First off, let me just say I cannot wait for this event. Headlining UFC 123 will be a very hungry Quinton "Rampage" Jackson against Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida in what is sure to be a fight for top contendership. With Rampage coming into this fight with a recent loss to the guy he smacked talked for at least a year (Rashad Evans) he has to enter this fight thinking he has something to prove. With a record of 30 wins and only 8 losses, you would think he has proved all he needs to, but to the fans of MMA, many who believe he has become irrelevant in the Light Heavyweight Division - he needs this win severely. Rampage has been lack luster in his last few fights putting 4 of his last 5 fights into the hands of the judges. The only fight out of his last 5 that did not go to decision was a first round knockout of a "out of his prime" Wanderlei Silva whom he stopped with a devastating knockout in round 1. In order for Rampage to make a stepping stone out of Machida, he will need to be light on his feet and move quickly to get Machida up against the cage and eventually to the ground. I personally think this will be the key to victory for Rampage.
  Machida who is coming into UFC 123 with a record of 16 wins with only 1 loss, recently losing to the newest Light Heavyweight champion in the UFC Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the first round by a devastating knockout. With some of the best defense in the Light Heavyweight division he has been able to avoid 61% of strikes thrown at him and stuffed 86% of all take down attempts. He is not all defense though, he lands 60% of all the strikes he throws and accomplishes 73% of all his take down attempts. And really, who can forget the knockout of Rashad Evans that had Rashad folded up in a position that even Gumby couldn't bend into? With that being said, Machida will need to stay away from Rampage's powerful fists and stay outside of Rampages reach. Rampage has always had problems with leg kicks, and Machida can easily exploit this with his unorthodox kicks. The last thing Machida should want is to get into a ground battle with Rampage, he should try to stay on his feet and away from the cage at all times. If he does this, I think he has a very good chance at winning the fight.