Machida outmaneuvered Davis on the feet. But that was all he did. He landed maybe a handful of good strikes. Davis was more aggressive. Davis was willing to engage. Davis landed more significant strikes on the ground in the second round than Machida landed in the entire fight. Stuffed takedowns don't earn points. Evasive footwork does not win rounds. I am a big fan of Machida. I wanted him to win the fight so that he could move on to teach Jon Jones a lesson. Davis won the fight, period. This was Machida's fight to win or lose, and he threw it away because he refused to commit.
I'd say he was ahead on points, but by no means was anyone destroyed in that fight.
I'm guessing the small amount of ground and pound at the end of the second and aggressiveness of Davis gave him the win; I would have judged it for Machida, but it wasn't a travesty of justice either. Besides, it's not like Machida hasn't been on the other side of a questionable decision (defending title against Rua the first time).
Besides, if he was hoping to prove he deserves another crack at Jon Jones, he would have failed in proving that, even with a win.
People are heavily influenced by the commentary team. Numerous times during the fight when Machida threw a punch, Davis would leg kick at the same time, but the judges would only mention the Machida strikes.
Watch it without commentary and then see if your opinion changes.
Only once during the whole fight did Machida try and finish and that was during the first round.
People have him all figured out and his technique isn't that affective anymore.
I wouldn't say "destroyed". But he did beat him. And the whole 1:45 of the fight he spent on the ground were not significant. He outlanded Davis and dictated the pace. I don't know of anyone besides the judges who thought Davis won.
He didn't destroy Davis, but he did look a better skilled fighter.
I don't think it is the judges who are stupid, just that the scoring criteria needs revising.
It will do no good to the UFC if the fighters who exhibit the most skill lose fights on points.
Common, the counter punches, the take down defence?! Machida destroyed Davis, even he was surprised at the end when he won, those judges are stupid!
