Lyoto Machida is an acquired taste. Like blue cheese or a peaty scotch, his fighting style is not for everyone. Using a careful in-and-out style based more on karate than the usual Muay Thai, Machida has beaten all 13 of his opponents with seemingly little effort. Given that eight of those 13 wins have been by decision, it's hard to blame fans for becoming impatient with the most patient fighter in the game. But even for non-fans, you have to admit that what looks moldy or tastes like dirt to some can be the greatest delicacy to others.
In MMA, there are two main ways to win: submit your opponent or knock him out. So how then, do you deal with a fighter who seemingly can't be submitted and can't be knocked out? Such a quandary faces Frank Mir this Saturday night at UFC 92 when he faces Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, one of the best fighters this sport has ever seen. 
Randy Couture Week is an intense look at an MMA legend on the brink of a big fight at this weekend's UFC 91 in Las Vegas.
Even at 41, Randy was the top dog at 205 pounds. The problem was, "nobody" knew about it. The UFC was still a niche sport with a tiny hardcore following. Without any regular non-pay-per-view presence, the organization, and by extension, Randy Couture, were almost completely unknown to the general public. All of that was about to change.
In the grand scheme of television, The Ultimate Fighter is just another in a long line of reality shows that tape a group of people living together and competing against each other. But for the sport of MMA, its importance cannot be minimized. For 13 weeks in 2005, Randy and the rest of the crew were beamed into the living rooms of a million people who had probably never laid eyes on the man before. That fertile base of new fans would propel Randy's next fight to become the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history.
Randy Couture Week is an intense look at an MMA legend on the brink of a big fight at this weekend's UFC 91 in Las Vegas.
Randy Couture Week is an intense look at an MMA legend on the brink of a big fight at this weekend's UFC 91 in Las Vegas.
Randy Couture Week is an intense look at an MMA legend on the brink of a big fight.
Randy Couture Week is an intense look at an MMA legend on the brink of a big fight.
Nothing enflames the passions of MMA fans like a striking battle that goes to a decision. Fights like the one between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben are notoriously difficult to judge because there are simply too many things to keep track of. A takedown is a single event that leaves an indelible impression. It's much harder to judge when you can't remember who landed what strikes and how many.
Tracking the statistics from the Bisping-Leben fight reveals some interesting things when viewed in the context of their career performances. But before getting to the numbers, first, a word about decisions...
To look around the MMA blogosphere, you'd think that Rashad Evans was right up there with Ken Shamrock -- a recognizable name with no chance to win being fed to the more popular fighter, in this case Chuck Liddell. On paper, it's hard to disagree. Evans is precisely the kind of fighter Liddell beats: forward-pressing wrestlers with average striking skills.
Get the latest coverage on your favorite teams thanks to CBS Radio. Listen Now
