Jon Jones Puts Lyoto Machida To Sleep On His Feet

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

Lyoto Machida was the last champ in the light heavyweight division that was touted as invincible. Machida has only lost twice, once to Rua and once to Rampage (a split decision that Rampage himself thought he lost). Jon Jones has decimated both Rua and Rampage, but Machida is certainly the most precise striker he has ever faced and Jones’ chin has not ever been remotely tested. We still do not know what will happen if someone really hits Jon Jones.

Machida looks like he bulked up, which is a good plan because Jon Jones is an absolutely enormous light heavyweight. Jones has been spectacularly murdering a range of top-flight opponents. Machida’s style involves leaning back out of range, but he has a 10.5" reach disadvantage due to Jones’ freakishly long wingspan. Machida better hope his kicks are sharp because that’s the only way he is going to hit Jones while he is in range of his jab. Round-by-round scoring after the jump:

Round 1-Jones comes out with the weird crawl we saw against Rampage and then stands up. Jones is throwing leg kicks at Machida. Spinning back kick from Jones. Lyoto throws a leg kick. Jones landed a nice leg kick. Machida throws a heavy left hook, but Jones blocks it and sends him backwards. Jones got caught when he threw a kick there. Looks like he didn’t care for it.

Machida comes flying in and eats a knee. Machida has his hands lower now and looks really comfortable. Machida threw a sharp kick punch combo. Looks like Machida’s plan is to charge in quickly every once and a while. Jones throws a loopy right, which is blocked. Jones goes in and eats a right from Machida. Jones kicks Machida rocks him. Jones needs to stop throwing kicks. If he keeps this as a striking contest Machida is going to pick him apart. Jones throws a head kick, which is blocked.

10-9 Machida. Jones looks baffled. He needs to get this fight to the ground. That’s the first round I’ve ever seen Jones lose.

Round 2- Jones is trying to beat Machida in a karate contest. I don’t think this is a good plan. He’s going to get his ass knocked out if he lets Machida keep counterpunching. Jon kicks to the body and Lyoto counters. Jon tries to clinch, but Lyoto gets out of it.

Jon Jones lands a right that looks like it really shoul have knocked Machida out, but Lyoto shrugs it off. Jones gets a takedown and Lyoto is bleeding heavily from his face. Jones busted his face wide open. Jones in the North-South position looking for the choke. Gets Lyoto’s back.

Big John stops the fight for the doctor to look at the horror-movie-style gash that is on Lyoto’s face. Damn those elbows from Jones are tough.

The action is restarted in the clinch. Jones is working massive knees and foot stomps with Machida against the cage. Jones lands an elbow as they disengage. Machida caught a break with that stoppage. Machida comes in with a big hook, but I think Jon beat him to it by a split-second with a straight left and Lyoto goes down. Machida gets up and Jon Jones chokes him out standing up. He didn’t tap, his arm just went limp.

Big John stops it and Machida is so out that he falls to the mat unconscious. That was a fucking awesome fight. Really great co-main events tonight.