I agree that there is an "assumption of ignorance," etc. in these types of debates but it depends on who you're talking to. If you're talking to someone with the training and ring experience, then there's going to be a gap in knowledge between them and the people they're talking to.
I've heard a lot of people talk in the past. I've heard monstrous looking muscle heads talk about martial arts and fighting and how people don't know this and that, but I'm the first one to say "let's put on the gloves." As much as I like discussing these things, I much much prefer actually going in and doing it. 99.9% of the time, all the talk is just talk. In fact, I'm known for that at the school I train at because it's happened before. People were intimidated by this guy who looked really strong and fast. When it came time to put on the gloves, he couldn't handle the power and accuracy. I wasn't even trying to prove a point or anything. I just wanted to spar him because I wanted to face the fear. He quit shortly after and never returned.
I've known people who have trained for years, and by the look of their solid technique and agility, I thought they would be a force in a real fight. Most of the time those things go away and they fail to not only maintain their technique, but they can't take the strikes. When you are in the shit, and the shit is raining down hard on you, that's when you know where you stand among men.
You can go to gyms and see muscular and fit looking people who walk with a tough swagger, nightclubs where the bouncers look and act like forces to be reckoned with, and even convicts in prison who look like they can eat you for breakfast, but 99.9% of the time, they're all clueless of how powerful you are compared to them. They are completely oblivious to what you are capable of doing to them should the frightful occassion ever arise.
Then all of their strength and conditioning and street fighting means very little because they never before have met with your discipline, fierceness, speed and sheer power.
People talk about Brock Lesnar like he's the most powerful man on earth, but they just don't know. He is a strong man, but not a real powerful striker. People assume because he's an immense guy that he's so powerful, but they don't know the difference between strength and power. He's not a powerful fighter. He's just very strong and explosive. I would be willing to bet a great deal that Machida or Silva could take him out.
So yes, talk is just talk. If you want to learn something, listen not just to people who have been in the ring, but people who have transcended the mere wrestler, boxer, brawler levels and become masters of the fighting arts. Those are the people I'd rather listen to than anyone else.
It's so easy for the fickle public to criticize Machida or even Shogun, but they are totally clueless about what it's like when you have such skilled fighters facing each other in a cage in front of millions and millions of people. So people can criticize either fighter all they want, but I know what I know and I won't buy into any of it.
Take a look at the replay and come to your own conclusion. It was a close fight. I can tell you though that Machida lands a lot of strikes that most people just don't see. You have to look for it. He had Shogun in trouble a few times. Shogun wore down Machida's legs, but Machida did win most of the exchanges. That's what made the difference in the fight. I'm not going to sit here and blame shitty judging or whatever.
I applaud Shogun for making a comeback, coming in with a great game plan, and showing the heart of a champion. I applaud Machida for facing adversity the first time and overcoming it. Both men are top echelon fighters and that's all there is to it.
