By now, if you are a fan of mixed martial arts, you will have heard of the name Lyoto Machida. Who is he? Machida is one of the most successful fighters in the world today. He currently holds the world light heavyweight championship belt, and is also considered the most elusive fighter in mixed martial arts history.
Lyoto Machida is of Japanese and Brazilian heritage. Perhaps this is one of the secrets of its success because it has the traditional discipline of the Japanese combined with the athleticism and creativity of the Brazilians. He doesn’t speak English well, but he’s working on it. He speaks Portuguese and a little Japanese. Regarding Spanish, he says that he only knows the word “thank you.”
Lyoto is so successful because he combines the best aspects of traditional karate along with jiu-jitsu, grappling, and wrestling. Those who have fought Lyoto like Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evens and Thiago Silva can attest to the immense difficulty they have had in even touching Lyoto.
Something else you might not know is that his brother Chizo Machida is also a great fighter in his own right. He is one of the best Shotokan fighters in the world and has also competed in mixed martial arts competitions. He has great standup, but his running game has a lot to be desired.
Recently, Lyoto has added a new strength and agility coach, and it has paid off in his knockouts over Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans.