VS Jones.

I don't think Jones can beat Gustafsson and Cormier. I think Weidman can.get through Machida, Jacare, Vitor and Bisping/Rockhold however the Vitor match up seems most formidable and this is more of  "murderers row" than Jones if Weidman gets through them. Even if Rashad drops to 185, I think Weidman.beats him worse than Jones did.

I also think Jones won't.ever move up to Heavyweight....

Please, idc what anyone thinks, he beat Silva twice, he's cutting through Machida like a hot knife through butter.

Pumped for the fight.

Weidman by Ground and pound and elbows

I hope you are right, Thomasray.