Dana White: Money to blame for Machida’s decline

Lyoto Machida went 14-0 as a professional fighter before winning the light heavyweight championship from the previously undefeated Rashad Evans. At that point, extraordinarily, ‘The Dragon’ had never lost a single round in the UFC.

Then Machida struggled in taking a controversial unanimous decision over ‘Shogun’ Rua. In the rematch, Shogun knocked out Machida in the very first round. Then Lytoto dropped a decision to Rampage Jackson, albeit in as controversial a loss as was his win over Shogun.

With two losses the man who just two years ago looked like might never lose a round was facing a potential cut from the UFC roster if he loses his next fightt (against Randy Couture at UFC 129 Saturday night).

What happened? Has the sport figured out the elusive distance and timing that the Machida family uniquely has been able to adopt from traditional karate to the upper echelons of MMA? Was he over rated? Lucky?

Dan a White addressed the issue on on ESPN’s Jim Rome is Burning, White addressed the issue of Machida’s recent drop off:

This is what I think happened; A guy goes through his entire career, he’s got this incredible elusive style, nobody can figure him out, he’s explosive, got knockout power, but then once you start making a lot of money, it starts messing with your head and you start doing things differently, White told Rome.

I think if Machida comes out like the old Machida, I think he can beat anybody in the world.