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

I know UFC 100 is coming up and Machida isn’t fighting, but i stumbled upon this cool interview from a portugese website.  Machida will be fighting Shogun Rua sometime in October (24?) most likely UFC 104

IT is long!

Cool interview. Terra.com translated;

Terra.com: Did MMA joined into Lyoto Machida Era?

Lyoto Machida: I think it’s too early to talk like that. Now that I’m just became the champion I still have a lot to prove. It’s very hard to take the UFC belt, keeping it is even harder. There is a lot of good fighters in my division. I think it’s a bit too early to say that we joined an Era of this or that fighter. Someday I’ll be able to talk like that but only if I keep the belt after a lot of title fights.

Terra.com: The fight with Rashad was easier than you would imagine?

Lyoto Machida: The fight was very hard, regardless the fact it was a short fight. In our division any strike can finish the fight. The fight was very strategical. In the beginning I didn’t expose myself, neithere did him. In the first opportunity I could catch him. The fight was very strategical and hard. He wasn’t giving me any gaps to attack. I’ve just commented with my brother that the guy is a bad ass.

Terra.com: When you saw Rashad knocked out and realized that you were the new UFC LHW champion, what was your first thought?

Lyoto Machida: In that moment I just didn’t believe in what I was seeing. I thought "whoa, I really won". I didn’t believe on that. It was just like a dream! The the time was passing by and I saw him standing up, and I saw everything around me and the I’ve realized I was the champion. But when I KOed him, I didn’t get it.

Terra.com: What did you hear from Yoshizo (his father and master) when the fight ended?

Lyoto Machida: He said "Congratulations, let’s keep fighting like that!". He just said that. He doesn’t talk too much.

Terra.com: What was your hardest fight in UFC?

Lyoto Machida: It’s hard to say, because every fight had its own difficulty leve. Some fights were harder, some fights were not so hard. I think the fight against Tito Ortiz was the hardest. There was the psychological factor. He was having some troubles with Dana and had the crowd support, they even shouted his name. Everything for me was new. At the end of fight he almost submitted me. He locked a triangle. I felt like everything was fading out but I wanted to escape from there very bad. Then he got my arm. My arm got injured for a week after the fight but my will to escape were bigger than that.

Terra.com: Did Dana talk to you alone after the fight? What did he say?

Lyoto Machida: Well, he just saluted me for the title. He said he was shocked with the Machida Karate. He was like he wasn’t believing in what just happened. But he didn’t talk too much.

Terra.com: Did the UFC invited you to be a coach in TUF? Why did you refuse?

Lyoto Machida: I didn’t refuse. Actually they said my English is not good enough so they said whenever I improve my English then they will invite me again.

Terra.com: Before you last fight Rampage compared you to a cheetah because according him you only rund around the ring. He even said if he was the UFC president he would never give you a title shot because the lack of excitement your style has. After two consecutive knockouts, what is your answer to Rampage?

Lyoto Machida: I respect his opinion. Actually I don’t care what they think about me. I would like to face him, I would like to test my technique with his technique then we could see who is the best fighter. He already proved he is an awesome fighter but I do believe in my style/technique.

Terra.com: Rampage always trashtalks about you and your style. Does it bother you?

Lyoto Machida: Not at all, this sport is professional. Every single person has his very own opinion. He is a guy who does a lot of marketing, he likes that, trashtalking, insulting, he promotes himself doing stuff like that. I’m the opposite. I’m a quiet fighter. I know I’m not like he says (boring) and it doesn’t affect me, I just get stronger.

Terra.com: Rampage opted to fight Rashad before fighting you. Do you think he is gaining more time to get ready for you?

Lyoto Machida: I think he did this only because the TUF. The fact that both coaches have to fight each other is a consequence. Due the fact I’m not taking part in this TUF he will face Rashad. Everyone in this sport wants to fight every other fighter in his division and they wanna fight me because the belt. It’s just a matter of contract. Rampage will have to fight me sometime…

Terra.com: Do you think in a fight against Rampage, do you think he will require an harder training than you had when you were training for Rashad?

Lyoto Machida: Technically I’ll have to change my strategy because Rampage has other fight style. In the physical view is the same training I do for a five round fight. Rampage is a guy who protects himself very nicely, has an hard chin but I believe in what I’m doing.

Terra.com: When your training to the fight against Shogun starts?

Lyoto Machida: Actually it have already started. I’m training hard since last week. But my training starts like this: I push hard in the training basis to relax a little bit in the end. I’m developing my strenght, power and speed to be very well prepared in the day of the fight. Sometime ago I was used to think that two months of training were enought but now I see I have to train everytime.

Terra.com: Your strategy against Shogun will be the knockout?

Lyoto Machida: It’s true I’ll always look for my main style which is the striking and I’ll be always trying to finish the fight before the bell. So I’ll look for a KO but always preparing myself to fight in the ground. Even more when we talk about Shogun who is a great fighter who was the Pride champion and proved that is a very dangerous guy.

Terra.com: What are the strongest points of Shogun?

Lyoto Machida: I think Shogun dominates all the four aspects of a fight. He is good at striking, he is good taking people down, he has a strong psychological game and he has an accomplished ground game. It’ll be a very hard fight for me and for him.

Terra.com: Shogun was more tested in the ground than you. Are you afraid to grapple with him?

Lyoto Machida: Not at all. Nowadays I see myself training very hard from all the sides, I’m training a lot ground game and lot of takedowns. I don’t want suprises. I know how good Shogun is but I believe in my style and in everything I’m doing.

Terra.com: Is there any difference to fight other Brazilian or a foreign fighter?

Lyoto Machida: Honestly I think in this sport it will always happen. First because Brazilians are among the best, second because there is the professional side. When you step the ring every fighter will be defending his own flag. I defend my name, my state and my country. So does Shogun.

Terra.com: You said you would like to fight Brock Lesnar. Do you think to move up to Heavyweights someday, to face a new challenge?

Lyoto Machida: I love challenges. I always saw Lesnar like a supernatural guy, he is strong, fast, he is learning very fast the secrets of fight. I see Lesnar like a great challenge for me in the future, an opportunity to prove myself. It’s the challenge that makes a fighter to set a strategy, to envolve/improve his game. I wanna test my game against him, I wanna see if my game fits against an athlete like him. It’s a personal challenge to see how I can test me against a guy like Lesnar. I think he is a great fighter, a great champion but I would like to do this in the future. Two or four years from now when I’ll be more experienced. Now it’s time to think on keeping my belt.

Terra.com: Is there any other heavyweight fighter you would like to fight? Talking about other orgs as well…
Lyoto Machida: No… only Lesnar.

Terra.com: Do you think you are attracting a new kind of people to MMA with your fight style?
Lyoto Machida: Yes, I do because I don’t follow the standards. Usually the fighters come from boxing, muay thai and jiu-jitsu. Not me. I come from Karate, a more traditional martial art, an art where respect rules. So the Karate people, Kung-Fu people, Tae Kwon Do people, arts which has the respect philosophy are identifying theirselves with my image as a fighter.

Terra.com: Pitbull will face Georges St.Pierre and Brazil might own the third UFC belt among the five divisions. Do you think Brazil has the best fighters in the world?
Lyoto Machida: Yes because MMA come from Brazil. Brazil is the greatest spot of fighters. A lot of foreign fighters learned the fight fundaments with Brazilians. Brazil is a big fighter factory.

Terra.com: Now your focus is to be considered the best P4P fighter in the world?
Lyoto Machida: My focus is to keep the belt with me. This thing to be the best P4P must be a consequence of a good work that will make me champion for years.

Terra.com: Do you still believe that drinking your own urine bring you benefits? Did you drink it in your last fight?
Lyoto Machida: It’s an old habit from my father. He made us feel very comfortable about it, he said we could make it if we wanted to. If we didn’t want to it would be ok anyway. I do believe on it, I witnessed a lot of situations of people who got healed from diabetes and a lot of other diseases. I read articles that talks about the benefits of the habit. The first urine of the day comes full of vitamins that we drunk in the previous day. It’s a way to reabsorb what was wasted. But i’m not radical. I just do this when I’m training. Barely I get sick and when I drink it I feel better.