Machida: I’ll also be fighting the judges
Eduardo Ferreira: Dana White said you could be fired if you lose to Randy Couture. How does it feel to be…
Eduardo Ferreira: Dana White said you could be fired if you lose to Randy Couture. How does it feel to be under that kind of pressure?
Lyoto Machida: Honestly, at first, when he said that, I was worried and a bit upset. But then we had an actual meeting and he cleared up it wasn’t what he meant, so I stopped worrying and just focused on doing a good and clean fight. I want to show you what I’ve been training, what I’ve improved from the last fights I did.
Eduardo Ferreira: A win over Couture would be a big step on your career. Where will you be, in case you win? Maybe on the line for the belt…
Lyoto Machida: Absolutely … The consequence of a win is to bring me near the top, even for the great name Couture has build up in the event. I see this as a tough bout, it won’t be easy. It’s about that you can have an advantage, but you have to make yourself clear, because Couture has a great name on the event. I won’t fight him, I’ll also fight the judges.
Eduardo Ferreira: How do you like Jon Jones?
Lyoto Machida: Carlson said ‘there’s no such thing with a cattle, if it’s a good cattle you’ll know it from the start’. Sometimes the guy doesn’t have to go through a lot, because sometimes he’s just good… But, like I said, this is the most busy weight division so it’s hard to remain on the top for a long time…. When I won the championship title, everybody told me I’d hold it for a long time. But it happens that you become a target, people start to study you, so you’re stalked, and everybody wants to beat you down. It’s hard to say, but I’m sure he has plenty physical and technical skills to be on the top. We, as his opponents, must study to find out the best way to beat him, because he’s too strong physically.
Eduardo Ferreira: People talked about Anderson vs. St. Pierre, but after that performance, the new wish is Anderson vs. Jon Jones. Do you think it could happen?
Lyoto Machida: I think so. It’s a tough fight. Anderson dominates the stand-up game, and I believe Jon Jones won’t fit the coups that easily on him, but it depends on Anderson, because I’ve been talking to him and he says he doesn’t want to go up. He doesn’t wanna get in trouble, but it’s up to him.
Eduardo Ferreira: What do you think about Strikeforce’s purchase by UFC? What do you think about Strikeforce’s athletes on your weight division?
Lyoto Machida: I guess Strikeforce’s purchase was good for UFC, but not for the sport in general. A philosopher used to say: if you want to expand, ask God for a competitor. This competitor will make you grow, just like what happens to us, athletes. If there’s a guy that can beat you up, you can improve, so I believe it wasn’t good for the sport, despite UFC promotes great shows. I believe it’s important to have a competitor working besides you.
