Machida Wins Light Heavyweight Title; UEFA Champions League Final

Lyoto Machida knocked out Rashad Evans in a battle of previously unblemished records to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight title at ‘UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida’, which was broadcast live in the UK from Las Vegas, Nevada on Setanta Sports.

Only future bouts will confirm whether Machida’s brutal second round KO of former 205 king Evans was an example of the Brazilian’s superiority over the UFC’s premier light heavyweights or proof that Evans’ status as the top light heavyweight in mixed martial arts was unwarranted. There’s also the possibility that it was a case of both.

Seeing Machida take his MMA record to 15-0 without absorbing any substantial damage from Rashad Evans certainly suggests that he could be the first man to keep a tight grip on the 205 crown since Chuck Liddell dropped the belt to Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackon in 2007. Evans, who won the title from Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 in December 2008, became the second light heavyweight champion in a row to lose his title at the first attempt of defending it.

Machida’s unorthodox stance, razor-sharp footwork and sniper-like striking accuracy left Rashad looking like an amateur in comparison, and after just under four minutes of the second round he unleashed a blistering flurry of punches that had the champion severely rocked before putting him out of his misery with a straight left cross.

Right now it’s very difficult to see anybody coming close to cracking the Machida code, not least as you get the feeling that more top-level challenges will only result in ‘The Dragon’ unveiling further aspects of what looks increasingly like a perfect arsenal. Machida’s first title defence will come against former champion Rampage Jackson, who has followed his controversial 2008 title loss to Forrest Griffin with wins over long-time rival Wanderlei Silva and Evans’ teammate at Greg Jackson’s MMA academy, Keith Jardine.

While there’s no doubting that Rampage is one of the top fighters in the division, he will have to show a lot more than just the orthodox boxing that has been a staple of UFC run. Unless Rampage can return to the dynamic wrestling with which he made his name in Japan’s PRIDE organisation then one can only expect another example of Machida’s unparalleled ability to use his elusive movement and electric hand speed to pick-off static opponents.

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Also, the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona is live from Roma’s Stadio Olympico tonight on ITV and Sky Sports. Barcelona are without both first-choice full-backs Dani Alves and Eric Abidal (both suspended) and centre-half Rafael Marquez is also a strong doubt.

I expect Man Utd, missing only the suspended Darren Fletcher, to take full advantage of Barca’s defensive frailties and catch the gung-ho Catalans on the counter-attack. If United can score before the hour mark and force Barca to push forward then I wouldn’t be surprised to see something of a rout for the English champions.