Lyoto Machida knocked out MMA legend Randy Couture with a brutal flying front kick at 1:05 of the second round at UFC 129: St. Pierre vs Shields.
Machida credited his father and Steven Seagal for teaching him the kick after the fight. Machida trains with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva who credited Steven Seagal with teaching him the front kick he used to KO Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.
Machida came in throwing a lot of feints but mixing in some straight punches that tagged Couture. Couture landed a big shot but ate a hard counter. Machida got Couture with an uppercut in the clinch. 1-2 from Machida led to a retreating right hook as he spun away from a slowly advancing Couture. Machida landed a knee to the body and then managed to escape from the clinch of a determined Couture. Couture went for a body lock and Machida fought it off. Machida landed a body kick then switched stances. Another hard knee to Couture’s body off a shot attempt.
Machida opened the second firing straight punches in bunches then stuffing Couture’s sprawl.
Couture, a former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, came into this fight after a series of interviews in which he insisted this would be his final fight in the UFC. He last fought at UFC 118, beating pro-boxer James Toney in a one-sided bout.
Machida came into the fight in desperate need of a win. Since beating Rashad Evans to take the UFC title, he’s gong 1-2, with the sole win — a decision over Mauricio Rua at UFC 104 — being a very controversial one that many fans thought he lost.
More UFC 129 Results from Bloody Elbow:
- Georges St. Pierre Slips Past Jake Shields
- Vladimir Matyushenko Mops the Floor With Jason Brilz
- Ben Henderson Whips Up On Mark Bocek
- Rory MacDonald Ragdolls Nate Diaz
- Jake Ellenberger Brutalizes Sean Pierson
- Ivan Menjivar Clocks Charlie Valencia
- Jason MacDonald Triangles Ryan Jensen
- John Makdessi KO’s Kyle Watson With Spinning Back Fist
- Pablo Garza Submits Yves Jabo
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