Lyoto Machida vs CB Dollaway “Won’t Go Five Rounds”
Lyoto Machida vs CB Dollaway is the main event at UFC Fight Night 58…..
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida looked super impressive in his drop down to middleweight, and was unbeaten until he met Chris Weidman at UFC 175. “”The Dragon” put in a decision win over Gegard Mousasi and finished Mark Munoz to earn his title shot against “The All-American”, and is now set to face yet another dangerous threat in wrestler turned striker CB Dollaway.
Clarence (yes, that’s his name) has looked a new fighter in his last two outings; a decision win over Francis Carmont that earned POTN, and a starching of “Mutante” in Brazil. Now paired with Machida at Fight Night 58, Dollaway faces the biggest challenge of his eight year career. Speaking with MMAFighting.com, “The Dragon” says that Dollaway will get finished in December:
“He has some flaws, of course, but he has a good stand up game, good takedowns and a good ground game. He’s a complete fighter, and that makes him dangerous. He hits hard, but I believe I can stop him. I don’t think (it will last five rounds). I believe I can finish this fight earlier,” Machida said. “I’m not underestimating him, but I’ve learned a lot in my past fights. I have learned a lot in my fight against (Chris) Weidman, so it’s likely that I will finish this fight before the fifth round.”
Machida is taking part in his third five-rounder on the bounce, and coming off such a hard fight with Weidman may actually give him the edge here. The Karate master continued:
“Whatever it takes. I’m training hard on my grappling skills and my striking, so I want to finish him with a knockout or a submission. I don’t think this fight can put me right into a title fight next, but it’s an important fight for me,” Machida said. “I have to fight well, prove that I’m a top 3 fighter, and work on better opportunities for me to work my way back to the title again.”
With the top of the middleweight division still wide open, Machida will be making a big statement if he can put “The Doberman” away early. Perhaps a number one contender bout with Luke Rockhold?
