Title challengers Machida & Davis take old school approach with pre-fight hype

Mixed martials arts was built on the foundation that one gives honor and respect to their opponents, both before and after competition.

While some mixed martial artists still show nothing but class and respect to their opponoents, others in today’s MMA scene have made a career from being good at trash-talking.

Take former 3-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen for example. The former UFC star basically built his popularity through his ability to talk trash.

With that said, the two title challengers competing at this weekend’s UFC 175 event in Las Vegas are the opposite of the aformentioned “American Gangstar.”

Alexis Davis, who challenges Ronda Rousey for the UFC’s women’s bantamweight championship on July 5, believes that she probably would have received a title shot sooner had she been good a talking trash:

“I am kind of quiet and I don’t really speak up unless it’s time to speak up,” Davis toldMMAjunkie. “I think if I would’ve been a little more vocal earlier in my career, I would’ve gotten my chances a little bit sooner.”

The Canadian title challenger has a very good excuse for not using Trash Talk… She’s not good at it:

“It’s because if I try, I kind of sound like an idiot, and it’s just not who I am,” Davis says. “What am I going to say?”

Davis went on to say that she can appreciate a good trash-talker:

“I think it’s great,” she says. “Everybody’s different. It’s different personalities, and I love listening to guys like Chael. It’s entertaining.”

Meanwhile, former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, who competes against Chris Weidman in the headlining bout of this weekend’s UFC 175 event against Chris Weidman, is also taking the “old school” approach.

“I try to show exactly what I am,” Machida stated. “I’m always trying to sell the fight in a different way. I’m trying to sell the fight with the way I’m fighting in the octagon. I don’t want to be the guy offending my opponent before the fight.”

UFC 175 takes place this Saturday night live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on pay-per-view following the prelims on FOX Sports 1.

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