Mousasi fighting karate fire with karate fire
“He even fought Lyoto Machida twice, I think, in karate,” said Gegard Mousasi. “He does Machida exactly the same. I would say even better, karate-wise.”
Gegard Mousasi fights Lyoto Machida on Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 36. While the most common bases for MMA are wrestling, Muay Thai, and boxing, Machida’s base is a variant of traditional Shotokan karate that employs more far footwork than is usual.
Machida’s distancing, timing, countering, and striking are all so different that opponents are often left baffled. However, Mousasi brought in karate champion and welterweight MMA fighter Jaouad Ikan into his camp to help prepare.
In an interview with MMA H.E.A.T.’s Karyn Bryant, Mousasi explains.
“I trained with Jaouad Ikan,” said Mousasi as transcribed by MMAMania. “That’s my friend who I always trained with, but he’s a karate guy. He even fought Machida twice, I think, in karate. He does Machida exactly the same. I would say even better, karate-wise. I learned a lot from him. I at least know what to expect in the fight.”
Also in the interview:
•The Gustafsson fight that never happened;
•The comfort level at 185 lbs; and,
•How he feels knowing that Machida could get a title shot if he beats him.