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UFC Champ Lyoto Machida Seeks Therapy and Counselling Before May 1 Rematch
Sun Mar 28, 1:37 PM
By Gregory Heins, The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, California – Things have taken a turn for the worst for the UFC’s light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, whose undefeated professional record of 16-0 has been severely called into question following his controversial decision victory over fellow Brazilian Mauricio Rua last October. A bout that saw Machida hit more frequently and decisively than any of his other professional outings has not only set Machida back physically, but mentally as well. Manager Ed Soares of the famous Black House gym was quoted as saying “he [Machida] isn’t the same person he was before he fought Shogun. I’ve seen stuff like dildos and ropes, even a crack pipe with really (expletive) nasty residue in his training bag … I am very worried about his mental stability at this point”.
Such worries have landed Machida in Los Angeles’ Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center, as encouraged by his family and closest friends. Sparring partner Anderson Silva, who holds the promotion’s middleweight belt, said “he [Machida] keeps pulling guard when we train, which he never used to do. He also wears full leg protection gear at all times, even when he is using the bathroom or sleeping”, as translated by Silva’s agent, Djavan Fagundes. “He spoke to me about a dream he had a while ago before the surgery on his hand about a world where people weren’t allowed to kick other people’s legs … he seemed very disoriented”.
UFC President Dana White, known for his brash personality and openness of speech, was not available for comment Sunday.
Machida’s therapist, Dr. Giovanna Pegolo, MD, said Lyoto was very unresponsive and disengaged during their first session but has since “opened up completely and let forth his bottled frustrations”. Dr. Pegolo mentioned some unusual behaviours of Machida include “flinching when offered a handshake, being wary of other peoples’ leg movements (even in casual settings), and at times curling into a helpless ball on the floor upon hearing the word ‘Shogun’”.
During our third session he was crying visibly, rubbing his legs, shouting about how they were in agonizing pain”. Dr. Pegolo claims his legs looked perfectly fine, and insists Machida’s flashbacks are what trigger his perception of pain when in reality, he is physically stable. Dr. Pegolo also notes Machida's change in wardrobe, stating he "comes to every session wearing progressively larger boots to give his legs a longer and more empowering appearance" and that "he asked me whether or not it would be socially acceptable to wear high heels".
Lyoto was seen in the health center’s parking lot entering his vehicle on Saturday, drinking a bottle of warm urine which he and his father are known to do as part of their unique training regimen. When asked by reporters to answer questions regarding his well being, Machida thrashed about wildly, yelling “go home!” and “I win (expletive) fight! I win! Three referee say I champ good reason [sic], give me that (expletive) Jackson! I will fight Jackson, he [Rua] had chance!”
Fabyola Machida, Lyoto’s wife, claims he has behaved very oddly since the fight with Rua. “Lyoto refuses to have sex with me unless I cover my legs with blankets,” Fabyola admitted, “and the background on his laptop is an image of Shogun with photoshopped bruises on his legs and tears in his eyes”. The obsession has gone so far that fellow Black House teammate and legend of the sport, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, claims Machida has been working with him constantly on how to apply leglocks and other leg-related submission manoeuvres. Nogueria claims he [Machida] “has been doing one thousand squats and twenty-five hundred calf raises daily” and that he takes pictures of his legs at different angles after every practice to track improvement.
Mauricio Rua could not be reached directly for comment, but his manager issued a statement Sunday regarding Machida, mentioning he fears “for Shogun’s safety in their upcoming bout because of Lyoto’s borderline psychopathic obsession” and that “he [Machida] should vacate the belt if he is not deemed psychologically fit to fight”.
Although many questions remain unanswered, Machida’s psychological downfall could nevertheless cast a similar fate for the promotion’s endeavours to sanction mixed martial arts in places such as Toronto and New York. Toronto legislator Peter Shurman told The Sun “this is part of the reason why we do not wish to sanction the sport here. These people aren’t athletes, they’re (expletive) in the head is what they (expletive) are”. Shurman’s outpour continued, as he made offensive proclamations such as “this is a sport for dirty ***** and ******** that white trailer trash losers slap beer mugs to”, and “I cannot wait until somebody gets their brain punched out their ear so we can finally ban this miserable excuse for a sport outright”. Fellow Toronto legislators said they agreed with Shurman’s analysis, although they criticized his particular choice of words.
Whatever the legal outcome, many devoted fans wish Machida a full and speedy recovery so one of 2010’s most anticipated bouts can take place May 1 in Montreal.
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Wow guys, I can't believe Machida's fight with Shogun messed him up so badly psychologically. I was one of the people who thought Shogun won and was really pissed off about the decision, but it wasn't so lopsided that Machida needed counselling. Damn. The worst part is that the rematch is in jeopardy, which is my most anticipated fight of the year. Here's hoping all of this nonsense blows over.
Thoughts?
Sun Mar 28, 1:37 PM
By Gregory Heins, The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, California – Things have taken a turn for the worst for the UFC’s light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, whose undefeated professional record of 16-0 has been severely called into question following his controversial decision victory over fellow Brazilian Mauricio Rua last October. A bout that saw Machida hit more frequently and decisively than any of his other professional outings has not only set Machida back physically, but mentally as well. Manager Ed Soares of the famous Black House gym was quoted as saying “he [Machida] isn’t the same person he was before he fought Shogun. I’ve seen stuff like dildos and ropes, even a crack pipe with really (expletive) nasty residue in his training bag … I am very worried about his mental stability at this point”.
Such worries have landed Machida in Los Angeles’ Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center, as encouraged by his family and closest friends. Sparring partner Anderson Silva, who holds the promotion’s middleweight belt, said “he [Machida] keeps pulling guard when we train, which he never used to do. He also wears full leg protection gear at all times, even when he is using the bathroom or sleeping”, as translated by Silva’s agent, Djavan Fagundes. “He spoke to me about a dream he had a while ago before the surgery on his hand about a world where people weren’t allowed to kick other people’s legs … he seemed very disoriented”.
UFC President Dana White, known for his brash personality and openness of speech, was not available for comment Sunday.
Machida’s therapist, Dr. Giovanna Pegolo, MD, said Lyoto was very unresponsive and disengaged during their first session but has since “opened up completely and let forth his bottled frustrations”. Dr. Pegolo mentioned some unusual behaviours of Machida include “flinching when offered a handshake, being wary of other peoples’ leg movements (even in casual settings), and at times curling into a helpless ball on the floor upon hearing the word ‘Shogun’”.
During our third session he was crying visibly, rubbing his legs, shouting about how they were in agonizing pain”. Dr. Pegolo claims his legs looked perfectly fine, and insists Machida’s flashbacks are what trigger his perception of pain when in reality, he is physically stable. Dr. Pegolo also notes Machida's change in wardrobe, stating he "comes to every session wearing progressively larger boots to give his legs a longer and more empowering appearance" and that "he asked me whether or not it would be socially acceptable to wear high heels".
Lyoto was seen in the health center’s parking lot entering his vehicle on Saturday, drinking a bottle of warm urine which he and his father are known to do as part of their unique training regimen. When asked by reporters to answer questions regarding his well being, Machida thrashed about wildly, yelling “go home!” and “I win (expletive) fight! I win! Three referee say I champ good reason [sic], give me that (expletive) Jackson! I will fight Jackson, he [Rua] had chance!”
Fabyola Machida, Lyoto’s wife, claims he has behaved very oddly since the fight with Rua. “Lyoto refuses to have sex with me unless I cover my legs with blankets,” Fabyola admitted, “and the background on his laptop is an image of Shogun with photoshopped bruises on his legs and tears in his eyes”. The obsession has gone so far that fellow Black House teammate and legend of the sport, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, claims Machida has been working with him constantly on how to apply leglocks and other leg-related submission manoeuvres. Nogueria claims he [Machida] “has been doing one thousand squats and twenty-five hundred calf raises daily” and that he takes pictures of his legs at different angles after every practice to track improvement.
Mauricio Rua could not be reached directly for comment, but his manager issued a statement Sunday regarding Machida, mentioning he fears “for Shogun’s safety in their upcoming bout because of Lyoto’s borderline psychopathic obsession” and that “he [Machida] should vacate the belt if he is not deemed psychologically fit to fight”.
Although many questions remain unanswered, Machida’s psychological downfall could nevertheless cast a similar fate for the promotion’s endeavours to sanction mixed martial arts in places such as Toronto and New York. Toronto legislator Peter Shurman told The Sun “this is part of the reason why we do not wish to sanction the sport here. These people aren’t athletes, they’re (expletive) in the head is what they (expletive) are”. Shurman’s outpour continued, as he made offensive proclamations such as “this is a sport for dirty ***** and ******** that white trailer trash losers slap beer mugs to”, and “I cannot wait until somebody gets their brain punched out their ear so we can finally ban this miserable excuse for a sport outright”. Fellow Toronto legislators said they agreed with Shurman’s analysis, although they criticized his particular choice of words.
Whatever the legal outcome, many devoted fans wish Machida a full and speedy recovery so one of 2010’s most anticipated bouts can take place May 1 in Montreal.
---
Wow guys, I can't believe Machida's fight with Shogun messed him up so badly psychologically. I was one of the people who thought Shogun won and was really pissed off about the decision, but it wasn't so lopsided that Machida needed counselling. Damn. The worst part is that the rematch is in jeopardy, which is my most anticipated fight of the year. Here's hoping all of this nonsense blows over.
Thoughts?
