Machida-Rua Announced for UFC 104

[Shogun Locc]

UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will make his first title defense against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104 on Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. UFC President Dana White confirmed the headliner during a broadcast of “The Ultimate Fighter 9” finale on Spike TV.

Machida (15-0) sent Rashad Evans to the canvas with flurry of punches in the second round at UFC 98 on May 23. However, the 31-year-old Japanese-Brazilian fighter was the odd man out after UFC brass opted to have Evans coach season 10 of the reality series against rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson beginning in June.

That doesn’t mean the undefeated champion –- who’s gone 7-0 in the Octagon -- will get off easy though.

Rua (18-3) flipped Chuck Liddell’s light switch off during a first-round stand-off at UFC 97 on April 18 in Montreal. The decisive performance ushered back in the high-caliber athlete fans had reveled in during the Brazilian’s days in Pride Fighting Championships.

The 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix champion has gone 2-1 since transferring to the Octagon. Rua was submitted by Forrest Griffin in his debut in September 2007, underwent extensive knee surgery, and then took his sophomore effort against Mark Coleman at UFC 93 in January.

 

[UCDgreek]

looking forward to this. shogun is so well rounded.

 

[BROWN GUERRERO]

Fuuuuck 2 of my favorite fighters facing off. I will root for Machida just because I want some stability in the LHW division.

 

[Arson]

LOL@shogun getting a title shot after beating two 40 year old fighters.

 

[MrPeete]

LOL@shogun getting a title shot after beating two 40 year old fighters.

Who else should get it? He's the best available cat right now, no?

 

[Shogun Locc]

I would rather see RAMPAGE get the title shot instead and see Shogun rematch Forrest or fight rashad.

 

[MrPeete]

Available being the operative word here :lick:

 

[BROWN GUERRERO]

Honestly i'd rather see Rampage vs Rashad because I know Rampage wants to whoop dat ass so it's good Machida is fighting Shogun.

 

[PsyDaL]

How come UFC hasnt tried putting another UFC in Brazi,l especially with a fight as big as this one. His knees having been holding up well and his cardio is improving and this should test whether he's the real deal or mma has caught up to his youthful skills....

 

[B-Buzz]

wooowwwww Shogun's +400 right now

 

[STICK-N-MOVE]

rampage and rashad is gonna go at it for the finale on the next ultimate fighter. winner of that should be against whoever wins machida vs shogun. most likely machida.

 

[BCnuggets]

Machida is going to have this title for a couple years, i'm pretty sure he is highly untouchable right now.

 

[killahoe666]

Machida is going to have this title for a couple years, i'm pretty sure he is highly untouchable right now.

no one is untouchable in MMA

 

[Phil Peñafiel]

I hope Machida knocks out Rua....

 

[WXS STOMP3R]

I REALLY DONT THINK RUA IS GOING TO DO SO WELL. IMO BEATING CHUCK ISNT TOO BIG OF A FEAT AT THIS POINT. AND HE LOOKED REALLY AWFUL AGAINST COLEMAN

 

[BCnuggets]

no one is untouchable in MMA

No one, Except Machida, I stand by that until someone can atleast take a round from the dude.

 

[MrPeete]

No one, Except Machida, I stand by that until someone can atleast take a round from the dude.

He's only not lost a round in the UFC. He's had fights outside of the organization where he's supposedly lost rounds.

Tito Ortiz almost tapped him in their fight so he's not untouchable

 

[lenbiasyayo]

i dont see the dragon loosin for a while

 

[MrPeete]

i dont see the dragon loosin for a while

As long as he doesn't make the same mistake that Evans did. All those guys are on such a high level, they look for that ONE thing that they can exploit to get an edge. If that's all you train for, what happens when you get into the fight, and it's not there?

 

[King Spadez]

UFC is off the chain this year! I think Machida got this.