Brydon

It's official, Lyoto Machida will face Thiago Silva in the co-main event of UFC 89.

I'm salivating at the thought of this fight, arguably the two best up and coming brazilians in the division going at it with the winner to receive a title shot.

Both guys are very well rounded with solid wrestling good striking and jujitsi.

The striking IMO favours Lyoto as Thiago's brawling style fits perfectly into Lyoto's elusive counter punching style, however Thiago definitly has the BJJ advantage in this fight.

IMO the victor of this bout will depend upon the striking game, can Thiago disrupt Lyoto enough to set up a takedown and implement his brilliant top game, GNPing, passing and perhaps looking for the submission.

If Tito can come as close as he did to submitting Lyoto then I'm giving Thiago a good chance of finishing the fight on the ground, or at least staying busy enough to take the round from Lyoto.

I'd love to see Thaigo take this one but I can't see him being able to take Lyoto down, I'm going for Lyoto by UD.

What do you guys think?

Shamrock-Ortiz

I think this is an easy fight for Machida, sig bet for anyone silly enough to pick Thiago:P

Brydon what makes you think winner gets a title shot?? Does it say that somewhere? If not then I could see Chuck getting the title shot if he beats Rashad at UFC 88.

Afterall Chuck vs. Forrest would be HUGE for PPV sales.

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Fedor fights I want to see..

Fedor vs. Josh Barnett
Fedor vs. Randy Couture
Fedor vs. Tim Sylvia - DEMOLISHED
Fedor vs. Andrei Arlovski - DEMOLISHED

hmmmmm, i wonder how many become reality..

2007

demoman993

This one is a no-brainer to me, Machida is going to make Thiago look foolish.
As far as Thiago being way better then Lyoto on the ground, I wouldn't judge Lyoto's ground game on Chito's one in a million triangle.
Machida really needs to dominate Thiago in this one to widen his fan base as most casual UFC fans don't appreciate his slick standup. A TKO or a cool sub on Thiago would definatley accomplish that in my mind as Thiago is seen as a killer atm.

MLS

Ed Soares seems to think with one more win (Thiago) Machida would get a title shot.

spaulding91

i'll pick thiago to win. silva can get inside since machida doesnt have alot of power and he may be able to take machida down from the clinch. fighters should no by now what machida is gonna bring to a fight and i think your gonna see alot of people start to adjust to it.

cdnbaron

I think I wet myself when I first heard mention of this fight. No matter what anyone says, I enjoy watching Machida and Thiago is one of those guys that's always fun to watch. Nobody has been able to come close to taking Lyoto out of his game thus far and I don't think Thiago is gonna be able to do it.

Also, I think people put too much stock in Tito almost subbing Lyoto. People forget about Tito's success at Abu Dhabi, and just think of him as a Gnp guy which isn't the case at all. So Thiago jitz against Lyoto's doesn't really worry me either.

swpthleg

Silva will have to go to the ground ASAP, which I'm sure he realizes. Imagine if Machida altered his strategy a little though, since he got so much attention for being a counterpuncher.

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ZZtigerZZ81

I don't know who to pick, all I know is we Atlantans are getting hosed. The card for 89 is way better then 88.

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_JB_

Posted with 150 replies - http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/40184-ma...a+Thiago+Silva

To Shamrock-Ortiz ill take that bet all day long everyone is on Machida's nuts and it's starting to get me annoyed.

Shamrock-Ortiz

I definitely think that this should be the case, but when there is an oppertunity for Chuck vs. Forrest match-up, I'm sure Dana would jump at it, but I hope that Machida gets the shot.

@ JB I'll PM ya buddy.

__________________
Fedor fights I want to see..

Fedor vs. Josh Barnett
Fedor vs. Randy Couture
Fedor vs. Tim Sylvia - DEMOLISHED
Fedor vs. Andrei Arlovski - DEMOLISHED

hmmmmm, i wonder how many become reality..

2007