Lyoto Machida has an advantage over Mauricio shogun.

"I would like to start by saying that I think Mauricio is an awesome fighter, with amazing victories over some of the best fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Rampage Jackson, etc." I hate to point out semantics, but he did not beat Forrest Griffin. http://mmadepot.blogspot.com... PRESSURE My opponent seems to believe that defending a title does not vi for more pressure then fighting for it… so let me give you one reason why defending this title is harder… "In the main event of UFC 104 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles CA, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida will attempt to become the first UFC Light Heavy Weight Champion in two years to defend his title."" It would appear as of late that for a LHW champ holding on to this belt is easier said than done." http://insidefights.com... Lets think about it logically. Would it be tougher to go in with something to lose, and more to gain? (Lyoto) Or Would it tougher to go in with nothing to lose, and everything to gain. (Shogun) Logic tells us that the person who is holding the title has more pressure to defend it then the challenger who is going in with nothing to lose. The titleholder is at the disadvantage, still having to prove himself even more then the challenger, to show that winning the title was no fluke. -Advantage con- BRAZILLIAN JIE-JITSU "I am in agreement with my opponent on this one, however the experience factor might make a huge deal of difference if the fight is taken to the ground." So we agree -Advantage no one- RECORD "However, there is also to be looked at that Rua has been in more UFC fights than Lyoto." He is just proving that my fighter has more experience in the ufc then his… "The amount of wins a person has should not factor into this debate though, because in a fight anything can happen to cause a loss." But in a fight experience does matter. You have given my fighter the edge here. Believing that records are "not a factor" is not a stance. I can believe that vampires exist, but it does not make it true. My opponent uses words like "should" in phasing that he is going on belief… lets go on logic. It is logical for the fighter with more experience in the realm of the fight to have the advantage… I gave the advantage to his fighter here… but upon further review, my opponent has only hurt his pro argument and solidifying a position of con. -Advantage no one- COMPETITION "Another thing to be looked at, is that all of Lyoto's big wins, were from belt holders, where as Rua's were only mainly formers." Lyoto only hold a single win over a belt holder and that is B.J. Penn. Bj is a lightweight, as lyoto was a heavy weight for that fight. Lyoto still could not knockout a substantially smaller opponent. For the fight Machida fought at a weight of 102 kg (220 lb). Penn weighed in at 86.5 kg (191 lb), the largest bj has ever been in his life, and now he holds the 155lb title belt… so to say that lyoto's wins come from belt holder is false. Shogun also hold a win over a champion, Alistair Overeem is Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion. So advantage still shogun. He has fought more "big name" than lyoto has, I would have to say advantages go to shogun here, and I have shown that lyoto does not deserve the advantage. -Advantage con- CHIN and STYLE "This shouldn't factor into an overall advantage of the fight." So the ability to take a punch holds no water in a fight… logically, you are wrong. "Machida usually gets hit, 2-3 times each round due to his elusive and awkward style. His main tactic is to wait and see his opponents moves, so he can pace himself to that exact striking movement." This also gives him a disadvantage in the knockout department. Lyoto has only 3 knockout from strikes in his entire career. Shogun has 15 knockouts to his name. And I still gave "the style" to your fighter, but look at the legitimate knockouts (from a strike not cuts or Exhaustion) shogun has a lot more, and has never been knocked out… lyoto has still questionability never been hit hard… so the advantage in the chin department would go to shogun because he has been hit… by some of the hardest punchers. Logically: If we went into a pizza eating competition and you have never eaten a pizza in your life… and I have eaten pizza professionally all of my eating career, who has the advantage. -Advantage con- "And as to Rua's loss to griffin in the ultimate fighter. " It was not in the ultimate fighter (it was UFC 76: Knockout), and in the first paragraph you told me that my fighter beat griffin… I am starting to question whether or not you have real UFC knowledge. "JJ advantage= Machida." It is funny that you fail to remember things that you just wrote down… you are saying here that you fighter has the advantage Jiu Juitsu, but you just wrote in the second fight topic that they were tied in Jiu Juitsu . "Machida's skill = higher + Rua's reliability on strength = higher. = Most likely the same advantage. I am in agreement with my opponent on this one, however the experience factor might make a huge deal of difference if the fight is taken to the ground." I do not question that you know about ufc, but I would have to question your knowledge of advantages. You have clearly blurred the lines in this debate and are shooting in from all over the place. Your mix-ups and wrongful knowledge of UFC facts leads me to the conclusion that you are not at a proper level as to make predictions on who has the advantage in a fight. I, on the other hand, have shown to be very knowledgeable in UFC history and have been extremely bipartisan in making my case. I would further add that I am not giving my fighter the advantage I have just proved that you fighter does not have it. Advantage is the same… lyoto does not have it and you have failed to prove that he does! Vote con http://en.wikipedia.org... http://en.wikipedia.org... http://en.wikipedia.org... http://en.wikipedia.org... http://www.ufc.com...