UFC 104 Machida VS Shogun Preview
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
