And the winner is... Wladimir Klitschko!!!

so, after learning everything we could about both Michael Spinks and Wladimir Klitschko as part of our Brotherly Love special event, we here at Athletes and Eras believe that Klitschko would once again reign supreme. To put it simply: it's the balance, folks. We can't talk about it enough. Wladimir's combination of power, technical skill, and strategy would surpass Spinks' speed. We all remember what happened when Spinks tried to go up against Mike Tyson, another powerful puncher (knockout in 91 seconds).

Well, folks, it's that time of year. The holidays are here, Christmas cheer, and blah blah blah. So, we here at Athletes and Eras would like to take this time to say thank you so much for your overwhelming support. We've got some partying to do and eggnog to drink! Have a great holiday season! See ya next year!

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And the winner is... Michael Spinks!

Let's be honest... this win was probably not a big surprise for anyone. These brothers are alike in many ways; however, they do have some contrasting traits that would decide the fate of this fight. In this case, it was heart. Michael had more heart (commitment, dedication, etc.) than Leon, which is what allowed him to be on top for so long. Leon, however, while a skilled fighter, simply does not have the kind of heart and fierce determination it would take to beat his little brother.

We don't believe this fight would last very long, either. Michael's hand speed would be an immediate factor early into the fight; he would set up several powerful punches with hid lightning-fast jab, and probably claim victory some time before the 5th round, either by knockout or by TKO.

So, it's going to be a battle of the baby brothers this Sunday, with Michael Spinks taking on Wladimir Klitschko! Who's going to win this exciting match-up? Tune in tomorrow to find out!!

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Spinks vs. Spinks: Leon Profile 2

Almost immediately, Spinks signed to a rematch with Muhammad Ali. In a 15-round contest, Ali took advantage of his height and leaned on Spinks throughout while landing jabs and right hands, beating Spinks on points to recalim his title and become the first man to win the World Heavyweight Championship thrice.

By this point, Spinks had already received universal recognition for his incredibly fast ascent. But unfortunately, Spinks' fall from grace has overshadowed that. Following his defeat at the hands of Ali, Spinks was knocked out in the first round by Gerry Coetzee. This was the beginning of the end for him. The rest of his career was marked with mediocrity; his final record at retirement was 26 wins, 17 losses, and 3 draws.


While it's difficult to say what might have been had Spinks stayed the course, one thing that we can say for sure is that this man, Leon Spinks, rose faster than any other fighter in history, beating the legendary Ali, and earned more respect in just a few years than most people do in a lifetime. He certainly remains one our favorites here at Athletes and Eras, and who could ever forget that famous toothless grin?

Spinks currently enjoys retirement, staying out of the spotlight, and is involved in numerous charity activities. 

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Spinks vs Spinks: Michael Profile 2

Good evening fans! Now we know this is a bit unconventional, but we want our winners to compete on Sunday night, so we're posting two profiles tonight to keep that schedule.


As we previously stated, Michael Spinks was a near unstoppable force in the ring. In 1985, his win against Larry Holmes made history. It was the Ring Magazine Upset Fight of the Year. It also made the Spinks brothers the first pair of brothers to be heavyweight champions!

In 1986, the two fought again, and Michael kept his crown in a 15-round split decision match. His next fight was against Steffen Tangstad. Michael won by KO in the 4th round. In 1987, Michael refused to fight Tony Tucker, and instead accepted a higher offer for a no-title fight against Gerry Cooney. This decision cost him his IBF crown. But, Michael did win the fight, and went up against the next heavyweight champion - Mike Tyson.

When these two fought, it wasn't easy for fans of Michael Spinks. He was knocked down twice in the first round, and then lost by KO in the same round. Tyson was the only fighter to win against Michael Spinks.

Michael Spinks is widely considered as the most accomplished light heavyweight champion in history. He was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame!

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Spinks vs. Spinks: Leon Profile 1

For many boxers, the road to the championship of the world is a long and brutal struggle. Most boxers already have 20 or more fights when they climb through the ropes across from the champion. Many boxing experts and historians will tell you that those fights are a preparation for the big fight, and we here at Athletes and Eras totally agree. Before you can make a legitimate challenge, you have to earn it. Like we said, it usually takes 20 fights or so. But Leon Spinks, a powerful brawler from St. Louis, Missouri, earned his shot in just seven fights; he won the title in fight number eight.

There was an 11 year age difference between Spinks and Muhammad Ali, and that is clearly seen in the video above. Ali was aging, and it was nearly time for him to go. Spinks, however, at 25 years old, was just beginning.

In 1977, Spinks stormed into the boxing world, winning his first five fights by knockout before drawing with Scott DeLoux. He then defeated Italian champion Alfio Righetti by unanimous decision in 10 rounds. All of a sudden, this young man, whom very few had heard outside of his participation in the 1976 Olympic Games (with his younger brother, Michael). was propelled into the spotlight with a title shot against Ali.

Ali was expecting (and honestly hoping) for an easy fight. He thought what we're sure everyone thought at the time: "Only seven fights and he's fighting Ali? There's no way this kid is ready!" Well, on February 15th, 1978, Spinks proved the whole world wrong, utilizing his power and seemingly limitless supply of energy to outwork Ali. Spinks made boxing history that night; for one, that was one of the few fights where visible damage was done to Ali's face, and two, he ascent remains to this day, the fastest rise to the top in all of boxing history.

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Spinks vs. Spinks: Michael Profile 1

 Good evening fans! Welcome to Week Two of Athletes and Eras' Brotherly Love Special Event! This week, we're taking a look at the legendary Spinks brothers, and how they'd fight each other in the ring. And we're starting out with Michael Spinks.

Though retired now, Michael Spinks is far from forgotten in the boxing world. He is a champion in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. As an amateur, he had a stunning record of 93-7 and went to the 1976 Olympics. He won the gold in the middleweight class!

From then on, Spinks was determined to make his imprint in the ring. After destroying Eddie Benson in 1977, Michael went pro. And his first 31 professional fights went undefeated! In 1978, Michael won the Middleweight championship from Tom Bethea. In 1980, he took on a future Super Middleweight Murray Sutherland. In 1981, Spinks had become the number one challenger to the Light Heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad! When the two fought, Michael defeated Eddie in the 12th round. He defended that title five times in the next two years!

The next year, 1983, Michael dealt with both severe tragedy and amazing triumph. His wife passed away, but he won the WBC crown. He defended it once in 1984, and then twice in 1985. Michael challenged Larry Holmes for the IBC Heavyweight championship, and won unanimously. With that fight, Michael Spinks became the first Light Heavyweight to win the world Heavyweight title!

Michael only had one loss during his entire professional career - to Mike Tyson in 1988. We'll bring you up to speed on that in the second profile, fans!

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Spinks vs. Spinks: Brotherly Love Part 2

Okay, fans, we're on to part two of our Brotherly Love special event! And now, it's the Spinks Brothers, Michael and Leon! Leon Spinks is credited as having the fastest rise in all of boxing history; he won the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world after only 8 fights! Meanwhile, younger brother Michael was lightning-fast, highly skilled light-heavyweight champion who moved up to the heavyweight division and became the first reigning light-heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title! So who's going to win when these two brothers step through the ropes? Tune in and find out!

                VS.

And the Winner is... Wladimir Klitschko!!!

That's right fans! If there was ever any question about Wladimir being in his big brother's shadow, those questions have been answered tonight! With his balance of technical skill, speed, and power, Wladimir was able to overcome his brother's enormous punching power. But how exactly did he do it; was it an all out slug fest, or was it a chess match? Read on to find out!

If the Klitschko brothers ever did step into the ring, the resulting fight would be a game of wits, technical inclination, and strategy. As mentioned before, both of these brothers are avid chess players; while both rely on their power for many of their wins, they are simply too smart to go in there and try to slug it out with each other.
And it is in this area where we at Athletes and Eras feel that Wladimir Klitschko has the advantage. His quick jab, powerful one-two combination, and "safety first" style of fighting would carry him to a victory. With that being said, it would not be an easy fight for the younger Klitschko.

Round One:
Like we said, Vitali and Wladimir are too smart to slug it out. Therefore, Wladimir would immediately start to set the pace of the fight using his jab. But Vitali, a natural counter puncher, would be ready for this and he too would start landing punches. Wladimir would be tempted to brawl but his strategic brain would not allow him to. Wladimir would continue striking with the jab and would follow up with his powerful right hand. So with his quick jab Wladimir would win the round on points, though no real damage would be done to either fighter.
Round Two-Five:
Rounds two-five would likely be a repeat of round one with Wladimir scoring well using his jab and Vitali counter punching and scoring as well. Towards the end of the fourth or fifth round however, Wladimir's weak chin would come into play and he may find himself stunned by one of Vitali's strong counter punches and may find himself pinned against the ropes.
Round Six-Ten:
In round six, having been unable to shake off the damage from the earlier rounds, Wladimir may be stunned again or maybe even go down. He would survive however, and continue using his jab and lightning fast one-two combination to score on Vitali's face, which would inevitably begin to bruise and swell.
In rounds seven-ten, Wladimir would start to apply pressure to Vitali, focusing less on speed and more on power. Wladimir would cut Vitali's face, probably either below the left eye or over the right eye. As the rounds progress, any cut would continue to be hit and therefore get worse.
Rounds Eleven and Twelve:
At the beginning of the eleventh round, a ring doctor would be called to inspect the cut on Vitali's face. The doctor, at this point, would likely say it was fine, but would still be wary. As round eleven progresses however, Wladimir's balance of speed and power would continue to be effective and the fight would be stopped due to the cut.

"The winner by TKO in the eleventh round, Wladimir Klitschko!"

In conclusion, Vitali's tough chin would serve him well for most of the fight, but his soft skin would be his undoing. Wladimir's balance of technical skill and sheer power would be too much. So, while Wladimir's chin is not very strong, his strategic style of fighting and defensive skill would allow him to be the victor. It would be an incredibly tough and competitive fight, with both brothers taking some damage. But in the end, Wladimir is the one who would go home with the win and as a show of sportsmanship, treat his big brother to a smoothie. Good job Wladimir.


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Klitschko vs. Klitschko: Tale of the Tape!!

Vitali Klitschko
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 245 lbs.
Reach: 80 in.
Current Record: 43(40)-2-0
Strengths: Incredible punching power, impeccable chin, consistent performance (even as he's reached 40 years old!), excellent counter-puncher
Weaknesses: tends to get cut around the eye, especially when facing other punchers (i.e., Lennox Lewis); a previous shoulder injury (torn rotator cuff), though there has been no sign of any lasting effect
Since turning pro in 1996, Klitschko has been a dominant force in heavyweight boxing. He's a two-time heavyweight champion and has the highest knockout rate of any heavyweight champion.

Wladimir Klitschko
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 242
Reach: 81 in.
Current record: 56(49)-3-0
Strengths: perfect balance of punching power and technical skill; has one of the best jabs the boxing world has ever seen, and a right-cross punch that could take out an elephant; very methodical and strategic fighter who places emphasis on safety while maintaining his ability to hurt opponents in many different ways
Weaknesses: gets into trouble when stunned; gas runs low around the 10th round or so
Unlike many younger brothers in the sport, Wladimir Klitschko has carved his own legacy and has completely avoided getting trapped under big bro's shadow. He currently holds five world titles: IBF, WBO, Super WBA, Super IBO, and Ring Magazine Heavyweight Championship. His trainer, Emmanuel Steward, has called him one of the hardest punchers in history.

What's going to happen when these two brothers collide? Vitali is a counter-puncher, unusual for such a big guy, with a great chin and tons of power. Wladimir is a well-balanced, well-rounded boxer-puncher who brings both power and technical skill to the ring, with very fast hands to boot. Both brothers are avid chess players and often compare a game of chess to a boxing match. Is that how their fight tomorrow is going to be? A chess game with both fighters strategically placing their pawns and waiting for the right time to strike? Or will it be an absolute slug-fest with both fighters putting their tremendous power on display? Can't wait to find out! Tune in tomorrow, only on Athletes and Eras!

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Klitschko vs Klitschko: Wladimir Profile 2

Good evening fans! What you just witnessed is Wladimir Klitschko fighting David Haye, something he has wanted to do since 2009. Klitschko dominated the fight, using his powerful fists and mind as one.

Since Wladimir has started boxing, he has been a dominant force in the ring. He is known as Dr. Steel Hammer (combining his brainpower and fighting power) and people have lauded his progress since he won the Super-Heavyweight gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
His current ring record is 56 (49) - 3. His last loss was in 2004, and since then he has refused to bow to any opponent.

Vitali and Wladimir have been a dominant force in the heavyweight division for the past decade. They're similar in almost every way; hell, they even look alike in a lot of ways. So what we want to do right now is talk about a few of their differences going into this fight on Sunday. Vitali's offense relies almost entirely on his sheer punching power, which is almost unmatched in boxing history. He currently holds the record for highest knockout percentage at 93%. In fact, the only active fighter who could compare to Vitali's power would be Wladimir.
On the other hand, while Wladimir's power is also very impressive (29 KO's), he is more "technically inclined" than his older brother. He relies on a quick jab and powerful right cross to guide him through the fight and build a points lead instead of relying on sheer force. This is why you see many of Wladimir's KO's happening later in fights than Vitali's.

So what's going to happen when these two brothers clash in the ring? Will Vitali's incredible power be enough to dominate Wladimir's own power and technical skill? Find out this Sunday on Athletes and Eras!

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Klitschko vs. Klitschko: Vitali Profile 2

Good evening fans! We here at Athletes and Eras are even more excited about this fight than ever! We hope you are, too!We left off with Vitali Klitschko defending his four titles. His first defense was against Juan Carlos Gomez, and Vitali dominated that fight. In the ninth round, Vitali won by TKO, but it was obvious our boy would win from the beginning. Vitali has continued to reign over the heavyweight division, accumulating 43 wins with 40 knockouts; for you math freaks who are crunching away at your calculators, that's a. 88% knockout rate, the highest in all of heavyweight boxing history.

Vitali has continued his long and impressive string of victories, knocking out 5 of his last 6 opponents. For the last ten years, he and his brother Wladimir have been a dominant, nigh unbeatable. They each have a legitimate claim to the heavyweight championship of the world, the only two brothers in boxing history to reign simultaneously. Yet both fighters have agreed that they would never meet in the ring to see who is the better brother. Well, in our ring, we're going to find out! We can honestly say that this is the most excited we have ever been for a match-up! You should be excited too! Don't forget to tune in this Sunday to see who wins! It's an event of global proportions!

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Klitschko vs. Klitschko: Wladimir Profile 1

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, here at Athletes and Eras, we are proud to continue this grand event, and we're going to tell you a little bit about the younger Klitschko brother, Wladimir.

Wladimir Klitschko is the holds the champion title for the WBA Super Heavyweight, IBF, WBO Super Heavyweight, IBO, and Ring Magazine. He holds the record for the longest reigning champion with the IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, and is the 7th longest reigning heavyweight champion in history!
And like his brother, Wladimir has some serious brain power. He has a Ph. D in Sports Science and is fluent in 5 languages.
But it took a lot of work to get to where he is today, and we're happy to show you his rise to power!

Wladimir started his amateur career in 1993 at the Junior European Championships. His class was heavyweight, and he won the championship title. From then on, he was unstoppable.
In 1994, he received second place at the Junior World Championships (not bad for an amateur, right?). In 1995 he won the gold medal at the Military Championships in Italy. His record was 134-6, as an amateur. The next year, at the Olympics, he earned the gold medal!

This Klitschko started off his professional career with 24 consecutive wins! In 2000, he earned his first world title (the WBO). He fought Chris Byrd after his brother's technical loss, and ended up besting the man in fighting and points. Wladimir defended this title for 5 fights, but lost it to Corrie Sanders.

Klitschko fought his way back to the title shot in 2004, but sadly lost this fight to Lamon Brewster. But don't worry fans, that didn't discourage this heavyweight.!
Wladimir started fighting with renewed vigor - taking out first DaVarryl Williamson, then Eliseo Castillo (who, until then, had been undefeated), and finally Samuel Peter. That fight opened up the WBO challenges again, and Wladimir went up to fight Chris Byrd again.

Wladimir handed defeat to Chris Byrd, and the next fighter, and the next until he won the WBO title in 2008. He now held the IBO, IBF, and WBO belts. He unified the belts, which hadn't been done since the Holyfield-Lewis fight in 1999!
In 2009, Klitschko won the Ring Magazine heavyweight title.

In 2010, Wladimir called out David Haye, who had previously found excuses to not fight him and his brother. A fight was going to happen in September of 2010, but Haye pulled out at the last minute, claiming he'd rather fight the elder Klitschko. (If you ask us, David Haye was too scared to fight Wladimir.)
But Wladimir got his chance to fight Haye in 2011. And, as expected, the Klitschko tore Haye a new one!

And as a final fun fact, Wladimir Klitschko is an actor! You can see him in Ocean's Eleven!

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Klitschko vs. Klitschko: Vitali Profile 1

Since this special event is so big, we here at Athletes and Eras have expanded our writing duties. So don't be worried if you notice this post sounds a bit different than what you fans are used to.

Vitali Klitschko, the older of the Klitschko brothers, isn't just a powerhouse in the ring, he's got the smarts to back him up. Now, one would think that Vitali's vigorous career in boxing and kickboxing might have a negative effect on his intelligence, but he has definitely proven that myth wrong. This Klitschko has a Ph.D in Sports Science and a seat in the Kiev City Council!
Vitali started his fighting career in 1992 as an amateur kickboxer. He turned pro in 1996 and collected an impressive record of 34-1, 22 by knockout! Not to mention he was world champion 6 times over his entire kickboxing career (yes, we're counting the amateur years, too)!

Towards the end of his amateur years, Vitali fought in the World Military Games and won the title of super heavyweight champion. He then won the silver medal at the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships. In 1996, he went pro with boxing as well, and earned the WBO heavyweight title, which he defended twice.
Vitali had a multitude of challengers and opponents during his career. He lost the WBO title to Chris Byrd (he suffered a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder), but after his shoulder healed he bounced back with five wins in a row - and that gave him a shot at the WBC heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis.
Vitali might have won the title during this fight if he hadn't been cut over the eye by Lewis. He was ahead on the judges scorecards when the fight was stopped. Lennox Lewis won the fight by TKO - Vitali's ring doctor wouldn't let the fight continue because it could have caused severe eye damage. Lewis retired soon after this fight, so a rematch was out of the question.

At the time of the fight, Vitali and his younger brother were getting settled into LA. After Lewis' retirement, Vitali beat Corrie Sanders and won the WBC heavyweight title. He defended this title fight after fight, until 2005, when he announced he would be retiring. However, in 2007, he came out of retirement, but could not fight - he had various health problems.
In 2008, the WBC gave Vitali a chance to get his title back. He fought Samuel Peter and won back the title when Peter threw in the towel - we at Athletes and Eras are proud to say that after 4 years in retirement, Vitali was able to intimidate and outfight the reigning champion!
This victory made Vitali Klitschko the fourth man in boxing history to hold 3 versions of the same title!

Vitali has defended this title 7 times as of November 2011.

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Klitschko vs. Klitschko: Brotherly Love pt.1

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are very excited to announce that we are working on our first Athletes and Eras Special Event: Brotherly Love! We're going to be looking back on two pairs of boxing brothers that have influenced this great sport and see who would come out on top. Then, the winners of those two fights will face off against each other! It's all about brotherly love, and we can't wait to see who comes out on top!

In Part 1 of our Brotherly Love Special, we're going to have the great Klitschko brothers going head-to-head. "But wait, both the Klitschko bros are still active fighters at the same time; how is it a comparison of different eras?" Well, it is true that both Klitschkos are actively fighting today, but we want to bring to your attention that both brothers have promised never to fight each other in the ring. And we really want to see who would come out on top if these two brothers really did go at it in the squared circle! Don't you?! Tune in next week to see!!

Vitali Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko

           VS.






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And the winner is...!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, we here at Athletes and Eras have been conducting countless research, digging up as many facts as possible about these two fighters. Lyoto Machida and Antonio Inoki both have incredible skills and assets that we're sure would be utilized to the fullest in a fight against each other. That is why we are forced to declare that this fight is a tie! That's right, fans! We have our first tie in a fight.

You see, we've concluded that Machida's technical skill and ring mastership can only be matched by Inoki's versatility and wide range of martial arts mastery. Originally, we figured that Machida's lighter weight and superior speed giving him the advantage, but then we carefully watched the footage of the 220-pound Inoki running and jump-kicking the great Hulk Hogan, who is by no means a small man.This convinced us that Inoki, despite his heavier frame, could keep up with Machida in a fight.

In conclusion, we simply couldn't find an area where one fighter had a decisive advantage over the other. It would be an incredible and entertaining fight that would keep all fans on the edge of their respective seats. We here would love to see it.

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Inoki vs. Machida: Tale of the Tape

Lyoto Machida
Height: 6'1
Weight: 205 lbs.
74 in. reach, Southpaw stance
3rd Degree Black Belt Shotokan Karate, Black Belt Brazilian Jiujitsu

Nicknamed "The Dragon," you'll struggle to find someone who's more well-balanced or as technically inclined as Lyoto Machida. He can just about do it all: striking, grappling, and submissions are no strangers to him. His unique "Machida Karate" was led hom to 17 victories, six knockouts, two submissions, and nine decisions.

VS.

Kanji "Antonio" Inoki
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 220 lbs.
Shoot wrestling, Hook Wrestling, Kansuiryu Karate

Considered a pioneer of modern MMA fighting, Antonio Inoki was a dominant figure in Japanese professional wrestling for a great many years, including the founding of Japan's biggest promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling. He also participated in several mixed-skills fights, and was one of the founders of Kansuiryu Karate, one of the few styles to utilize full-contact training. In retirement, he began promoting and managing up-and-coming MMA fighters, including a young Lyoto Machida.

So what's going to happen when these two titans collide? Find out tomorrow, only on Athletes and Eras!
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Inoki vs. Machida: Inoki Profile 2

Antonio Inoki was an instant smash sensation from the get-go. He first began working for the Japan Wrestling Association, where he was unfortunately overshadowed by Giant Baba, his fellow wrestling classmate under Rikidozan. From there, he moved on to Tokyo Pro Wrestling in 1966, where he became their biggest star. Unfortunately, Inoki's timing was poor; Tokyo Pro Wrestling folded a year later. Inoki returned to the Japan Wrestling Association, where he became Giant Baba's tag-team partner. They two dominated the tag-team ranks for many years until Inoki was fired from the JWA for trying to plan a takeover.

Following this, Inoki made the best move of his career: he founded New Japan Pro Wrestling, bringing in several thousand fans on a weekly draw. They were only rivaled by America's WWE, and had several cross-promotional matches, resulting in several of Inoki's most historical matches, including this unforgettable image of Inoki fighting the great Hulk Hogan.

But, while Inoki wasn't busy ranking up wins against wrestlers, he was also involved in several historic mixed-skills matches. A mixed-skill match is when a fighter of one discipline fights a fighter of another discipline (i.e. boxer vs. wrestler, karate vs. muay thai, etc.). Inoki fought everyone under the sun: boxers, karate fighters, judo fighters, sumo wrestlers, kung fu fighters, and more. He was very successful in these fights, knocking out the likes of Everett Eddy and severely damaging the legs of Muhammad Ali. This was the very beginning of Mixed Martial Arts, and Inoki is regarded today as a true pioneer of professional fighting. He founded Kansuiryu Karate, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010,. the first Japanese person to be inducted. 

Antonio Inoki now spends his days on the managing side of fighting, promoting several MMA events and guiding young fighters on their way to the top. Such fighters include his opponent this Sunday, Lyoto Machida. What's going to happen when these two warriors finally meet up in the ring? We here at Athletes and Eras are so excited, we can't think straight! Don't forget to tune in!

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Inoki vs. Machida: Machida Profile 2

On May 2, 2003, Lyoto Machida made his MMA debut against Kengo Watanabe in Tokyo, and so began an undefeated streak that would last seven years and 16 fights. He defeated Watanabe by decision, and then proceeded to knock out Stephan Bonnar, an American MMA fighter. Then, in possible the biggest fight of his rising career, Machida TKO'd Rich Franklin in front of 40,000 fans in Kobe, Japan with a powerful kick follpowed by several punches...

Incredible... Notice that Machida fights in a southpaw stance, utilizing the awkward right lead to confuse orthodox opponents, then followed by the powerful left, which orthodox fighters aren't used to blocking. From here on, Machida began competing in K-1, a respected MMA venue where many fighters get their start. It was also here at K-1 that Machida demonstrated his grappling prowess, defeating Sam Greco by unanimous decision.

Machida made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February 2007, beating Same Hoger by unanimous decision. He kept the decisions coming by beating David Heath and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

Before moving on to Machida's championship fight with Rashad Evans, let's take a second to analyze his unique fighting style. Unlike many other fights who are going for the stoppage, either by knockout or submission, Machida emphasizes technical skill and prefers to defeat opponents by decision rather than go for the stoppage. While he does have a few notable knockouts and stoppage wins, the majority of his victories have come by decision. And with a 17-2 record, why change a winning recipe? And now, onto Machida's first championship victory over Rashad Evans...

Wow...What else can we say? With that incredible knockout, Machida earned the UFC Light heavyweight Championship, a title he would hold for nearly a year. His fight with Evans, though, earned Machida the Knockout of the Night Award, which we all believe he righteously deserved. Machida went on to have a pair of epic fights with Mauricio Rua, winning one and losing the other. His most recent fight, a knockout win over MMA living legend Randy Couture, earned him his second Knockout of the Night Award. Machida has truly earned the name "The Dragon." Let's see how he does this Sunday against Antonio Inoki.


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Inoki vs. Machida: Inoki Profile 1

In the history of professional wrestling, or perhaps even the history of all combat sports, you may never find someone who has had more influence on the way we view fighting than Antonio Inoki. for over 30 years, he dominated professional wrestling in the Japan, and founded Japan's biggest wrestling company: New Japan Pro Wrestling.

"But wait, pro wrestling's fake, isn't it?" Yes, folks. We all know about how fights are organized and blah blah blah. But, in addition to professional wrestling, Inoki was a pioneer of MMA. He is one of the founders of Kansuiryu Karate, which is one of the few karate techniques to actually utilize full contact training. And at 6'2", 220 pounds in his prime, he was a powerhouse of grappling. He was also one of the earliest wrestlers to actively practice both shoot and catch wrestling. That is, he would often break away from the scripted fights and would frequently utilize an array of submission holds. His fight with Lyoto Machida, who he would later manage as a young MMA fighter, should prove to be exciting.

Antonio Inoki was born Kanji Inoki on February 20th, 1943. He was born into a well-off family and had a pretty typical youth. He began training in Karate during the 6th grade, as well as winning awards for track and field competition. When he was 14, his family moved to Brazil to get away from the harsh post-war times. There, he met Mitsuhiro Momota, also known as the wrestler Rikidōzan. It was this meeting that led to Inoki's beginning in the evolving t of professional wrestling.

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Machida vs. Inoki: Machida Profile 1

You know, not many people out there can claim that they've been training in martial arts since they were three years old. Lyoto Machida is NOT one of those people.

Born in Brazil on May 30th, 1978, Lyoto Machida is the son of Yoshizo Machida, a high-ranking member of the Japan Karate Association. Yoshizo began training his son, Lyoto, in Shotokan Karate when he was only three years old. Shotokan is one of the five sacred forms of karate, and one of the few to successfully utilize elbows, knees, take-downs, and even a few submissions. Machida has said "It is a very traditional form. It differs from sports karate which we usually see in Karate schools and competitions as it has many elements which were lost in the style..."


In addition to training in Karate (he earned his black-belt at the age of 13), Machida began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a highly explosive submission-based style. He also began training in, believe it or not, Sumo wrestling. Does Lyoto Machida look like a traditional sumo wrestler? We don't think so...

Around the late 1990's and early 2000's, Machida began winning several amateur karate tournaments, as well as other martial arts tournaments, including the 2001 Pan American Karate tournament. He is also a two-time Brazilian champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He even once was victorious in a great fight against Chinzo Machida,m his own younger brother and fellow Shotokan Karate fighter. After compiling several wins and few losses, Machida decided to enter the world of MMA, being managed by none other than legendary wrestler and MMA pioneer... Antonio Inoki! That's right, fans, the man who guided a young Machida into the MMA world is none other than the man he will be facing this sunday on Athletes and Eras! Let's get excited!

We're back! And it's Lyoto Machida vs. Antonio Inoki!!

Hey, fans! Hope your turkey was good, ours was fantastic! Anyway, we're back again and all of our internal work is finished! We figured out what exactly we wanted to do here, and we've decided to change our focus to be only on the exciting worlds of MMA and Boxing! And now, let's build some excitement for next week's match-up: Lyoto Machida vs. Antonio Inoki! Who will win? Will it be Machida with his tactical Machida Karate fighting style; or will it be Inoki, a powerful wrestler with a leg kick that could cripple you? Find out next week, only on Athletes and Eras!
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