The UFC Blog

Los Angeles, California – Yet another robbery was reported in L.A. this past Saturday night, as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was robbed of the UFC light heavyweight championship by three insane men.  

Rua punished champion Lyoto Machida for five rounds with a barrage of leg and body kicks in the main event of UFC 104.  It looked like Rua did just enough to slay “The Dragon.”

Or so we thought.

The Staples Center crowd and the millions watching on pay-per-view were all in shock as Bruce Buffer announced that all three judges scored the bout 48-47 in favor of the champion.  
  
Both fighters were patient on the offensive end, as they felt each other out.  Rua opted to give his hands a bit of a rest as his feet did most of the talking.  He pummeled the legs and ribs of Machida leaving beat read welts.  

Machida would land his fair share of punishment, but Rua seemed to land the more devastating blows.  

Well that’s what I saw during the fight.  It was obvious that the judges must have been watching a different fight than the rest of us.  

There’s not much else to say, Rua got robbed and according to Dana White a rematch is already in the works.  

And for those who say, “You have to beat the champ to be the champ,” explain why Rampage Jackson lost his belt to Forrest Griffin?

Moving on…

Heavyweight Phenom Cain Velasquez improved his record to 7-0 with a total destruction of Ben Rothwell in the night’s co-main event.  

Velasquez did everything but rape Rothwell in the first round.  His ground and pound was vicious and he nearly ended the fight in round one.

A gutsy Ben Rothwell held on and was hungry for more punishment.

Velasquez served up more knuckle sandwiches in round two as he secured a single leg takedown.  He pinned Rothwell up against the cage and let loose with crushing blows to the dome.  

Just as Rothwell was about to get up, Referee Steve Mazzagatti put an end to the beatings.  It was just 43 seconds into round two.  Rothwell protested the premature stoppage, but his face told the whole story.

The fight was over and Velasquez is one scary Mexican.

The same old story for Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau played out in their lightweight match.

Neer was unable to defend takedowns and after a stellar first round Tibau gassed.

However Tibau was able to impress the judges in rounds one and three to secure the unanimous decision.  

Neer hand no answer for the strength of Tibau, but was able to land some combinations in round two.  Round three was much like round one as Tibau, running on empty, secured a few takedowns while securing the fight as well.

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson has seemed to have found a new home in New Mexico.  Under the tutelage of Greg Jackson, Stevenson won his second straight fight in the UFC.  

Stevenson out-muscled Spencer Fisher in round one scoring a late takedown.  

Round two was a continuation of round one as Stevenson scored another takedown.  Stevenson had more time to dish out punishment this go around.  

“Daddy” was able to secure side control setting up a crucifix.  With Fisher’s arm trapped, Stevenson landed a plethora of elbows that put an end to the fight with less than minute to go.

Stevenson snapped the three fight win streak of Fisher’s and looks to be back on track.

An overweight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was booed perhaps for the first time in his young career, but it didn’t matter.

As the cage door closed, Johnson let the tiger out of his cage and it straight mauled Yoshiyuki Yoshida.  

After a few warm-up punches, Johnson landed a crushing right hand that put the Japanese welterweight asleep.  Mazzagatti stopped the fight with just 41 ticks off the clock.  

Johnson has been on a tear as of late and I for one can’t wait to see him fight a top five welterweight.  

Pat Barry earned “KO of the night” and “fight of the night” with Antoni Hardonk.
Stefan Struve earned “submission of the night.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
• Lyoto Machida def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
• Cain Velasquez def. Ben Rothwell via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 0:58
• Gleison Tibau def. Josh Neer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Joe Stevenson def. Spencer Fisher via TKO (elbows) - Round 1, 4:03
• Anthony Johnson def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida via kncokout (punch) - Round 1, 0:41
PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
• Ryan Bader defeats Eric Schafer by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-26, 30-27)
• Pat Barry def. Antoni Hardonk by TKO (punches) - Round 2, 2:30
• Chael Sonnen def. Yushin Okami via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons via TKO (punches) - Round 3, 1:53
• Kyle Kingsbury def. Razak Al-Hassan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Stefan Struve def. Chase Gormley via submission (triangle choke) - Round 1,

Los Angeles, California – The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to “The City of Angels” tonight for UFC 104.  Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida defends his light heavyweight title against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the night’s main event.

If that fight alone doesn’t tickle your fancy; we have a few more for ya.  

Heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Ben Rothwell will duke it out.  Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will be in action, as well as lightweights Josh Neer and Joe “Daddy” Stevenson.  

Since escaping from an air tight triangle choke from my boy Tito Ortiz at UFC 84, Lyoto Machida has been on a knockout spree as he’s knocked out Thiago Silva and most recently Rashad Evans.  

Machida (15-0) captured the light heavyweight title from Evans at UFC 98 and even had Evans doing the “stanky leg” as he knocked him out.  

He’ll get his chance to defend his crown against the 2005 Pride Middleweight grand prix winner “Shogun” Rua.  

Rua has had a rough going since coming to the UFC two years ago.  An embarrassing defeat to Forrest Griffin and then an injury sidelined him for over a year; Shogun looks to be back at one hundred percent.  

He earned his title shot with a decision victory over Mark Coleman and most recently he knocked out Chuck Liddell in April.  

Rua (18-3) is a dangerous striker, but was known early on in his career for an equally impressive ground game.  As aggressive as anyone, it might behoove Rua to tame his aggression.  His former Chute Boxe colleague Thiago Silva used the aggressive approach against Machida and was laid out five minutes in.  

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of game plan Rua brings, but he should go back to his roots and see if he can roll with Machida; if he can get him down.  Machida hasn’t faced a grappler of Rua’s caliber since his fight with BJ Penn many moons ago.

Elusive is the most common adjective to describe the champ.  Entering his eighth fight I’m still not sure if Machida has been hit yet.  

His striking is crisp and fresh, footwork is “Dancing with the Stars” material and his unibrow would make that baby in “The Simpsons” jealous.

What else is there to say?

Machida karate is back and here to stay.  The first round or so will be boring as they feel each other out.  Once round three comes around, Machida will have figured out Rua’s timing and put him to sleep.  

Who’s next for the champ?  

“Big” Ben Rothwell’s (30-6) dream of fighting in the UFC has come true, but the nightmare begins tonight as he faces heavyweight Phenom Cain Velasquez.  

Velasquez dominated Cheick Kongo (6-0) in his last fight and was even rocked on three different occasions.  Velasquez backed up the hype of being big, strong and fast, but also proved that his chin may be made of granite.  

Rothwell’s last big fight was against Andrei Arlovski last July.  He was defeated by the former UFC champ in a gutsy performance.  Arlovski is notorious to have a glass chin and had no trouble shaking off the power punches of Rothwell.  

With that being said, I don’t see Velasquez having much trouble with Rothwell’s striking.  He shook off the blasts from Kongo and Kongo packs more punch than Rothwell ever could.  

Bet the house on Velasquez, as he punishes Rothwell for three rounds.  

The almost always entertaining Josh Neer is back in lightweight action as he faces BJJ ace Gleison Tibau.  

Both fighters are coming off disappointing defeats and jobs may be on the line tonight.  

Neer (25-8-1) is the more well rounded fighter of the two, but was overpowered in his last fight against Kurt Pellegrino.  Tibau (19-6) is big and strong for a lightweight, but his cardio has always come into question.  

If Neer can stay off his back, he should have the edge standing up.  He has the tools to earn a decision victory tonight and should come out on top.

Technique vs. raw talent will be showcased as Japanese judoka Yoshiyuki Yoshida will rumble Anthony Johnson in welterweight action.  

At six feet two inches “Rumble” Johnson (7-2) might be the biggest welterweight in the UFC as he is rumored to cut up to fifty pounds.  He weighed in at 176; five pounds over the 171 lb. weight limit.  

Yoshida (11-3) is much smaller than Johnson and I hope he’s prepared to get bullied during this fight.  Johnson is too solid of a striker to let Yoshida get inside to grapple him.  It’s going to be a short night for the Japanese star.

Johnson via first round head kick.

Guillotine choke specialist Joe Stevenson will open up the PPV card as he faces Spencer “The King” Fisher in lightweight action.

Fisher (23-4) is on a three fight win streak, but it ends tonight as Stevenson out muscles him for three rounds.  

Stevenson (30-10) has switched camps to the Jackson camp in New Mexico and will impose his will on Fisher tonight.  

Stevenson via lay and pray, unanimous decision victory.  

Tune into SpikeTV an hour before the PPV for two preliminary fights.  

UFC 104 – Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
• Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua (light heavyweight title fight)
• Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez
• Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
• Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson
• Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
• Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
• Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk
PRELIMINARY CARD (Not televised)
• Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
• Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera
• Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
• Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

For Immediate Release

Contact: Stephanie Forte, sforte@fortecreativemedia.com
Ph. 702.898.2547 Cell 702.596.9866

LAS VEGAS  (October 20, 2009) – XYIENCE, the official energy drink of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), brings legendary fighter Wanderlei Silva to New York City on Sunday, Oct. 25. Silva will sign autographs at Duane Reade, located on 1350 Broadway, near Herald Square, from noon – 2 p.m. The Brazilian-born Silva has achieved iconic status in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), stacking up 32 wins, most of them by knockout, in his illustrious career. Silva’s appearance coincides with the MMA World Expo, to be held Oct. 24 – 25 at the Javits Center in New York City.  

XYIENCE’s Xenergy Premium hit the shelves of Duane Reade stores in Manhattan just two months ago, as a result of the brand’s relationship with New York-based Exclusive Beverage Distribution.  The distributor, established in 1960 with more than 250 stores in commercial and residential neighborhoods of New York, anticipates a large turnout for the event.

Through its sponsorship of the UFC, the XYIENCE brand reaches 420 million households worldwide.  The UFC’s current television distribution allows sponsors like XYIENCE to reach 40 million U.S. households and 380 million households outside the U.S. in over 100 countries and territories, with programming delivered in 20 languages.

About XYIENCE
XYIENCE nutritional products provide clean, sustainable energy necessary for an active lifestyle.  Established in Las Vegas in 2004, XYIENCE is one of the fastest-growing brands in its category.  All products are held to the most stringent standards of excellence to enable professional and amateur athletes and fitness enthusiasts to reach their goals in training and life.

Xenergy (A combination of Zen and Energy, pronounced “Zen-ergy”)
XYIENCE supports the mixed martial arts lifestyle.  Its energy drink, Xenergy, and its energy shot, X Shot, are the official energy drink and energy shot of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  The first energy drink created by a nutrition company, Xenergy has zero calories and is a sugar-free drink fortified with vitamins.  All-natural flavors provide a consistent supply of energy, sans the “crash” inherent with most other energy drink brands.  Xenergy Premium Energy flavors include Cherry Lime, Cran Razz, Mango Guava and Blu Pom.  Xenergy Xtreme Energy flavors include Lemon Blast, Citrus Slam, Cherry Rush and Apple Jak’d.  Xenergy is available in retail stores throughout the United States and Canada.  Visit www.xyience.com for details.

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