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JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
People seem convinced that Ryan Bader is the kind of fighter that Lyoto Machida eats for breakfast, but I have my reservations about that. Ryan Bader is a lot better of a wrestler than anyone Machida has faced in the past and packs a big enough punch to keep him guessing.
I think Machida does enough to pick up the decision, but a Ryan Bader victory wouldn't at all surprise me.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think Machida wins by decision. I'll give Bader credit and say that he'll avoid being knocked out or stopped, but I just can't see a plausible scenario where he picks up the win. I think Machida will play it safe and we get a fairly uneventful fight.
CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST
I find it difficult to see how Ryan Bader can turn this one into his fight. Styles make fights, we say it over and over again, and for me this is one where the awkward and unorthodox style of the Karate Kid makes it his fight all night long.
I watched the Rashad Evans vs. Machida title fight again last week and Evans could simply not get anywhere near him. I know Evans and Bader are totally different fighters but when you break down where the fight is won they are on a similar page.
I see Bader having the exact same difficulties in closing the distance and, like Evans, I see Bader being brutally punished when he over commits.
I'm going with a (T)KO victory for Machida. I just see a vicious counter attack finishing of Ryan Bader. @MMATorchUK
GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I'm going with Lyoto since he's much more skilled and has experience on the big stage. Lyoto by unanimous decision.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Machida is a former champion at 205 and has fought against the top fighters in the division Bader is a top ten fighter not able to make the same claim. I think Bader is a good fighter with respectable wrestling and improving striking. Machida is one of the most elusive fighters ever to compete at light-heavyweight. Machida can win this fight anywhere he chooses. Bader must take the fight to the ground and utilize his ground and pound to win. If Randy Couture could not take down Machida and keep him there, Bader will not be successful with his wrestling against Machida either. I think Machida chooses to keep the fight standing and knocks out Bader with the karate blitz he has made famous.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
This is a genuinely hard fight to pick a winner from. Machida is very elusive and cunning where as Bader has some serious power and can wrestle you down. Machida tends to remain on his feet so it has the makings of a fight of the night or a real snooze fest depending how their respective game plans unfold. I'm going to give the edge to Machida based solely on the fact that he didn't lose to Tito Ortiz, and that is the only way I feel like I can pick a winner. Damn you, Tito, damn you.
SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH SENIOR COLUMNIST
Machida wins by knockout and does it pretty easily. Bader may or may not try for a takedown, but he won't get it either way. Machida's takedown defense is too good. And Bader's striking isn't even in the same universe as Machida. I think Machida pulls an Anderson Silva here. He uses the first round to frustrate Bader and figure out the distance, then he evades any kind of punishment and ends it in the second. Bader isn't a bad fighter, but he's in over his head at the top of the division. Honestly I think Phil Davis or Gustafsson would have been a better fight here for Machida. In fact, if you match Machida-Davis and Shogun-Gustafsson, I think that's a way better top two fights. But I digress again. Machida wins handily by second round knockout.
[Lyoto Machida art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_14003.shtml
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