Lyoto Machida :: TATAME

The UFC light heavyweight champion is ready to put his title on line for the second time. Lyoto Machida, who defended the title against Maurício “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104, will face the Brazilian fighter one more time at May 8, and spoke to TATAME.com about the fight, revealing that he doesn’t believe “Shogun” will repeat the same strategy. In the exclusive interview, the champion also commented Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira’s loss to Cain Velasquez, revealed that he already trained with Velasquez before, and commented Anderson Silva’s title fight against Demian Maia, at UFC 112.

How are the training for the rematch?

I’m training since December for this fight. We’re focusing each part of the game every training. Now we’re doing a lot of specific training and, of course, fighting him for the second time we know more about each other.

Do you think he’ll repeat the same strategy from the first fight?

Look, I’m trying to forget it. It’s a new fight. Shogun is a very eclectic fighter, he has this capacity of changing. I’m focusing some aspects and we don’t know what’s gonna happen.

Anderson Silva, who usually trains with you at Black House, was scheduled to face Vitor Belfort, but now faces Demian Maia. What does it change in his preparation?

Vitor would fight more standing, that’s his characteristic, and Demian makes the fight more dangerous too, but with his background in jiu-jitsu. If Demian tries to fight standing it’ll be a disadvantage for him. I don’t know what’s Anderson’s strategy, but I believed he changed it a lot in this aspect. Maybe he was trying less jiu-jitsu because he would face Vitor.

How do you think it’s gonna be this fight?

Every fight brings its danger. Demian is a really dangerous fighter, mainly on the ground. He’s getting better in striking, but Anderson is great in that. Anderson’s level, especially in striking, is huge. The fight starts standing so it’s an advantage for Anderson. Demian is really dangerous n his area, but it’s not easy to take Anderson down.

And what did you thought about Rodrigo Nogueira’s loss to Cain Velasquez?

I already trained with Velasquez a long time ago and I knew he was a tough guy, a fighter who’s coming to become a champion. I never doubted Minotauro could win, but I knew he was going to face a tough guy. Minotauro deserves all respect for all he already done, but the competition today in MMA is really high. Everybody is studying everybody, getting better and better… The strategy is the differential, and Velasquez’s was better.

How was this training with Velasquez?

I trained with him when I was going to face Tito Ortiz. I went after a good guy in wrestling, he wasn’t in the UFC yet. We trained together for a couple weeks and I felt he was a tough guy, had a lot of heart. It’s really important in the sport. A lot of people has talent, but will and persistence? He trained a lot, he’s a really tough fighter. A loss can happen to anyone. Velasquez deserved the victory, but Minotauro has his chances. He’s a great fighter and I knew none of them would give up the fight. It’s like tennis… Today Federer is winning, but tomorrow a new guy can come and defeated him.