UFC 5 - RAMPAGE VS MACHIDA

UFC 5 - RAMPAGE VS MACHIDA

UFC 123, held on November 20, 2010, at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, featured a highly anticipated main event between two former UFC light heavyweight champions: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida.

Fighters' Background

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson:
Nickname: Rampage
Record at Fight: 30-8
Age at Fight: 32
Height: 6'1" (186 cm)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Reach: 73" (185 cm)

Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida:
Nickname: The Dragon
Record at Fight: 16-2
Age at Fight: 32
Height: 6'1" (186 cm)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Reach: 74" (188 cm)

Fight Dynamics

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is known for his aggressive fighting style, powerful striking, and wrestling background. He has a reputation for delivering heavy punches and has a significant experience advantage, having fought numerous high-profile opponents in his career.

Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida is renowned for his elusive and unorthodox karate-based striking. His ability to counter-strike and maintain distance makes him a difficult opponent to engage. Machida's precision and timing are key components of his fighting strategy, often leading to knockouts and decisive victories.

Pre-Fight Analysis

The clash between Jackson and Machida was billed as a classic matchup of contrasting styles. Jackson's brute strength and straightforward approach were expected to be tested against Machida's technical prowess and defensive acumen. Both fighters were coming off significant bouts, with Jackson looking to reestablish his dominance in the division and Machida aiming to bounce back from his first career loss.

Event Details

Date: November 20, 2010
Venue: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Promotion: Ultimate Fighting Championship
Attendance: 16,404
Total Gate: $2,100,000
Buyrate: 500,000

The fight was officiated by referee Herb Dean and was a part of an 11-fight card that included notable bouts such as B.J. Penn vs. Matt Hughes and Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch.

Conclusion

The main event of UFC 123 promised an exciting encounter between two elite fighters with distinct fighting philosophies. Fans and analysts were eager to see whether Jackson's power would prevail over Machida's technique, making this bout one of the most intriguing matchups of the year.