UFC 98: Lyoto Machida Knocks Out Rashad Evans

Posted May 24, 2009 12:23AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: UFC

In the first UFC fight ever to feature an undefeated champion against an undefeated challenger, Lyoto Machida knocked out Rashad Evans to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title at UFC 98.

More Coverage: Hughes vs. Serra Delivers | Full UFC 98 Results | Photos

The first round started off very slowly, with both fighters hoping the other would make a mistake. But after that slow start, it was all Machida. A karate fighter whose style is sometimes derided as boring, Machida didn't look boring Saturday night. He simply looked dominant, with a flurry of punches in the second round knocking the champion out cold.

"I tried all my life to be a champion," Machida said afterward. "I am very, very, very happy. I want to say thank you to my fans. ... I want to keep this belt for a long time. ... If you have a dream in your life, go hard. It's possible."

Machida improved his record to 15-0, while Evans fell to 13-1-1.

"It was a good fight," Evans said in the Octagon just minutes after suffering his first loss. "Lyoto is very difficult to solve, very fast and explosive. I have to take my hat off to him."

The next fight for Machida will likely be a title defense against Rampage Jackson late this year.

In the co-main event at UFC 98, Matt Hughes defeated Matt Serra in a close unanimous decision to finish a grudge match that has been more than two years in the making. It was the 16th win in the Octagon for Hughes, tying Chuck Liddell's all-time record.

Frankie Edgar, Chael Sonnen and Drew McFedries were among the other winners at a UFC 98 event that saw six fights end with either knockouts or submissions in the first round. But the event will be remembered most of all for crowning Machida the new light heavyweight champion.

Full results are here.

Fireworks in Las Vegas

Lyoto Machida, right, trades punches with Rashad Evans in the second round of their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial arts match Saturday, May 23, 2009 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Machida won by knockout in the second. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

Rashad Evans recovers shortly after being knocked out by Lyoto Machida in the second round of their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial arts match Saturday, May 23, 2009 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Lyoto Machida celebrates after defeating Rashad Evans (not pictured) by knockout during their Light Heavyweight Title bout at UFC 98: Evans vs Machida at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa, LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lyoto Machida

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Lyoto Machida (R) bows to Rashad Evans (L) after Lyoto claims the title during their Light Heavyweight Title bout at UFC 98: Evans vs Machida at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa, LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lyoto Machida;Rashad Evans

Getty Images

Lyoto Machida, right, delivers a right to Rashad Evans in the second round of their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial arts match Saturday, May 23, 2009 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Lyoto won moments later by KO. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Rashad Evans falls to the floor after Lyoto Machida (not pictured) knocks him out during their Light Heavyweight Title bout at UFC 98: Evans vs Machida at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa, LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rashad Evans

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Lyoto Machida (R) battles Rashad Evans (L) during their Light Heavyweight Title bout at UFC 98: Evans vs Machida at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa, LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lyota Machida;Rashad Evans

Getty Images

Lyoto Machida celebrates his second round KO victory over Rashad Evans during their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial arts match Saturday, May 23, 2009 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Xavier Foupa-Pokam (R) battles Drew McFedries (L) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 98: Evans vs Machida at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa, LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xavier Foupa-Pokam;Drew McFedries

Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

5-24-2009 @ 12:30AM

jason said...

I wonder how much money Rashad Evans lost.

5-24-2009 @ 12:31AM

Frederick said...

Props to Machida he fought a great fight and finished it

5-24-2009 @ 1:14AM

Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) said...

He certainly did. Evans got completely PWNED by Machida. I never thought I would say it Tito looked better against Machida than Evans. I guess you have to try and pressure the guy and hope for the best. Evans fought Machida's fight on Machida's terms.

5-24-2009 @ 12:33AM

zakidtam said...

Thank you Machida for knocking out that punk. He finally got his due and hope its the first of many beatings he takes. If only he got pummeled while he was out the way he does to others

5-24-2009 @ 12:34AM

DC said...

Fantastic. Machida's fighting style is so incredibly effective. He's going to rule the LHW division for some time. Good to see that old school karate still works in mma.

Molecular Bat said...

I always felt Rashad was just a lucky dude that landed nothing but lucky shots. The guy really sucks when you come to look at him fight.

5-24-2009 @ 12:35AM

bigdaddypsykes said...

I knew Machida would win, i just hoped he wouldn't. He draws no excitement from me. I am not saying he isn't good, i just look at him and want to by him a helmet. He is really good though so i will have to put up with him, hey i got used to looking a Chuckie and if you can get used to that Machida will take a snap or two.

5-24-2009 @ 12:55AM

I agree with you 100%

Lyoto is a fantastic fighter but he just doesn't do it for me. I don't think he is entertaining and I don't like watching him fight. I give him all the props in the world for being the new champion but I don't like him as a fighter.

I was pulling for Evans but I pretty much knew he wouldn't win the fight.

5-24-2009 @ 12:37AM

Top level striking. Machida has staying power.

5-31-2009 @ 3:42AM

Machida has staying power. It's his time to rule the LHW division. He's got the speed, agility and explosiveness. Goes to show that old-school karate still has a place in mma.

5-24-2009 @ 12:41AM

Ted said...

You anti Machida fans need to go back and watch your WWWF. He persued Evan's and destroyed him. You experts are a joke LOL....

5-24-2009 @ 12:58AM

Dude you are the idiot always rambling about how great Lestard is as a fighter. You are the guy that came to MMA from wrestling.

I give Machida credit for winning the title and destroying Evans. But, there still isn't anything about him that excites me. It's just my opinion right or wrong. I give him credit but he is kind of hard to root for because this is entertainment.

5-24-2009 @ 12:44AM

mmao said...

I think that p4p list needs to be revised and Machida realistically can be considered to be higher on the list then even GSP who is a great fighter but I think lyoto is better. Rampage vs. Lyoto will probably be the next LH title fight.

5-24-2009 @ 12:45AM

I remember the comments about Machida being boring; was he boring tonight?

5-24-2009 @ 1:47AM

I thought the Sherk vs Edgar fight was the most exciting match and the fight of the night. Other than the flurry in RD 1 and the KO in RD 2 the fight wasn't exciting at all. However, it was an exciting finish.

It's just hard for me to get behind the guy. His style is smart and pretty much perfect but to me it isn't all that entertaining. But, if he keeps knocking people silly that could change quickly. Other than his lat two fights it was pretty much a decision victory.

To be honest the whole card kind of sucked. It was good on paper but other than the Sherk/Edgar fight it wasn't very exciting. The Hughes/Serra fight was especially lame to watch and neither guy did much of anything.

I guss if we all had the same opinion and saw things the same way there wouldn't be any point in a blog where we all express different opinions.

5-24-2009 @ 12:52AM

Tokesh said...

god lyoto is so clutch

5-24-2009 @ 12:56AM

Well he is fighting Rampage next so I guess we will find out. I think Rampage has less of a chance to win than Evans did, honestly. Rampage is one of my favorite fighters but I just don't see him being able to hit Machida.

Funny! Machida did not even have a scratch on him. Evan's is a very good wrestler, good striker, and very athletic. However, tonight you saw a TRUE TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTIST kick his butt

5-24-2009 @ 1:02AM

gbusoul said...

i wanted Evans to win cause i like him better but machida he is very entertaining once u think of it cause i love seeing him counter everything that's thrown at him and how he looks very weak and flimsy but he throws powerful punches and kicks great fight i can see a rematch in the future

5-24-2009 @ 1:06AM

Well this fight went pretty much how I expected it to go. I didn't think Evans had an answer for Machida and his only chance to win would be landing some kind of a big bomb or getting a take down. Needless to say neither of those things came close to happening. Lyoto is probably going to be champion for a very long time and the only guy I can really see beating him is his good friend and training partner Anderson Silva. It's going to take more than a wrestler with good boxing to beat Lyoto. He has come a long way since eeking out a decision against BJ Penn in Japan and getting caught in a submission by Ortiz to be saved by the bell. I don't care for his style but the dude is for real and is going to dominate the division for a long time.

I've got to give big props to Evans for doing his best and putting his bet foot forward. He is a deserving former champion and we haven't heard the last of him in the LHW division.

I thought the Edgar-Sherk fight was fight of the night and the Machida KO was knockout of the night. The Ksozynski (sp?) KO is also a good runner up for KO of the night. The Serra-Hughes fight completely sucked and they both need to retire.

Props to Machida for winning the fight. Hopefully we see someone who can test his chin at some point because he is pretty much unbeatable and doesn't even get hit with a punch. That dude is going to be tough to beat.

Hopefully Rampage at leaves gives us a good show but I have the feeling he won't do much better than Evans. But, Lyoto isn't the true champion until he defends the title which will be against Rampage.