Issue 067
November 2010
Experience creates an informed view. We spoke to three top MMA fighters to find out how they expect this month’s bouts to go down.
The Fighters
Q1 Who’s going to win between ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Lyoto Machida at UFC 123?
A: Condit
“Machida. He’s elusive. Rampage’s footwork and his speed haven’t been showing as much lately. I think that Machida is just a trickier fighter.”
A: Escudero
“It depends what Rampage shows up.”
A: Karalexis
“I think Rampage is just going to out-man him.”
Q2 Where does karate come into Lyoto Machida’s game?
A: Condit
“In his stance. He’s very staggered and keeps his hands low and his head back.”
A: Escudero
“Probably when he’s throwing kicks. They’re not the ones that are going to chop your leg off and hit you so strong. They’re the ones, the little choppy ones, that still hurt.”
A: Karalexis
“I don’t really know much about karate, so I don’t see much of it in his game. Maybe his weird stance. I thought karate was like a defensive thing.”
Q3 Lyoto famously drinks his own urine. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of fitness?
A: Condit
“I’ve never drank my own piss – not for training, anyway.”
A: Escudero
“Hydro colonic. I’m actually embarrassed to say that in public.”
A: Karalexis
“I actually believed that ‘women weaken knees’ thing, and I stopped seeing girls before a fight. Stupid. None of that stuff matters. You get in there, and you fight.”
Q4 Are interim belts an acceptable solution to long layoffs?
A: Condit
“You’ve got to have championship fights. If the champion can’t compete, then put somebody else in there. When he gets healed up, then let him come back and fight for his belt.”
A: Escudero
“It depends on the severity of the situation. If the champion is out for eight months without fighting, yeah. But if they’re only out for a couple of UFCs, then no, they shouldn’t make an interim belt. They should just wait.”
A: Karalexis
“I think interim belts are the dumbest things. I understand the concept of business and keeping it active, but you fight to be the best. That’s how you make it to this level. To have a belt to be in second place, to say, ‘I’m the best for now,’ for me, I wouldn’t wear it around.”
Q5 Do we really want a Silva vs Sonnen rematch?
A: Condit
“I think it’s cool. Sonnen is like the king of the rematches. He rematched Paulo Filho, too. He just better work on his submission defense for Christ’s sake.”
A: Escudero
“I kind of disagree with that one... Yeah, Chael was beating him, but Anderson got the submission. He never stopped fighting, and he got it. It’s like they’re trying to push him out, but maybe [Sonnen] comes back, trains hard and is 100% and pulls a Forrest Griffin on him this time.”
A: Karalexis
“I’m happy for Chael. I’m dead-set against rematches right off the bat. That’s what’s kind of unique about our sport: you have one night, one chance, one shot. It’s a slippery slope to open up the rematch can of worms, but this one is tough to argue. I’m sticking to my guns, though.”
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