Lyoto Machida is regarded as one of the greatest UFC light heavyweights in the promotion’s history after a decorated career inside the Octagon Machida’s high-level striking, combined with a slick ground game, made him a headache for his opponents inside the cage. He began his career 16-0 and knocked out Evans at UFC 98 to become the UFC’s light heavyweight champion Aside from technique and grit, Machida’s UFC success is also attributed to a bizarre routine he used during his career including ahead of his title win against Evans In a 2009 interview with Brazilian outlet Tatame Machida said he routinely drank his urine before his world title fight against Rashad Evans “My father did that for a long time and brought it to us,” Machida said. “People think it’s a joke. I never said it in the United States because I don’t know how the fans will react. I drink my urine every morning like a natural medicine.” (h/t Yahoo Sports) In a separate interview with Ariel Helwani in 2010 it all depends on what you eat,” Yoshizo said you’re taking it for what you’re trying to fight against…it’s for a health reason it flushes your system out when you drink your own urine.” Machida’s routine inspired other UFC legends, like Fabricio Werdum But none of them tallied the results like Machida Machida’s left MMA fight came at Bellator 281, falling to Fabian Edwards by first-round knockout. Before a four-fight losing streak, Machida earned recent wins over Chael Sonnen there’s no evidence of health benefits surrounding urine ingestion But that didn’t stop Machida from utilizing the head-scratching routine during his career with positive results in the cage Machida is one of many UFC fighters who utilized unconventional practices ahead of fights. From Diego Sanchez’s controversial work with Joshua Fabia to Georges St-Pierre’s nipple-twisting Plenty of countries have their miracle champions In England, it’s Leicester City in 2015-16. Italy has the Hellas Verona side of 1984-85 it’s Montpellier winning Ligue 1 in 2011-12 And how about Boavista becoming just the second club ever to break the Benfica-Sporting Lisbon-Porto triopoly in Portugal in 2000-01 Top of the J1 League by two points with 10 games to go are Machida Zelvia Unless you’re a student of the Japanese game even if you are a student of the Japanese game they won’t be the most prominent club in your thoughts but this is their first-ever season in the top tier after winning the second-division title last year Not only that but they were a non-League side as recently as 2009 and in the third division in 2015 but they’re leading the J1 League with a manager who was coaching a high-school team and had never worked in professional football Montpellier and Boavista all look like Manchester City compared to these guys “Leicester is a popular comparison,” says Mitch Duke “But I think like we’re unique in the fairytale that’s developing so far It’s the first time we’ve been in the J1 League in the history of the club and we’re right at the top with all the well-established teams that have been there for 30 years now This isn’t a title challenge that has come about due to lavish spending or leaning on a relationship with a big foreign club Seasoned campaigners such as Japan international defender Gen Shoji and obligatory Brazilian (most Japanese teams have at least one) Erik also came in complementing younger players including 10-goal top scorer Shota Fujio and South Korean forward Oh Se-hun Machida began the February to December season pretty well but the assumption was that this was just a hot start by a promoted side and they would fall away eventually overtaken by teams such as title-holders Vissel Kobe But it was around the third month of the season that they began to think they weren’t just enjoying a good start; that something slightly more special could be on the cards “We re-established our goals and ambitions,” says Duke “We were top of the table and we actually went out and said this is not just about surviving the league and staying up in the in the top half of the table — we’re talking about winning it now’ We’ve been riding that wave since round seven or eight But the last few games have been more in keeping with what came before particularly the 4-0 win against Jubilo Iwata on August 17 This was partly a result of a semi-reset that came about in a team meeting a couple of weeks ago ‘We need to stop thinking about the championship again and reset and get back to what got us to this position’,” he says “I guess we just needed to focus on our goals and not get distracted about seeing the championship at the finish line.” as Kosovan defender Ibrahim Dresevic explains they’ve actually managed to harness that and use it positively there’s more pressure now than at the start of the season,” Dresevic tells The Athletic “The growing expectation has actually brought the team closer and we’re all pushing each other to maintain our high standards Pressure is part of football and as a professional it’s something you learn to handle and use as motivation.” The star of the show — and certainly the most unusual aspect of this very unusual team — is head coach Go Kuroda who had no background as a professional player had spent 28 years as the football coach of Aomori Yamada High School While this appointment was unprecedented for a club at Machida’s level it’s not quite as absurd as it might sound: in Japan high-school football is roughly equivalent in terms of standard and popularity as college sports are in the United States Kuroda developed a reputation for a couple of things One was producing players that would go on to play professionally, with Japan internationals Gaku Shibasaki and Kuryu Matsuki, the latter is currently on Premier League side Southampton’s books The other was gamesmanship: perhaps not quite the dark arts but perhaps the cloudy arts Nothing especially serious; just the sort of slightly underhand tactics that bend the rules and are deeply irritating if you’re on the receiving end of them stand inches away from opposition players as they took throw-ins When given a chance of returning the ball to an opponent he would roll it in the opposite direction People even got annoyed at his habit of spitting onto the pitch from the sidelines His minor irritating antics became quite a topic of discussion. In 2021, he gave a superbly earnest interview to a website called Dot.Asahi in which he solemnly discussed the grave accusations levelled against him and explained why they were all absolutely necessary A particular favourite part of that interview is where he blamed the “angle of the screen and the way it (the footage) is cut” for giving the impression that he was trying to put his opponents off “He is definitely a unique character,” says Dresovic to the point where they have gained a reputation as a dirty team Fujio sprinkled some water on the ball just before he took a penalty which in isolation is a pretty harmless affectation But because of Machida and Kuroda’s reputation the referee made Fujio take a penalty with a different Kuroda places significant emphasis on training sessions and individual performances in them to the point where it almost feels like more of a factor in his selection decisions than what happens in actual games: if he’s dissatisfied with how a player acquits himself in training who has been the victim of this policy himself “Even if you win a game but don’t perform in training I’ve seen him make four changes to a squad based on how training was.” There was a three-week break in the middle of the club season for the recent Olympics at which time many of the teams in the J1 League gave their players a holiday Not Machida: his boys had four days off and then were back on the training pitch 110-minute sessions in the baking heat of a Japanese summer “We basically did a mini boot camp,” says Duke Kuroda’s old job may also inform one of the reasons Machida have surprised everyone a city at the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island a place where it frequently snows and is not exactly a place conducive to producing attractive He has taken that into the professional game with Machida and is one of the reasons that both Dresovic and Duke cite for their success The stereotypical Japanese style of play is technical Kuroda and Machida have flipped that on its head energetic fashion which has thrown many of their opponents off our style of play has been a big factor in our success,” says Dresovic “We play a dynamic and aggressive brand of football that can be difficult for opponents to handle The way we play requires a lot of energy and discipline but it also allows us to control games and create more opportunities.” “so we’re not conceding any goals from making mistakes at the back We’re winning balls in the front third and scoring off those opportunities against the teams that do overplay.” The style is not necessarily a philosophical choice More of a practical one borne out of Machida’s primary aim at the start of the season: avoiding relegation he would probably prefer to play a more possession-based game but this brand of football is working just fine for him at the moment it’s not getting quite as much attention as you might think in Japan Baseball is the country’s most popular sport and while the national team are big news domestic football doesn’t make as much impact Japanese stars who play abroad in both sports get the bulk of the coverage: you’re more likely to know if Shohei Ohtani hits a home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers than you are if Machida win another game After 28 of their 38 matches, they are holding their challengers at bay “It would be an incredible achievement,” says Dresovic “It would be a career highlight and something I would cherish for the rest of my life.” “I’ve been lucky enough to be able to say I’ve made history with the Australian national team at the World Cup,” says Duke “But if we can go on and do this… it will definitely be the best fairytale story of my career.” Nick Miller is a football writer for the Athletic and the Totally Football Show. He previously worked as a freelancer for the Guardian, ESPN and Eurosport, plus anyone else who would have him. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickMiller79 BEDFORD – During Adam Toru Machida’s initial hearing in Lawrence County Superior Court I the courthouse was filled with emotional family members and loved ones of both Machida and Boggs was arrested on felony charges following the shooting death of William ‘Matthias’ Boggs at a residence on 711 I Street in Bedford unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon Bedford Police Officers discovered Boggs lying in a bathtub with a gunshot wound to his temple covered with a towel in Machida’s home but Boggs was pronounced dead at the scene Judge Plummer meticulously outlined the charges and potential sentences Machida could face if found guilty: you are cloaked with the presumption of innocence You understand that,” Judge Plummer asked Judge Plummer entered pleas of not guilty on Machida’s behalf he appointed the Lawrence County Public Defenders Office as Machida’s legal counsel and issued a protective order preventing Machida from contacting Courtney Blackwell According to police reports, Machida admitted to firing shots through the bathroom door He claimed he could have killed Blackwell but chose to shoot to the side of her Machida told police he wasn’t sure how many shots were fired but knew he had hit Boggs when he heard him fall Machida reportedly fled the scene in his SUV driving down State Road 58 and through county roads before being apprehended on US 50 while heading toward Brownstown Machida is currently being held without bond Serving Lawrence and surrounding counties since 1948 Lyoto Machida has shut down the rumors of being put in a coma after his June 2015 knockout loss to Yoel Romero at UFC Fight Night 70 “Soldier of God” recently claimed on his Overdogs Espanol podcast that the former UFC light heavyweight champion “was in a coma” after “he suffered brutal damage” during their middleweight main event in Hollywood Machida told MMA Fighting Romero’s recollection is inaccurate after being finished with nasty elbows in the third round but said he was never in critical condition “I heard about [Romero’s comments] but I didn’t watch [the video] I broke my nose in that fight and had surgery But there was no coma or anything like that “It makes no sense that a fighter would get in a coma and then fight like 20 times after that,” Machida laughed “I had nose surgery because I broke my nose I had stay in Miami for a week — because I lived in Los Angeles and couldn’t fly with the nasal packing Machida, 26-12 as a professional MMA fighter, hasn’t fought since losing to Fabian Edwards in May 2022 He’s currently slated to serve as a team manager on the 2025 season of the Global Fight League leading the Sao Paulo team alongside coach Andre Pederneiras Early in the second round, Machida unleaded a crane kick to the face of Couture.  Couture immediately fell to the canvas missing a tooth.  The kick mirrored wha this teammate Anderson Silva did to Vitor Belfort two months prior  It would end up being Couture's retirement fight and have covered mixed martial arts for 23 years.  is confident that UFC Des Moines loss will fuel the fighter to take things to the next level Home » MMA News » Lyoto Machida » Lyoto Machida responds to rumors that he was in a coma following… UFC legend Lyoto Machida has responded to rumors that he was put into a coma following a loss to Yoel Romero back in 2015 Lyoto Machida is an absolute icon in the world of mixed martial arts He’s achieved some truly incredible things throughout the course of his career and a lot of his biggest fights came in the Ultimate Fighting Championship Throughout the course of his time in the promotion RELATED: Lyoto Machida responds after being called out by Luke Rockhold at Karate Combat 45: “The Dragon is already breathing fire!” In what proved to be one of his most devastating defeats Machida was knocked out cold following a parade of shots from Romero Yoel actually claimed that the damage put Lyoto into a coma following the bout We all know that MMA fighters like to exaggerate Machida felt the need to set the record straight on what actually went down https://www.youtube.com/shorts/STl0Rva7bKE Quotes via MMA Fighting What is your favorite memory from the career of Lyoto Machida This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM BJPENN.COM is your premier source for all MMA and UFC News We serve you with the latest breaking news It is also the home of 2X UFC Hall of Fame Champion After a decade of on-line operation BJP has evolved into the most reliable destination for all of your MMA needs contact@bjpenn.com advertising@freestar.com 2025 BJ Penn Enterprises Privacy Policy 2024 BJ Penn Enterprises Privacy Policy her Olympic Games encore and everything in betweenInterviewIt's been three years since Rui Machida took the basketball world by storm at the Tokyo Olympics Now she's back for the Games in Paris TOKYO (Japan) - It is a return to the national team after three years for Rui Machida The last time she played for Japan was the Tokyo Olympics where she set a tournament record of 18 assists in the Semi-Finals against France and led all players with an average of 12.5 assists per game She led Japan to a historic silver medal as a point guard and gained worldwide recognition for her performance the past three years have been intense for Machida in many ways she joined the Washington Mystics and played 38 games she led the Fujitsu Red Wave to victory in the W League Even though she experienced many firsts and achieved great things she also faced challenges in conditioning and injuries during the national team activities and could not make it to the roster at the Women's Basketball World Cup in the fall of 2022 and the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in February this year When asked if she had changed after these intense three years Machida immediately expressed her feelings about the national team “When I was motivated to do my best for the national team so my desire to go to Paris has grown stronger I feel that I no longer get overwhelmed by the idea of facing the Team USA.” Though she is proud of the silver medal won at the Tokyo Olympics the frustration of losing to the USA in the finals still lingers She genuinely wanted to beat the USA and win the championship so the “frustration from the finals has always stayed with me.” head coach Tom Hovasse was replaced by Toru Onzuka Machida herself has been overcoming challenges and growing This is her first time joining the national team under Onzuka and she is eager to catch up and see how well she can perform in Paris “It’s hard to know how the USA will analyze and adjust their defense against us until we play them in Paris but Coach Tom’s basketball is different from Coach Onzuka’s basketball I think we need to adjust based on how the opponents defend against Onzuka’s style We will have to figure it out while playing.” and will meet them in the first game of the tournament My approach of playing with all whenever I’m on the court hasn’t changed but I no longer feel that we can’t compete just because it’s the USA.” Even when talking about tough or challenging times she has a strong inner drive and a competitive spirit She has always enjoyed taking on big challenges since childhood and when she received the offer from the Mystics The four months in the WNBA were not entirely as what she wanted in terms of performance but she still cherishes the experience of diving into a new world and spending fulfilling days with her teammates “The first year was all about getting used to the WNBA’s flow and rhythm I would know the flow and what to focus on so I think I could concentrate more on my performance So those things make me think I want to go back again.” If she performs well in the Paris Olympics like she did in Tokyo there’s a high chance that WNBA teams will come calling again Machida gently denies considering Paris as a stepping stone to the WNBA “Rather than wanting to appeal to the WNBA my stronger desire is to win a gold medal with this team It’s not about my own stats; I want to contribute to the team by doing what I can but I don’t want to do something just to play in the WNBA when I am playing for the national team.” A passionate inner drive and the ability to make clear decisions support Machida both on and off the court Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight A post shared by OverdogsEspanol (@overdogs_espanol) At 47 years of age, “Soldier of God” is no longer in his prime, even if he’s still a dangerous knockout artist few could claim to move as suddenly as the Cuban Olympian Romero would be smoothly sliding around the Octagon he came close on more than one occasion and developed a fearsome reputation in the process In short, Romero was a scary proposition for years and still is to some extent. In a recent appearance on Mike Perry’s OverDogs Podcast Romero revealed that one of his iconic knockouts over Lyoto Machida resulted in serious damage to “The Dragon.” I kept talking to his managers because he was in a coma That’s why I respect any gladiator that does this Currently, the exact details and length of Machida’s “coma” are unknown, but it’s understandable why the former champion would want to keep that information under wraps. After the Romero loss, Machida would compete nine more times as a professional, winning four of those bouts. He retired from MMA in 2022 after a knockout loss to Fabian Edwards in Bellator He most recently scored a knockout win in the Dirty Boxing promotion and is currently a member of the Global Fight League roster We rarely see Dricus Du Plessis turn down a chance to verbally dunk on somebody but his response here was quite respectful actually DDP reacts to bringing Whittaker and Adesanya together @MainEventTV pic.twitter.com/JKX6K9QMga A post shared by Jiří “BJP” Procházka (@jirkaprochazka) I didn’t realize this weekend will host the first-ever UFC women’s fight in Saudi Arabia nor that the occasion demanded specific fight kits These are the fight kits that Mayra Bueno Silva and Jasmine Jasudavicius will wear in Saudi Arabia on Saturday (via Bueno Silva's Instagram).They are the first-ever female UFC fighters to compete in Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/vEWv3jnp7i Shara Magomedov got to hang out with Cristiano Ronaldo UFC fighter Sharaputdin Magomedov visited Al Nassr headquarters today pic.twitter.com/Kbf5wgZzZX Young Dagestani fighter Abdulaziz Datsilaev, who trains at Kill Cliff says that it's known in the gym that former UFC champ Kamaru Usman is very arrogant, the opposite of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Although he became a bit friendlier after Leon and Khamzat Chimaev beat him. Watch pic.twitter.com/1JL3eh04wB Interesting insight into the early days of Conor McGregor .. Page 40 of "Win or Learn" by John Kavanagh.Conor McGregor's first Day 1 in MMA.Worth a read. pic.twitter.com/XZJxYxk3Nf I see people labeling random training clips as hard sparring THIS is hard sparring and fairly typical among Japanese kickboxers Takeru Hard Sparring x10R The second guy got knocked the fuck out FB: Takeru pic.twitter.com/uaYsx5feSV Joseph Benavidez scored quite a few guillotine wins in his career Joe Benavidez SUB2 Miguel Torres 03.06.2010 | WEC 47 pic.twitter.com/tx3Dw59hE5 Marcelo Garcia will forever be my favorite grappler HE'S BACK Fresh off of beating cancer, Marcelo Garcia submits fellow grappling legend Masakazu Imanari via north-south choke! #ONE170 | LIVE NOW How To Watch https://t.co/XcPuH8ZYk8 Live TV broadcast in 190+ countries (check local listings) Also available on… pic.twitter.com/yuqybsJELb ALINE PEREIRA, ALEX PEREIRA’S SISTER, GETS THE SECOND ROUND KO AT #KC52 pic.twitter.com/Fh4GeAMVvk A 38.15 kg pitbull pulling 2,900 kgs pic.twitter.com/XW1c72MK7p More martial arts madness is always on the way J-League top-tier debutants Machida Zelvia played a huge part in the compelling 2024 title race staying in with a shout until the last day while bringing a swagger and aggressiveness that marked them as anything but normal newcomers Beginning with the candor of manager Go Kuroda previously a perennial winner in high school football to a robust playing style and the use of pitch-side water bottles and towels controversies surrounding the club added intrigue to the season Having stormed to the J2 championship and promotion in his first year in charge Kuroda openly declared they had an eye on the J1 title even before Machida opened with a draw and four straight wins to stun their more-established rivals A well-drilled side based on fast transitions and attack Machida never dipped below the top three since the third match week as their backline marshaled by former Japan defender Gen Shoji and with current Samurai Blue keeper Kosei Tani between the posts "Finishing third was thanks to the players' effort they are etching their names into the club's history as a reward I think their work has been wonderful," Kuroda said after their final game of the season as their strong physical challenges early in the season did not sit well with rival fans When Machida had four players injured in a shock loss to Tsukuba University in the Emperor's Cup second round in June Kuroda's complaints about the opposition's play were met with ridicule online from critics of his team's perceived rough style Machida's top scorer in the J1 with nine goals was subsequently questioned for his routine of using a drink bottle to spray the ball with water before taking penalties the league backed a referee's decision to replace the wet ball for the sake of "fair competition." Machida asked the league to warn clubs regarding the handling of equipment after towels they placed near the touchlines to wipe the ball before their trademark long throws were soaked repeatedly by the opposing team The club also filed a complaint with local prosecutors in October regarding online abuse The period coincided with Machida's five-game winless run from late September that knocked them off the perch for good derailing their bid to match the feat of winning the J1 title right after promotion achieved by Kashiwa Reysol in 2011 and Gamba Osaka in 2014 This arguably overzealous approach may have cost them silverware along with their willingness to occasionally win with guile in a manner unfamiliar to Japanese opponents could help raise the overall level of the competition After selling their star asset Yu Hirakawa in the summer to Bristol City in the English second-tier Championship generously backed by tech firm owner CyberAgent showed their intent by luring Japan internationals Yuki Soma and Yuta Nakayama following their spells in Europe Added continental engagement is sure to pose a real challenge for the burgeoning club next season but the signs are they will be a tough proposition for other teams for years to come Football: Manager Yoshida's unwavering ethos drives Kobe over line Football: Kobe win 3-way title race to defend J-League crown Football: Okayama beat Sendai to reach J1 for 1st time To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible In their maiden top-flight campaign, Zelvia sat five points clear in the J1 League and loomed as the unlikeliest of champions in arguably Asian football's strongest domestic competition They had effectively led all comers for most of the season, including defending champions Vissel Kobe and perennial contenders Yokohama F. Marinos and Kashima Antlers On the back of a resounding 6-2 win over Marinos, which extended their run of form to eight wins and a draw in their past nine league outings, Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the new leaders Their position at the summit may only be by virtue of goal difference at the moment but -- with seven games remaining in the season -- it is Sanfrecce rather than Zelvia who are firming as title favourites Vissel should not be discounted as they sit just a point behind the leading duo and even Kashima might still feel they have a chance with a game in hand that could see them move just six points off the pace in the event of a win it is remarkable how Sanfrecce have almost effortlessly chipped away at what was once a 12-point deficit which saw them sit as low as fifth -- especially after having to deal with what looked a costly mid-season departure since the departure of their former prolific marksman they have gone from an average of 1.8 goals per league game to 2.6 The signing of Paciência also means Sanfrecce boast even more depth now, with Douglas Vieira an alternative for the sole striker berth while they could even afford to have Pieros Sotiriou coming on as an impact substitute in the weekend's emphatic win over Marinos And it is not just in the final third where Sanfrecce look formidable even if their 61 goals scored so far in the J1 League campaign is 11 more than the next best in Vissel With quality contributors all over the park it is perhaps no surprise that Sanfrecce have not-so-slowly but surely forced their way into the title reckoning no strangers to success with three previous J1 League crowns to their name although the last time they went all the way in 2015 It may not be quite the same miracle as a Zelvia title triumph but for the remaining seven games of the campaign Sanfrecce will only be focused on writing their own fairy-tale ending to 2024 Starting with this Saturday's game -- against Zelvia OneFootball's home page Search Settings Sign In Sign InJoinPossession means nothing: Machida's clinical counter crushes Cerezo (Cerezo Osaka vs Machida Zelvia analysis) | OneFootballSportsEye Machida Zelvia End Three-Match Losing Streak with Victory at Cerezo OsakaMachida Zelvia secured a valuable 2-1 away win against Cerezo Osaka in J1 League Round 13 ending a three-match losing streak and providing a much-needed boost for a team that has faced recent turbulence Goals from Oh Se-Hun and Ibrahim Drešević gave the visitors a commanding lead before Thiago Andrade's injury-time consolation for Cerezo who dominated possession but lacked cutting edge in the final third The victory moves Machida up to seventh in the standings with their first win in five matches while Cerezo remain in the lower half of the table in 15th position Despite Cerezo controlling 65% of possession and completing over 600 passes it was Machida's direct approach that proved more effective The visitors registered 16 shots to Cerezo's five with their clinical finishing making the difference Go Kuroda's side executed their game plan perfectly soaking up pressure before striking with purpose Their decisive triple substitution at half-time changed the complexion of the match with Oh Se-Hun making an immediate impact by scoring just four minutes after his introduction "I'm happy with my first goal of the season but I'm also frustrated I couldn't score a second," Oh told reporters after the match "I'm grateful to the supporters who travelled to Osaka to cheer us on." Yuki Soma was the creative spark for Machida providing the assist for Drešević's goal while completing four successful dribbles and creating three chances throughout the match Drešević himself put in a commanding performance not only scoring what proved to be the decisive goal but also contributing significantly to Machida's defensive solidity with two tackles and two interceptions January signing Thiago Andrade provided a late spark off the bench scoring in the 96th minute from Lucas Fernandes' assist – the Brazilian's fifth of the season The victory carries extra significance for Machida following reports of internal issues within the club Manager Kuroda had been under scrutiny after a disappointing run of results "We want to take this victory positively and move forward," said Kuroda whose team had previously lost their last three matches Cerezo's struggles continue despite their possession-based approach Arthur Papas' side has now recorded just three wins from their last ten league matches with their lack of attacking efficiency becoming a recurring theme The Australian coach had warned before the match about Machida's style and the challenges they would present but his team was unable to find solutions until it was too late this result provides a platform to rebuild after a difficult period counter-attacking approach proved effective against Cerezo's possession game and they'll look to maintain this renewed intensity in upcoming fixtures Cerezo must address their attacking deficiencies despite controlling games statistically With talented forwards like Rafael Ratão and Sota Kitano in their ranks they have the quality to turn their possession into more meaningful chances Related NewsBojan Hodak Masterclass: Angkat Persib dari Zona Degradasi Jadi Back to Back Juara BRI Liga 1 Timnas Indonesia Tanpa Pemain Naturalisasi Baru Vs China dan Jepang: Sudah Jago dan Hebat! VIDEO: 4 Pemain Berlabel Timnas Indonesia yang Kurang Ganas di BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 3 Kehebohan Persib di BRI Liga 1 2024/2025: Meledak pada Pekan ke-31 3 Sinyal Semen Padang Bisa Lepas dari Jeratan Degradasi BRI Liga 1 2024 / 2025: Mentalitas Meningkat Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Eberechi Eze scores as Eagles get ready to peak in FA Cup final Glasner will be content with his side’s performance against a team chasing Champions League qualificationCrystal Palace had their chances and could have nicked it late on, but a 1-1 draw... Football transfer rumours: Rashford in Man Utd exit talks; Real Madrid suffer Alexander-Arnold setback Real Madrid 'agree terms' with Carlo Ancelotti over his departure Carlo Ancelotti's future appears to be sealed after the iconic Italian manager has reached terms over his pending departure from Real Madrid.According to fresh reports from The Athletic, an agreement... ‘Bones’ knocked out Stipe Miocic when he was last in the Octagon at UFC 309 in November 2024 However, Jon Jones is unlikely to score a finish more ruthless than the one he secured during his light heavyweight title fight against Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 in December 2011 Jones became the youngest champion in history by dethroning 205lb king Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in March 2011 A few months later, he tapped out Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson to set up to a second defense against Machida whom he squared off against in the penultimate UFC pay-per-view show of 2011 The Brazilian karate specialist landed a few eye-catching shots before being put to sleep UFC 140 Jones locked up a standing guilltione choke that put Machida out cold inside two rounds Jones released his grip and the former champion’s lifeless body collapsed to the ground where he laid with his eyes wide open for several scary moments The UFC’s official Facebook page recently asked if Jones vs Machida was the ‘coldest submission’ ever and so do a bunch of fans who voiced their opinions in the comment section #OnThisDay in 2011… @JonnyBones added another title defense vs Machida with THIS submission! pic.twitter.com/wqOh6O7X1n Jones is in talks for a UFC unification clash with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall Dana White insists the fight ‘is done’ but not done enough to make an official announcement I’ll tell you what I’ve been telling you since day one,” White said in March when asked for an update on Jones vs Aspinall but it’s not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date – but the fight is going to happen BEDFORD — A Bedford man will appear in Lawrence County Superior Court I at 1:00 p.m today to face charges following a shooting incident on Monday and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting William ‘Matthias’ Boggs at a residence on 711 I Street Machida has a prior conviction for armed robbery According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Major Kye Louden of the Bedford Police Department officers responded to a 911 call reporting a male shot in the head around 6 p.m officers found Boggs lying in a bathtub with a gunshot wound to his temple including Courtney Blackwell and her three children reported that Machida had kicked open the bathroom door and fired multiple shots at Boggs Blackwell told police she was in the bathroom with Boggs when she heard the gunshots but wasn’t sure how many shots were fired Machida pointed the gun in the bathroom and fired shots at Boggs Blackwell said she yelled for her children to exit the home Blackwell advised police that she had checked on Boggs and her children before calling 911 A female neighbor received messages from Machida Detectives quickly located Machida’s red SUV using Flock camera technology He was apprehended without incident by officers from the Indiana State Police and Brownstown His SUV was towed to Lawrence County so the Indiana State Police could process it Machida said he and Blackwell had been dating but split up She was moving out and had not been at his home for a few days He said he was carrying a gun because he “had a feeling that something was going to happen.” He received a message that Blackwell and Boggs were inside his home He left work and returned to his home on I Street He entered the side door and found Blackwell and Boggs in the bathroom Machida admitted to firing shots through the bathroom door claiming he was aware he was targeting Boggs Machida told police he kicked the door open he pointed the firearm in the bathroom and said he could have killed Blackwell but he chose to shoot to the side of her and hit Boggs He told police he wasn’t sure how many shots were fired but said he knew he struck Boggs because he heard him fall Machida told police he fled through the front door and drove down State Road 58 and through county roads He made it to US 50 and was headed toward Brownstown when he was stopped Machida was placed in the custody of the Lawrence County Sheriff and is currently awaiting further legal proceedings The Bedford Police Department continues to investigate the case and the Indiana State Police will assist with the autopsy of the victim a number of usual suspects are unsurprisingly jostling for position at the upper end of the table all these teams will have reason to believe they can challenge for top honours this term with just seven points separating them from the leaders an unfamiliar name currently leads the way -- and quite remarkably so Just 20 games into their maiden season in the top flight of Japanese football, Machida Zelvia currently sit two points clear of the rest of the field This is a team that were playing in the third tier as recently as in 2015 and had never finished higher than fourth in the J2 League There were even a couple of close shaves where they narrowly escaped relegation back to the J3 League a few years ago Instead of battling relegation this season as expected the fact that Zelvia have now embarked on an unlikely title challenge is nothing short of extraordinary -- and their story only gets better Eyebrows were raised at the start of 2023 when the club's search for a new coach saw them turn to Go Kuroda who had spent 28 years at the helm of high school powerhouses Aomori Yamada but had never taken charge of a professional team Kuroda was aware of the initial reservations over his appointment "There were many who worried that this team couldn't win in my first pro year," he told The Japan Times after winning promotion at the end of last season "But every player on this team faced (the challenge) sincerely and gave everything they had to win and that gave us power in our push for promotion "They took the words of a first-year manager to hear .. and stuck with me without a single complaint." If Kuroda thought his first year in professional football went well he might be in for a pleasant surprise depending how the rest of 2024 pans out The mastermind behind Machida Zelvia's rapid rise has been Go Kuroda who is remarkably only in his second season as a professional coach after 28 years in high school football. Masashi Hara/Getty ImagesIf putting their faith in a previously-unproven tactician has proven a masterstroke similar credit has to be given to the Zelvia hierarchy for the way they have gone about assembling the squad that is currently leading the J1 League Aware that reinforcements were always necessary especially if they are to avoid the same fate as several of the J.League's yo-yo clubs in recent times Zelvia were extremely active -- and astute -- in the offseason transfer window The club also sought to refresh their foreign player contingent Both Oh Se-Hun and Na Sang-Ho while not the biggest names in South Korean football arrived with previous J1 League experience under their belts -- and the presence of a fellow compatriot has undeniably made it easier for them to settle into their new surroundings Just last month, Oh was rewarded for his impressive displays with Zelvia as he won his first South Korea cap in the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup Kosovo international Ibrahim Drešević, with past stints in the Eredivisie and Turkish Süper Lig was the third new import for 2024 and he wasted no time in striking up a formidable central defensive partnership with Shoji - with Zelvia's 16 goals conceded the third-best defensive record in the J1 League at present Credit for their stability at the back also has to go to 23-year-old goalkeeper Kosei Tani who was preivously earmarked as possibly a future Japan No 1 and has been an assured presence as he looks to continue developing as a young custodian in another loan spell away from Gamba The acquisition of Tani has also been in line with another key recruitment philosophy: a desire for the team for some youthful energy All have had an impact despite their relative tender years with Fujio, who leads the team with seven goals, and Hirakawa part of the Japan team that won the AFC U-23 Asian Cup at the start of last month while Hayashi has made the left-back spot his own On Wednesday, Zelvia maintained their foothold at the top of the table as they held out for a 0-0 draw away to a star-studded Vissel outfit In an era of football where the virtue of possession-based football is extolled there is something refreshing about Zelvia's high-paced direct style -- with every member of Kuroda's throwback 4-4-2 formation going at full tilt for 90 minutes and looking to exploit opponents with wing-play from a bygone era Not that it is something they have to be sorry for but there is an unapologetic way Zelvia go about their business on the field he would also want his team to "build up from the back and score" but his main priority is simply that his side threaten the opposition in whatever way they do best Ask any of the many teams they have pulled off stunning upsets against this season and all would readily admit just what danger Zelvia have posed For a team to go from promotion to champions in one season remains one of football's epic feats There is still just under half the season left to play out and even if their bubble does eventually burst there will be still be plenty for Zelvia to be pleased about in their debut J1 League campaign it is nothing short of extraordinary that they are somehow leading the way at the moment And if Zelvia can just keep it going till the end of the year Login | Sign Up Nintendo Life Guest Login or Sign Up The first generation of Pokémon games features some of the most iconic locations in the entire franchise and the quaint Pallet Town where all players start their journey Pallet Town isn’t just a fanciful creation but draws real-life inspiration from Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri’s hometown of Machida within the Tokyo Metropolis While the Machida of today and of Tajiri’s childhood are very different there are yet many elements within the city that evoke the adventurous feeling of Ash Ketchum's hometown Pokémon Red / Green / Blue / Yellow was inspired by the populous Kanto region of Japan which may conjure up images of a bustling futuristic city but the Greater Tokyo Area is also abundant with verdant natural beauty and other places that tourists may not stumble upon Machida doesn’t pop up in many travel guides but it’s a wonderful excursion outside the city’s centre that will delight Pokémon fans looking to experience a bit of the games in real life Machida itself does not outwardly promote itself as being the hometown of Satoshi Tajiri. Some have even argued that Pallet Town is actually in Shizuoka due to how the real map of the Kanto region lines up with the game’s map Machida has recently solidified itself as the likely inspiration for Pallet Town due to the installation of six Poké Lids within Machida’s Serigaya Park Hardcore Pokémon fans often travel specifically to these Poké Lids to take photos Since they are mostly installed to lure travellers off the beaten paths but the first ones were placed in Machida in 2020 themed after Kanto Pokémon you find early in your journey All six Poké Lids are within Serigaya Park an expansive area filled with evocative sculptures so while it’s not likely Tajiri visited this location specifically to catch bugs and fish which would later inspire him to create Pokémon Serigaya Park’s quiet beauty does capture the same feeling of Pallet Town and the early routes of Kanto Each lid features bright art of classic Kanto Pokémon such as the starters Bulbasaur They are smartly placed throughout the park such as the Poliwag lid next to a glistening stream or Charmander next to a fire hazard warning The park’s towering seesaw sculpture in the Rainbow and Water Square is portrayed on the Pidgey and Rattata lid and you might even spot a Leaf cameo on the Bulbasaur lid Don’t be surprised if you need to line up to take a photo as they are highly sought-after spots by Poke Lid fanatics due to being the only lids in the country that showcase the Kanto starters Machida is more than the Pallet Town-coded Serigaya Park and its most famous tourist attraction is not Pokémon-related at all Machida Squirrel Garden is a small petting zoo that features over two hundred squirrels that live in colourfully painted houses though don’t be surprised if they dart off after filling their bellies Although it’s unlikely these specific squirrels went on to inspire Pachirisu Right across from Machida Squirrel Garden is Yakushiike Park a massive Japanese garden featuring arch bridges The traditional Japanese trappings of this park might lean more towards Johto than Kanto but it captures the feeling of exploring a beautiful environment like in Pokémon keeping an eye out for anything that might pop out of the grass The city centre near Machida Station is a fairly typical Japanese shopping hub with plenty of restaurants and department stores to check out there are a few arcades and shops like Hobby Off and Book Off where you can find retro games Machida’s Book Off is especially impressive as it does have decorations for its retro game area I even managed to find boxed copies of Pokémon Red and Green In a 1999 TIME magazine interview with Satoshi Tajiri he briefly spoke about the changing landscapes of Machida “The place where I grew up was still rural back then all the insects were driven away [...] The change was so dramatic A fishing pond would become an arcade centre.” 25 years after Tajiri talked to TIME about Machida the city has undoubtedly moved even further into resembling a modern neighbourhood of Tokyo with the Poké Lids drawing people to Machida’s more natural scenery the spirit of starting your adventure in Pallet Town is still alive today Tokyo Game Life is a Tokyo-based video game podcast focusing on Nintendo and gaming culture in Japan's capital Find it wherever you listen to podcasts: https://tokyogamelife.com/ I can just envision this as being the Pokemon world A wonderful piece with accompanying beautiful photos While Machida has changed since Tajiri's childhood I could see myself exploring the area for a few hours I'm not one for crowded places and prefer less known areas much of the time It's worth explicitly mentioning for those who still don't know that not just Pallet Town but most if not all locations in Pokémon games are more or less based on one or more real-world ones (in Pallet Town's case the specific location corresponds to Shimoda in Shizuoka but it's based also on Machida as mentioned) which is so cool but anyway great article and I hope I'll eventually be able to visit Machida (and other Pokémon-related locations as well) myself Imagine if they bothered to try and make Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee look as beautiful as the real-life locations that inspired the original games It's a pity that the 8-bit limitations of the Switch held Game Freak back Something I like about Pokemon Generations 1-5 is they based themselves off quite small real world areas as different parts of Japan in 1-4 and the Manhatten area for Gen 5 8 and 9 tried to represent the entire countries of France Britain and Spain in single games which I think they suffered for You could have easily made a Pokemon region based off London and the Home counties in a similar vein to how Kanto is based off the Tokyo area Wonder if we can catch a Live Pokémon there as well It must've been beautiful rural town before Tokyo swallowed it I'm looking for a Pokemon Trainer named Ash from Pallet Town A.K: "I'm afraid you're gonna lose this one" you just said you were too weak to work!!" A.K: "Yeah I am too weak to work but a Pokemon battle isn't work" After the recent Pokémon memes I've seen this dosen't seem like such a tranquil and wholesome town anymore @McGloomy This is like the perfect gif lmao (And your name being mcgloomy makes this even better!) I had no idea Pallet Town was actually based on his hometown I still get tears in my eyes when I hear that theme never knew it was the basis for Pallet Town Very much just an extension of Tokyo now though You could get knocked out by a front kick to the face loved some of the shrines and castles I got to visit myself I don't suppose there was a fat person telling you how amazing techology is though Show Comments Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment.. Best Star Wars Video Games, Ranked - Switch And Nintendo Systems Nintendo's Official Magazine Gets A Special Switch 2 Edition Switch 2 Exclusives Join Famitsu's "Most Wanted" Games Chart For The First Time Here are the games readers are most excited about.. 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Machida's home advantage could prove decisive but their recent goal drought is concerning Shonan's defensive issues suggest Machida should create chances and with slightly more quality in the final third Predicted Score: Machida Zelvia 2 - 1 Shonan Bellmare Related NewsPossession means nothing: Machida's clinical counter crushes Cerezo (Cerezo Osaka vs Machida Zelvia analysis) From Germany: Leipzig in pole for Fabregas Luciano Spalletti: “We’re best friends with Totti.” Roma choosing not to play Paredes to avoid paying PSG extra fee Only Napoli better than Roma in Serie A since Ranieri’s appointment Home » MMA News » Lyoto Machida » GFL coach Lyoto Machida open to possible MMA comeback: “I’m… GFL team manager Lyoto Machida isn’t closing the door on a potential comeback ‘The Dragon’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a clash with Fabian Edwards at Bellator 281 in May 2022. The bout was an important one for the former UFC champion, as he entered the bout riding a three-fight losing streak. Sadly, Lyoto Machida was dominated by the younger brother of Leon Edwards The 46-year-old hasn’t signed a deal to fight anyone since then. Now a free agent, Lyoto Machida is set to coach Team Brazil in the newly formed Global Fight League largely features older talent and a lot of ex-UFC stars Their current roster compromises of everyone from Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold Speaking in a recent interview with MMA Fighting ‘The Dragon’ was asked about his decision to join the GFL While Lyoto Machida plans to coach his team he’s not ruling out the possibility of throwing on the gloves himself It’s not the main priority for the 46-year-old right now but he also won’t shut the door on a return to the cage RELATED: GFL ANNOUNCES FIRST SLEW OF BOUTS INCLUDING CHRIS WEIDMAN VS. LUKE ROCKHOLD II GFL manager Lyoto Machida won’t close the door on a possible return MMA: “I’m not saying I won’t fight again.” (🎥 @guicruzzz) pic.twitter.com/umVF9oi2li — MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 17, 2025 I’m just a manager.” Lyoto Machida stated to MMA Fighting I’m not taking away the possibility of fighting I’m not saying I won’t fight again what I’m saying is it’s not a priority “I’ve never been on this side before and I’m here with ‘Dede’ I’ve been away for some time and I’d rather come in as a manager’ I think it’s great that there is a new league If Lyoto Machida comes out of retirement to fight for the GFL, he’ll be far from the only one to do so. Earlier this month, UFC Hall of Famer Rich Franklin showed interest in doing the same ‘Ace’ hasn’t competed since a knockout loss to Cung Le over a decade ago Machida won’t have nearly as much rust to knock off What do you make of these comments from Lyoto Machida Do you want to see ‘The Dragon’ join the GFL TOKYO (Japan) - Record-breaker and Tokyo 2020 standout Rui Machida is in contention for the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 after being included in Japan's 18-player list Gathering for a third training camp ahead of the upcoming preparation games against arch Asian rivals China Machida's possible return will have fans excited - and not just those cheering for the Akatsuki Five The guard famously set a new all-time assists record when passing the rock 18 times for the silver medalists in the Semi-Final clash against France in the Japanese capital In Machida's absence since the last Olympics, a new leader and exciting marquee player has emerged in the shape of Mai Yamamoto. She was sensational at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 and the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 when she was crowned MVP captain Maki Takada and defensive powerhouse Himawari Akaho all providing big leadership qualities There will be athleticism and the usual dynamic play from sister act Evelyn and Stephanie Mawuli Saori Miyazaki and Nako Motohashi likely to be influential too A post shared by 日本バスケットボール協会(JBA) (@japan_basketball) Playcaller Toru Onzuka and his team will go up against China on June 5 and 7 prior to playing against Australia in Mitsui Fudosan Cup on 20 and 21 June The full preparation games schedule for all teams participating at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 can be found here The full list of Japan players and all other announced squads can be found at our Roster Tracker for the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024. Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match The current head to head record for the teams are Gamba Osaka 1 win(s) Juan has created the most big chances for Gamba Osaka (3) Ryoya Yamashita has the most shots on target per match for Gamba Osaka (1.4) Have scored 7 goals in their last 5 matches Sang-Ho Na has the most shots on target per match for Machida Zelvia (2.1) 02 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT?Machida Zelvia won 1–0 over Gamba Osaka on Wed 02 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 7 goals in their last 5 matches Gamba Osaka is playing home against Machida Zelvia at Panasonic Stadium Suita on Wed Today's print edition Home Delivery Led by a former high-school coach and playing in a picturesque stadium surrounded by trees League by storm in their debut season in Japan's first division The team from Tokyo's suburbs tops the table approaching the half-way point of the season just over a decade after being in nonleague — semi-professional — soccer.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); who was hired in late 2022 after almost three decades coaching one of the top high-school sides in a country where student soccer draws big crowds In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Sign InJoinResurgent Kobe face Zelvia test without loanee Erik (Vissel Kobe vs Machida Zelvia prediction) | OneFootballSportsEye Vissel Kobe vs Machida Zelvia: J1 League Clash as Teams Seek MomentumVissel Kobe welcome Machida Zelvia to their home ground this Sunday in what promises to be an intriguing J1 League encounter between two sides with contrasting recent fortunes Vissel Kobe have begun to find their rhythm after a difficult start to the season securing back-to-back league victories for the first time this campaign Their most recent outing saw them defeat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 at home with Daiju Sasaki and Thuler finding the net in an efficient performance that featured just four shots on target Kobe's season has been hampered by injuries to key players but recent weeks have seen important figures return to fitness Manager Takayuki Yoshida has spoken about the team's need to "return to basics" and rediscover the aggressive high-pressing style that previously defined their play occupy 7th place despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Urawa in their last match Manager Go Kuroda has acknowledged that fatigue and injuries have affected his squad during a congested fixture period but the week-long break before facing Kobe should provide valuable recovery time For the hosts, the absence of Erik will be significant has quickly become a crucial attacking outlet with three goals and two assists in six appearances will need to shoulder more creative responsibility while the return of experienced defender Gotoku Sakai from injury has provided stability to their backline Machida Zelvia's attack is spearheaded by Takuma Nishimura who has netted four goals in ten matches this season following his move from Yokohama F Creative winger Yuki Soma has been equally impressive The visitors have also strengthened their defence with the acquisition of Ryuho Kikuchi from Vissel Kobe adding an interesting subplot to Sunday's encounter The defender has expressed gratitude for his five years at Kobe but is now focused on performing for his new club Vissel Kobe have been boosted by the return of several players from injury midfielder Mitsuki Saito was back on the bench in their last match after a 539-day absence These returns have coincided with an upturn in form and could prove crucial in their bid to climb the table Young forward Koya Yuruki has also caught attention after scoring a crucial goal in the AFC Champions League marking him as one to watch for the future Machida Zelvia have been dealing with fatigue issues after a run of five consecutive matches Kuroda has been forced to experiment with his lineup including deploying Shota Fujio in an unfamiliar right wingback role The break before the Kobe match should allow for some recovery and tactical adjustments typically deploying a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system with emphasis on wide play Kobe's recent resurgence has been built on a return to their high-pressing aggressive style that had been compromised earlier in the season due to personnel issues Machida will look to shore up their defence after conceding from a short corner and allowing central penetration in their defeat to Urawa they'll aim to demonstrate the defensive solidity that has been a hallmark of their impressive debut J1 League campaign This match represents a crucial opportunity for both teams in what Kuroda describes as a "bunched league" where a single result can significantly alter the standings while Machida will be refreshed after their break Without Erik Kobe will need to find alternative attacking solutions but their returning players and home advantage could prove decisive Machida's solid defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat through Nishimura and Soma will make them dangerous opponents Given the circumstances and recent form, Vissel Kobe should have just enough to edge a competitive encounter Predicted Score: Vissel Kobe 2-1 Machida Zelvia Related NewsBayer Leverkusen in ‘very advanced’ talks to appoint Erik ten Hag as Xabi Alonso’s successor Ange Postecoglou laughs off Erik ten Hag comparisons ahead of Europa League semi-final Ange Postecoglou rejects Erik ten Hag comparisons as Tottenham eye Europa League 'Not on any planet': Ange Postecoglou rejects Erik ten Hag trophy comparison LILLE (France) - As Japan are now out of contention to advance Rui Machida will leave France at third all-time in assists at the Olympics She was previously tied with Australia' Kristi Harrower at 111 assists but moved up for sole possession with four assists against Belgium But with a current slump in form which was seen Zelvia go winless in their past three outings what was shaping up to be an incredible title triumph now looks increasingly uncertain And it isn't just one or two sides that Zelvia have to be keeping a cautious eye on Sunday's shock loss to relegation-battling Shonan Bellmare may not have immediately seemed overly damaging given they retained a three-point lead over second-placed Kashima Nonetheless, while there was originally a healthy 12-point margin between Zelvia and then fifth-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima a month ago the top five are now just separated by five points While the closest challengers have not fully capitalised on Zelvia's recent stumbles the inconsistency that has plagued the leading pack has now allowed others to enter the picture Although recent J1 League seasons have delivered two-horse races at best the title battle in 2024 is well and truly alive with 12 rounds remaining Current position: 2nd (47 points)Last six games: L-W-L-W-W-LDespite still sitting second on the J1 League table, Kashima Antlers still look to be overly reliant on talismanic striker Yuma Suzuki -- who has now scored just once in their past seven outings. Masashi Hara/Getty ImagesAt one stage looming as the team likeliest to hunt down Zelvia Kashima are actually on a poorer run of form than the leaders over the past six matches Arguably overly reliant on star man Yuma Suzuki it perhaps comes as no coincidence that their recent inconsistency has coincided with their talismanic striker netting just once since the end of June The Antlers' strongest XI remains a formidable outfit and the likes of Aleksandar Čavrić, Kimito Nono and Shintaro Nago have done their best to ease the burden on Suzuki If they can reach the final round of the campaign still in the running expect a decider that promises fireworks -- with Kashima entertaining Zelvia to close out the season Current position: 3rd (46 points)Last six games: D-L-W-W-W-WOn the back of Yuki Ohashi's 11-goal haul Sanfrecce Hiroshima have boasted the most prolific attack in the J1 League this season -- netting 46 times in just 26 games so far. Etsuo Hara/Getty ImagesThe most in-form side in the entire competition on a four-game winning streak Sanfrecce have come from 12 points off the pace to put themselves firmly in the reckoning for a fourth J1 League crown -- and first since 2015 Sanfrecce's biggest strength has been their irrepressible attack that has racked up a competition-high 46 goals and positive differential of 21 The Hiroshima-based outfit could however be victims of their success given they are also still competing in the Emperor's Cup and J.League Cup, to go along with upcoming continental commitments in the new AFC Champions League Two -- which kicks off on Sept Whether they are capable of juggling multiple competitions could determine if they will lift silverware -- and how many exactly -- come the end of the year Current position: 4th (46 points)Last six games: L-W-W-L-D-DWhile they have been outstanding in defence Gamba Osaka have struggled for goals this season -- and it remains to be seen if the usage of Takashi Usami as a false nine to lead the attack will offer enough firepower for a title challenge. Etsuo Hara/Getty ImagesWith just eight points from a possible 18 since they lost to Zelvia Gamba have been the poorest performers out of the current top five Gamba's stability at the back has served them well with a competition-best 18 goals conceded but they certainly need improvement in attack with their 28 goals scored the second worst in the top half of the league Their inability to find a route to goal easily has proven especially costly with their failure to score in the last three games resulting in a loss and two draws It certainly has not helped that Gamba have played the most part of the campaign without a recognised striker and instead have utilised former Bayern Munich man Takashi Usami as a false nine starting with this weekend's crunch clash with Vissel Gamba might soon find themselves out of the reckoning Their recent record hardly makes for pleasant reading with just four wins in their past 12 league outings Vissel made a habit of grinding out results when it mattered most last season on their way to a maiden J1 League title In fact, Vissel's past four victories have come against a couple of fellow challengers in Kashima and Sanfrecce, as well as two recent champions in Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos In Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto, they also boast two genuine stars -- who have already combined for 14 goals this term -- capable of winning a match of their own boot, as the latter did with his brace in Sunday's come-from-behind win over Marinos They may have not been anywhere near their best so far in 2024 but Vissel look in perfect striking position for a late-season charge Sign InJoinFC Tokyo vs Machida Zelvia prediction: Can Everton Galdino justify his €1.4M price tag in crucial derby test FC Tokyo enter this fixture with momentum after their 1-0 opening day victory over Yokohama FC where Kosuke Shirai's goal proved decisive Manager Rikizo Matsuhashi's 3-4-2-1 system demonstrated defensive solidity though the departure of Ryota Araki to Kashima Antlers leaves a creative void to fill Machida Zelvia's campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima More concerning for manager Go Kuroda are the injuries sustained to center-backs Daigo Matsumoto and Jang Min-Gyu forcing tactical adjustments ahead of this derby FC Tokyo's possession-based approach under Matsuhashi relies heavily on quick transitions through the wide areas The partnership between Kosuke Shirai and Takahiro Ko in midfield provides both defensive stability and progressive passing with Shirai particularly impressive in the season opener Machida's defensive crisis may force Kuroda to adopt a more conservative 5-3-2 formation looking to exploit counterattacking opportunities through the pace of Yuki Soma and the technical ability of new signing Oh Se-Hun The acquisition of Ryota Shirasaki from Shimizu S-pulse adds experience to their midfield core The contest between FC Tokyo's new attacking spearhead Everton Galdino and Machida's makeshift defense could prove decisive The Brazilian arrives with a reputation for clinical finishing though he may need time to adapt to J1 League's intensity the duel between FC Tokyo's experienced Yuto Nagatomo and Machida's energetic Takuma Nishimura presents an intriguing tactical subplot Nishimura's work rate and pressing could disrupt Tokyo's build-up play Recent history favors Machida Zelvia who secured a memorable 3-0 victory in their last encounter the betting odds reflect FC Tokyo's stronger squad depth and home advantage with platforms offering 1.67 for a home win compared to 5.50 for an away victory combined with FC Tokyo's tactical stability and attacking reinforcements suggests the hosts may reverse their recent derby fortunes could prove crucial against Machida's counterattacking threat expect a controlled performance from Matsuhashi's side While Machida possess threatening attacking options in Soma and Oh Se-Hun their defensive vulnerabilities may prove costly Predicted Score: FC Tokyo 2 - 0 Machida Zelvia Inui inspires as S-Pulse silence Tokyo (FC Tokyo vs Shimizu S-Pulse analysis) Míchel: “It's a very important victory” Jamie Carragher on Alexander-Arnold Departure: 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed' Sign InJoin2025 Season Preview: Machida Zelvia | OneFootballSportsEye Machida Zelvia's meteoric rise from J2 promotion to a stunning third-place finish in J1 last season defied all expectations Now the question looms: can this defensive powerhouse consolidate their position among Japan's elite or will the sophomore slump strike Machida Zelvia's debut J1 campaign was nothing short of remarkable they established themselves as the league's defensive benchmark The center-back partnership of Ibrahim Drešević and Gen Shoji formed the foundation of coach Go Kuroda's pragmatic approach embodying his philosophy of "not letting the opponent score." South Korean striker Oh Se-Hun emerged as the focal point netting 8 goals while creating space for teammates Takuma Nishimura and Yuki Soma Strategic additions like Mitchell Duke provided valuable depth while their home form at GION Stadium proved formidable with signature victories over FC Tokyo and Kyoto Sanga The club's financial health mirrored their on-field success with revenues jumping from ¥2 billion in 2023 to approximately ¥3.5 billion last year setting a new club record despite venue limitations Machida remained in title contention until the final matchday a remarkable achievement for a club in their first top-flight season Oh Se-Hun's performances even earned him a debut with the South Korean national team their fairytale season wasn't without flaws A concerning lack of homegrown talent saw their academy representation dwindle throughout the campaign with key departures leaving them without any homegrown players by season's end suffering notable defeats to Kashima Antlers (3-1) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (2-0) A pronounced midseason slump saw them win just once in six matches from Round 32 onwards aerial vulnerabilities were exposed in matches like the 1-4 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale Over-reliance on Oh Se-Hun became problematic when he was tightly marked or suspended while limited squad depth was exposed during injury crises with an early Emperor's Cup exit to university side Tsukuba particularly embarrassing continuity prevails in the dugout with Kuroda retained after last season's success with Hokuto Shimoda remaining as vice-captain alongside a new addition to the leadership group As Machida prepares for their sophomore J1 season the challenge is clear: build on last year's defensive solidity while addressing the offensive limitations and squad depth issues that prevented them from achieving even greater heights Machida's front office orchestrated a dramatic squad transformation during the winter transfer window with a staggering 17 arrivals and 19 departures reshaping the team that exceeded expectations last season This wholesale renovation suggests a strategic pivot rather than minor tweaks to an already successful formula Machida has recruited extensively across all positions Their defensive reinforcements include the experienced Ryuho Kikuchi from Vissel Kobe and Daihachi Okamura from Consadole Sapporo while Kosei Tani returns between the posts from Gamba Osaka The midfield has been bolstered by Hiroyuki Mae from Avispa Fukuoka and Ryohei Shirasaki from Shimizu S-Pulse providing both defensive stability and creative options Marinos to strengthen the attacking department while the summer acquisition of Yuta Hirakawa from English side Bristol City represents a rare international transfer for the club The sheer volume of transactions suggests a comprehensive rebuild rather than fine-tuning coach Kuroda faces the challenge of quickly forging team chemistry while maintaining the defensive solidity that defined last season's success and Nishimura in the attacking third will be crucial to maintaining stability amidst such wholesale changes The defensive midfield partnership of Mae and Ken Higuchi should provide protection for the backline while Shirasaki's creativity will be vital in supplying ammunition for the forwards This transfer strategy represents a significant gamble While the incoming players bring quality and experience from established J1 clubs the loss of key contributors from last season's overachieving squad creates uncertainty Machida's ability to integrate these new signings quickly will determine whether they can build upon last season's unexpected success or struggle with the dreaded second-season syndrome Machida's remodeled squad isn't without its vulnerabilities The most glaring concern is the absence of a proven consistent goalscorer to replace Oh Se-Hun's contribution While Takuma Nishimura brings creativity and attacking threat the responsibility for converting chances remains somewhat distributed rather than concentrated in a reliable finisher The sheer volume of winter transfers creates inevitable questions about squad cohesion establishing the defensive organization that defined last season's success will require time and patience The full-back positions appear particularly thin compared to the center-back depth potentially exposing vulnerabilities against teams with dangerous wide players Machida's creative burden falls heavily on midfielders like Shirasaki and Nishimura Should either suffer injury or loss of form the team could struggle to break down organized defenses the squad lacks significant international experience which might prove limiting in high-pressure situations The 2025 campaign has already begun with mixed fortunes After opening with a narrow 1-2 home defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima Machida bounced back impressively with a 1-0 victory over FC Tokyo in the Tokyo Derby with Nishimura proving his worth by scoring the decisive goal Their upcoming clash with Tokyo Verdy represents another early test in what locals call the "Tokyo Classic." the fixture list presents several defining moments The April home games against powerhouses Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds (the latter at the National Stadium) will measure Machida's progress while the August trip to defending champions Yokohama F The season concludes with a potentially crucial final day fixture at Kashiwa Reysol on December 6 For Machida to maintain last season's impressive trajectory defensive stalwarts Gen Shoji and Ibrahim Drešević must quickly establish understanding with their new teammates The midfield partnership of Mae and Shirasaki will be crucial in controlling games while Nishimura and Soma need to provide consistent attacking threat Machida Zelvia's remarkable rise from J2 to J1 contenders captured imaginations last season but their wholesale squad renovation represents a significant gamble While the influx of established J1 talent suggests ambition the loss of key contributors and lack of a proven goalscorer creates uncertainty Coach Kuroda's ability to forge defensive cohesion among so many new faces will determine whether they can build on last year's foundation or suffer the sophomore slump that often afflicts overachieving promoted sides Prediction: Machida's defensive DNA will prevent any dramatic collapse but the lack of a clinical striker and integration challenges will see them settle for a respectable 8th place finish – solid if unspectacular consolidation in their second J1 season Video – Inter Milan Hype Inch-Perfect Denzel Dumfries Tackle In Champions League Semifinal Vs Barcelona: ‘Not Just Goals’ Video – Inter Milan Captain Lautaro Martinez’s Iconic Goal In Champions League Semifinal Vs AC Milan: ‘Semifinal Stories’ What We Learned: New England surge, Orlando City look for spark Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo Catch a magical sight at Yakushi Ike Park in Tokyo's Machida neighbourhood as the park is showcasing a brilling unkai (sea of clouds) display along with an evening foliage illumination for the autumn season. The park is centred around a pond which makes for a perfect setting for the sea of clouds installation. Throughout the day, a layer of mist will appear across the pond once an hour, making for a stunning sight. Come evening, you can also enjoy the illuminations which light up the park's gingko and maple trees. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Japan is known for its affinity with unique manhole covers often decorated with local motifs or popular characters The Pokémon franchise is no exception to this trend with the “Poké Lids” project launched in 2019 Most of the Poké Lids are found outside Tokyo as one of the project’s main goals is to attract visitors to other parts of Japan but the suburban city of Machida curiously has a total of six of them these are monumentally numbered #100 and feature major Pokémon from the first iteration of the series But what makes Machida so special to the Pokémon franchise The answer is simple: it is the hometown of Satoshi Tajiri after whom the character of Ash Ketchum—"Ash" being a loose corruption of "Satoshi," as he is known in Japanese—was named Growing up in the not-so-metropolitan suburbs with some greenery remaining which inspired the catch-’em-all aspect of the games and it may come as no surprise that Pallet Town is based on Machida where all six of Machida’s Poké Lids are located is a haven of trees and streams where you might expect a wild Weedle or Caterpie to appear It’s a perfect place to commemorate the birthplace of the universally beloved bestiary a must-visit for die-hard Pokémon fans visiting the real Kanto Region Visit the official website of Machida City for a map of the park with locations of the six Poké Lids A Roman water tunnel still flows 2,000 years on An unexpected public exhibit showcases the diversity of Dutch street posts A pair of iconic characters from the local newspaper argue over pet snails Larger-than-life sculptures of the world’s most famous cat mark the birthplace of creator Jim Davis an Art Deco sculpture of an Egyptian Pharaoh wears goggles and racing gear Water still flows through the oldest Spanish aqueduct in America After suffering a shock Emperor's Cup exit at the hand of a university team during the week J-League top-tier newcomers and leaders Machida Zelvia showed their mettle with a win against Yokohama F Marinos at a time when their physical playing style was also coming under heavy fire Manager Go Kuroda's intense and clinical side have taken the J1 by storm this term and they have deservedly been at the top of the table for the majority of the season that is nearing its midway point their perceived "rough" approach has not necessarily been welcomed with open arms from those outside When Machida exited at the hands of Tsukuba University in a penalty shootout in the second round of the Emperor's Cup on Wednesday After Kuroda criticized the opposing team's style of play "The manager might have said those words to protect us players but we've all seen the criticism toward us on SNS over the past two days," Chilian-born attacker Byron Vazquez said "We felt more than anyone for our supporters who had to see the team they support be the target of that much abuse." The way they came out of the latest scrutiny against the Asian Champions League runners-up on Saturday underlined Zelvia's surprising but growing title credentials They had the guts not to deviate from their feisty direct style and came away with full points captain) said before the game that we wouldn't be us if we stopped playing the way we had been...and obviously we don't play to commit fouls," Vazquez said "We had nearly 3,000 fans in the stand today and we showed who we are by winning with three goals." Kuroda guided Machida to the top tier last year after taking over the side following a distinguished career in high school football that spanned nearly three decades The 54-year-old believes all the obstacles only make his team yet to lose back-to-back matches this season we say it's wrong and stay our course because I think that is the power Japanese football demands," he said "Exuding dignity gives value to our existence There is not a single one of our players who thinks Machida's football is negative None of them think our style of football is worthy of criticism Everyone understands and believes in playing to win All of us being on the same page is a reason for our success." Football: Kumagai, Hasegawa headline Nadeshiko Japan's Olympic squad Football: German powerhouse Bayern Munich sign Japan defender Hiroki Ito Football: Japan cruise past Syria to end 2nd-round q'fiers in style Japanese professional soccer club Machida Zelvia said Tuesday that it has filed criminal complaints against people who it alleged had posted defamatory comments about its players and manager on social media The complaints were accepted by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office League.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The comments included those that called players and the manager "a big chunk of garbage" or "yakuza gangsters," a lawyer for the club told a news conference The number of new comments believed to be defaming the players and the manager sometimes tops 1,000 a day established a contact point to seek information about online comments targeting its players and manager The club said it has identified those who posted some of the problematic comments The criminal complaints were filed against particularly malicious cases It is considering filing additional complaints and requesting information disclosure to find out who posted defamatory comments online Machida Zelvia head Susumu Fujita issued a comment on the club's website saying that people who are slamming the club "have gone too far." "We will deal with defamation in a determined manner," he said Sign InJoinYokohama FC vs Machida Zelvia prediction: Can former Zelvia star Suzuki derail his old club's momentum Yokohama FC vs Machida Zelvia Preview: J1 League Round 5 Clash at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa StadiumYokohama FC host Machida Zelvia this Saturday in a compelling J1 League Round 5 fixture with both sides having experienced contrasting fortunes in their most recent outings Yokohama FC enter this fixture following a 1-0 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima leaving them with a mixed record of one win one draw and two losses from their opening four matches Hidetoshi Nakata's side have shown defensive resilience conceding just two goals in their league campaign thus far Machida Zelvia arrive at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Nagoya Grampus last time out Go Kuroda's men have recorded two wins and two losses in their first four fixtures demonstrating their capability to compete effectively in the top flight Both clubs have been exceptionally active in the transfer market with significant squad overhauls during the winter window bringing in Musashi Suzuki from Gamba Osaka and Yoshiaki Komai from Consadole Sapporo to strengthen their attacking options The addition of Junya Suzuki from Saturday's opponents Machida Zelvia adds an intriguing subplot to this fixture including Shion Inoue to Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Toshiki Takahashi to Urawa Reds Machida Zelvia have countered with their own recruitment drive securing the services of Takuma Nishimura from Yokohama F Marinos and Ryohei Shirasaki from Shimizu S-Pulse The return of goalkeeper Kosei Tani from Gamba Osaka has provided stability between the posts while the acquisition of Oh Se-Hun has bolstered their attacking options Yokohama FC's approach under Nakata has centred on solid defensive organisation complemented by quick transitions Their last match lineup featured Brazilian midfielder Yuri Lara providing defensive cover allowing Komai and Shimbo to influence proceedings further forward The presence of João Paulo offers creative spark in the final third Machida Zelvia have demonstrated tactical flexibility under Kuroda with their 2-1 victory over Nagoya showcasing an effective counter-attacking style Shimoda and Nakayama provided both defensive solidity and attacking support while Nishimura and Soma offered width and pace on the flanks supporting Oh Se-Hun as the focal point in attack The historical record between these sides is finely balanced This even distribution of results reflects the competitive nature of fixtures between these two clubs The betting odds currently favour Machida Zelvia with 52% of predictions backing an away win compared to 27% for a Yokohama FC victory and 21% for a draw Machida Zelvia's momentum following their win against Nagoya Grampus coupled with Yokohama FC's defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima suggests the visitors may have the psychological edge Yokohama's impressive defensive record cannot be overlooked having conceded just twice in four matches The presence of former Machida player Junya Suzuki in the Yokohama ranks adds additional intrigue with his inside knowledge potentially beneficial to the hosts' tactical approach Given Machida's attacking threat through Nishimura and Oh Se-Hun balanced against Yokohama's defensive resilience this match promises to be a closely contested affair The visitors' superior recent form may prove decisive but Yokohama's home advantage could help them secure a share of the spoils Predicted Score: Yokohama FC 1-2 Machida Zelvia Related NewsPSG Ready to Pursue £50M-Rated Bournemouth Star Tracked by Chelsea, Tottenham Tottenham get their first positive injury update before Bodo Glimt second leg Lautaro Martinez Fit for Barcelona Game, Pavard Out AC Milan, Man Utd Get Major Transfer Boost as PSG End Pursuit of €40M-Rated Lille Star Christian Falk Confirms Arsenal, Liverpool Interest in Man Utd Target With PSG Sell-on Clause It took a lot of weird and unexpected moving parts coming together in order for my unlikely crush on the sport of MMA to develop into a decade-long career. My fascination with former UFC champion and notorious nice guy Lyoto Machida was one of them. Even if, at the time, I didn’t quite understand what something was. In other words, I was still what I would later condescendingly call a casual. I don’t know how much of it was Machida himself, or just events that overlapped. I’m bad with dates and most objective ways of thinking, so timelines tend to get blurry in my mind, but the fact is that my engrossment with both him and the sport grew together. Before I knew it, I was no longer curious about MMA; I was invested. Oddly enough, I don’t even remember if I ever got to watch the Evans fight live. I mostly just remember the anticipation, the anxiousness, the wanting to be a part of it. As we all know, though, Machida won. Only five months sat between that win and his first title defense, against Shogun Rua, but it was plenty of time to nurture my MMA fixation. Thanks to good timing and a healthy dose of unfounded confidence, it wasn’t long before I was writing about it for a big newspaper and interviewing the likes of Rua, Anderson Silva, the Nogueira brothers and — holy crap! — Machida himself. I’d eventually realize that Machida was human, just like everyone else I covered. As my career progressed, and I personally grew out my general fandoms and into my bitterness, fighters became sources, story subjects, occasionally something akin to friends. But no longer screensaver material. I still respect them as a whole, and I admire quite a lot of them personally, but thankfully in a much less adolescent way. Basically, time happened. To Machida, to me, to MMA, to my relationship with all of those things. But every now and then, when the sport and I hit a rough patch, I go back to that room at my friend’s apartment and the frantic pursuit of a perhaps-not-entirely-legal stream. And I go back to feeling like it all means something. Even if sometimes, still, I don’t quite understand just what exactly something is. In some respects, the jury was still out on Jon Jones in December 2011.  Jones, at this point 14-1 in his still-developing mixed martial arts career, had won the the UFC’s light heavyweight title the previous March in a shellacking of Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and defended it once around six months after that against another former PRIDE stalwart in Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. Lyoto Machida, though, was expected by many to be a different kind of test. While Joe Rogan’s prophecy of the supposed ‘Machida era’ never really bore the fruit that many expected, the karate stylist was expected to present a formidable challenge to the young champion — even despite losing the first two fights of his career (to Shogun and Rampage, incidentally) a year prior. Not so. Jones suitably underscored his status as one of the finest talents in the sport with a decisive second round submission finish of the Brazilian — with the image of him dropping the unconscious Machida to the mat once of the more devastating clips in mixed martial arts history. Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee who helped lead Japan to its first ever Olympic medal in the sport at the Tokyo Games in 2021 is fighting for a ticket to this summer's Paris Games The 31-year-old point guard for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women's Japan Basketball League was selected as one of 23 candidates for the national team heading to the Paris Games.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); With many rivals jockeying for a spot on the 12-member roster Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker