Dan Hardy column: Lyoto Machida vs Luke Rockhold at UFC on Fox 15 is like two Hollywood movies colliding

This week, British UFC welterweight and UFC commentator, Dan Hardy, looks ahead to this weekend’s event in New Jersey, with a stacked fight card culminating in the main event between Machida and Rockhold

Luke Rockhold kicks Michael Bisping (Josh Hedges Zuffa LLC)

This weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Newark, New Jersey, features two middleweight bouts involving three of the top five in the world. Watching with close attention will be the middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, who is currently preparing for his title defence in May against Vitor Belfort. After an injury forced #6 ranked Olympian, Yoel Romero, from the card, Chris Camozzi steps back into the UFC to rematch Jacare Souza. In their first encounter, Camozzi fell victim to the scary ground skills of Jacare, submitting to an arm triangle in the first round.

You can guarantee that Camozzi will be a game opponent, as every one of his fights become a gritty affair, much to the fans’ excitement.. If he can keep the fight standing, his high pressure style could test the kick boxing skills of Souza. It would also really shake up the rankings, as Camozzi sits outside of the top fifteen, whilst Jacare sits firmly in the #1 spot, behind the champ. A win here will surely position him within striking distance of whoever holds the belt after UFC 187, on May 23rd.

The main event is like two Hollywood movies colliding, as California poster boy, Luke Rockhold, takes on the real life Karate Kid, Lyoto ’The Dragon’ Machida. You will be hard pressed to find a fighter that embodies martial arts philosophy more than Machida. Raised on Karate from the age of four, ’The Dragon’ is unique both in persona and fighting style. A traditionalist in a world of elite athletes, he moves around the Octagon like a fencing Samurai with stillness in his mind, patiently waiting for the opportunity to strike. And when he does, its often devastating and spectacular.

Rockhold, a product of the American Kickboxing Academy, carries himself more like a surfer than a professional fighter. But having lost only one fight since he signed with Strikeforce back in 2008, out of thirteen exciting fights, he is to be taken very seriously. His one loss was to Belfort, the next challenger for the belt, and is a fight that Rockhold would love another go at. In the meantime though he has to solve the Machida puzzle, by testing his defence and trying to find a way in without getting knocked out in the process.

Lyoto Machida kicks UFC middleweight champion Chris-Weidman (Donald Miralle Zuffa LLC)

His current three fight win streak saw him destroy Costas Philippou in half a round with a mean body kick. Then he ran through Tim Boetsch, needing even less time to slap on an inverted triangle and force ‘The Barbarian’ to tap. And in his last outing he beat Michael Bisping, catching him with a left head kick that sent him to the canvas, where he finished Bisping with a one-armed guillotine from mount. Three tough opponents and three impressive stoppages. If he can put that kind of pressure on Machida and get the victory, he will also have an argument for a title shot.

Lyoto Machida of Brazil kicks CB Dollaway (Josh Hedges Zuffa LLC)

There is much to play for this weekend in New Jersey. The rest of the card is stacked with talent, as Paige VanZant takes on Ultimate Fighter 20 contestant, Felice Herrig. Then we have Cub Swanson battling it out with Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway. A fight that is sure to be a stand up war, in what is currently an electric featherweight division. I’ll be watching live so come and find me on Twitter at @danhardymma, and let me know your thoughts.

To catch all the action from UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Rockhold, tune in to BT Sport 1 from 11pm