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[Submissionist]

By Eduardo Ferreira
"I don´t demerit Sokoudjou, but nobody can keep the explosion from the beginning of the fight to the end"

By Bernardo Seabra

In the final stage of preparation for the fight against the executioner of Ricardo Arona and Rogério Minotouro, Lyoto Machida haven´t been in Rio de Janeiro to prepare himself for the fight against Thierry Sokoudjou in UFC 79, which happens on December 29 in the United States. "You always lose something, but also gain others. I gave a call to Carlão Barreto and he sent me Nino Schembri, to train ground techniques, and Daniel (Francês) in the part of Muay Thai", commented Lyoto in exclusive interview to TATAME´s site, where he also said the strategy to face the fighter from : "He may even be stronger, but I will attack his weak points. I don´t demerit Sokoudjou, but nobody can keep the explosion from the beginning to the end of the fight and I believe in what I am doing”. Check out the full interview below:

Why haven´t you been in Rio this time? Are you still in Black House?

I didn´t went because I was in a hurry, with all these changes of the training center. I think it´s very important to concentrate and I know Rio more or less, so I preferred to stay here where I already know, to keep the concentration. I am still in Black House but I preferred to stay here this time for a moment of immediacy with the things that were happening.

Do you think you lost much without training in Black House?

You always lose something, but also gain others. I gave a call to Carlão Barreto and he sent me Nino Schembri, to train ground techniques, and Daniel (Francês) in the part of Muay Thai to train with me.

Besides Nino and Daniel, who is training with you?

Here I train with Walter Broca, who teaches ground techniques and gave me the black-tie two months ago. There is the Pai-de-Santo, which is not well known in national MMA, but he´s well known here in the northern region, where he made several fights. My brothers Shinzo and Takê also are always helping me, along with my father, who always stops with the training to correct some things.

What will be the strategy to face the Sokoudjou?

The strategy will be the same of other fights. The main thing is the Karate, but then, during the fight, I see the chances that he will give me, see what´s the pace, the distance and then adjust the game.

What is your expectation for this fight?

He is already talking a little out. It seems that in a French site he said that he would use the Jungle Karate ... Let's see, because fight is fight and everything is decided inside the ring. Big names promised much and done little. I am prepared and that is the most important fight of my life, as all the others were also.

He has knocked out Arona and Minotouro, who has trained with you, both at the beginning of the fight, and many people commented that he´s very strong physically. What would you do to prevent this?

He´s really strong. I have trained with many tough guys and have fought in the weight above. He may even be stronger, but I will attack his weak points. . I don´t demerit Sokoudjou, his fights ended very fast, but nobody can keep the explosion from the beginning to the end of the fight and I believe in what I am doing”.

What do you have to do differently from the two of them?

I do not know what happened with Minotouro. Sokoudjou was not known at that time and surprised everyone. I have to be patient to see the progress of the fight. Arona is also very strong and tried to impose his game, but in an error Sokoudjou got him. He was opportunistic, although I think Arona and Minotouro are more technical.

How was the training with Rodrigo Minotauro in front of Dana White?

Minotauro is always very friendly with everyone and whenever I have the opportunity, I train with him. When we were training at UFC´s academy, Dana White suddenly arrived by surprise. Minotauro came and said: "The boss is there, let´s train properly" (laughs). It was a hard train, very good, with ground, standing up, everything. Dana came, stayed looking, then he leaved and returned to see us again in surprise.

In your last victory, Dana White said that you were among the three best in the category. Have he commented with you the possibility of you disputing the belt?

The goal of everyone is to reach the top and the top is the belt that is with Quinton Jackson, but in no time he (Dana White) talked about this. We talked about other things, but not about the belt dispute.

There are rumors that the winner of the fight Wanderlei x Liddell can dispute the belt against Quinton. Don´t you think that now is your turn?

I believe that I have condition to face any fighter of my category. I never picked anyone, everyone who put in front of me I faced. If they feel that my path has to be longer, because I do not have the baggage that they had in Pride, there´s no problem. My hour will come. I love what I am doing and this helps a lot.

http://www.tatame.com/2007/12/12/Lyoto-Machida

[CHUCKtheCHAMP]

good read...he seems very patient and calm...i cant pick between him and soko..its going to be a war...

[knocomply]

im hoping machida pulls this out but im not sure if he will be able to

[jlruthven84]

I hope Soko KO's him. But hell, if Machida wins, I'd be happy for him to finish a damn fight.

[iverbure]

I am now hoping Lyoto wins based on this interview and because the UFC obvisouly doesn't want to give him a title shot.

Lyoto imo beats Evans and Bisping easily and they are both probably ahead of Lyoto in terms of title shots.

At this rate Lyoto is going to have to beat Soko, than beat Thiago and than beat Shogun or Wandy/Chuck than get a title shot.

I am hoping that he subs, Soko because than his chances of a title shot increase because he finally finished a fight.

With that being said Lyoto via decision.

[jlruthven84]

Originally Posted by iverbure

I am now hoping Lyoto wins based on this interview and because the UFC obvisouly doesn't want to give him a title shot.

Lyoto imo beats Evans and Bisping easily and they are both probably ahead of Lyoto in terms of title shots.

At this rate Lyoto is going to have to beat Soko, than beat Thiago and than beat Shogun or Wandy/Chuck than get a title shot.

I am hoping that he subs, Soko because than his chances of a title shot increase because he finally finished a fight.

With that being said Lyoto via decision.

Lyoto's not ahead of Bisping, he just lost his last match to Rashad. Bisping won't go to the back of the line, but he's behind Lyoto now.

I agree though, Machida needs to finish a fight if he wants the UFC to market him. He won't get anything out of the Soko fight unless he wins IMPRESSIVELY.

Soko by KO.

[Submissionist]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

Soko by KO.

Agree, regardless Soku's style is going to force Machida to be more active inside the cage so its going to be an amazing fight (imo).

[kingrobert]

I cant wait to see this fight. Its going to be a clash of styles and should be fun to watch. That bing said I think Machida is going to win. I think he has excellent stand up d and I think he will have better cardio. I just dont think Soko is going to be able to grind a tough fight out.