[UFC] Machida faces Rua in October

[Zoom7000]

LYOTO MACHIDA will make the first defence of his light-heavyweight title against Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua when the UFC returns to Los Angeles in October.

SunSport understands former Pride star Rua, 27, has already verbally agreed to the bout, with contracts set to be exchanged and signed this weekend.

An official announcement from UFC president Dana White confirming the blockbuster fight is expected early next week.

The Dragon - fresh off a devastating KO victory over former champion Rashad Evans earlier this month - is said to be eager to pit his wits against his fellow Brazilian inside the Octagon.

Machida, 30, had originally been expected to face Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, but those plans were scuppered when the American insisted on facing Evans in his next fight in order to settle their war of words.

Jackson and Evans will clash later this year - probably on the UFC's end-of-year fight card - after they have completed their duties as opposing coaches on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter.

Soure - The Sun

Erm... why on Earth does Shogun get a title shot? I mean, he hasn't exactly lit the world alight during his tenure in the UFC. Lost badly to Forrest Griffin, just about beat a way too old Mark Coleman, and beat down on a zero confidence and finished Chuck Liddell. Surely, there are others who deserve much more of a title shot. A rematch against Thiago Silva or another shot for Forrest Griffin would have been an much better option IMO!

[Rappy Veteran]

Sounds pretty good, which event is this 103?

[BroChaos Veteran]

yeah shogun has still not looked impressive since returning. a little quick for a title shot, but it's not like it was planned that way.

[Unkoil]

Dana White confirmed it today.

It's going to be in Los Angeles for UFC 104 or 105 depending if they have a UFC event in early October in England

and I highly disagree with Brochaos, maybe he never saw Mauricio knock out Liddell, besides he the former number one ranked 205-er and only has 1 loss in the passed 2 years.

[r0c]

Shogun has not looked like he did while in Pride. Most of the fighters coming into the UFC from Pride have had a difficult transition whether by skill of opponents, slightly different rules or just lack of inactivity through the time signed to the UFC aside from Rampage. I expect Shogun to have a better performance but Machida will be too much for him. Shogun will have to fight a very smart fight. Besides, only reason Shogun got the shot was due to Rampage's choice to coach on the ultimate fighter just to face Rashad.

[Unkoil]

Shogun has not looked like he did while in Pride. Most of the fighters coming into the UFC from Pride have had a difficult transition whether by skill of opponents, slightly different rules or just lack of inactivity through the time signed to the UFC aside from Rampage. I expect Shogun to have a better performance but Machida will be too much for him. Shogun will have to fight a very smart fight. Besides, only reason Shogun got the shot was due to Rampage's choice to coach on the ultimate fighter just to face Rashad.

I have to disagree, just because we didn't get to see an exciting performance by Shogun during his match with Liddell doesn't mean the Pride Shogun isn't back. Remember he knocked out Liddell early just like a Pride performance.

Besides you said it yourself you expect to see Shogun in great shape against Machida, great shape Shogun = Pride 2005 Grand Prix Shogun.

[r0c]

great shape he will have to be in. Machida is a master of the gameplan. Rashad was in great shape also. Noone has been able to get in close enough to do any real damage against Machida yet. I do give Ortiz props for almost sinking the triangle. I believe Shogun will have to take him down and submit him. Won't be easy though.

[Rappy Veteran]

UFC 104 Tickets Go On Sale!

Tickets for the UFC's return to Los Angeles go on sale to the general public on Aug. 29, though pre-sales are available Aug. 27 for UFC Fight Club members and Aug. 28 for UFC.com newsletter subscribers.

UFC 104 takes place Oct. 24 at the Staples Center with a main event between UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Tickets for the event go on sale each day at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).

Although no fights have been officially announced for the upcoming event, which airs on pay-per-view, other bouts expected to be part of the card include a potential No. 1 contender's matchup of Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez, longtime middleweight contender Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen, and as MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported earlier this month, a Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau fight originally slated for UFC 103.

The UFC hasn't ventured to Los Angeles since UFC 60 in May 2006, when Royce Gracie return to the organization for a non-title fight with then-welterweight champ Matt Hughes. Hughes won via first-round TKO in front of 14,765 spectators.

The latest rumored UFC 104 card includes:

* Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (for light-heavyweight title)*

* Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez*

* Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen

* Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau*

* Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson*

* Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida*

* Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer*

* Chase Gormley vs. Ben Rothwell*

* Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera*

* Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk*

* Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury*

[trag3dy]

At any rate, Machida is a fun fighter to watch, so it's all good in my book.

[Rappy Veteran]

Confirmed!

With tickets set to go on sale later this week, the UFC today officially announced two contests for UFC 104 in Los Angeles.

As expected, light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will meet challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, while heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez will meet Affliction import Ben Rothwell.

Now titled "Machida vs. Shogun," UFC 104 takes place Oct. 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card airs live on pay per view.

The card represents the UFC's first trip to Los Angeles since "UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie" in May 2006, and it is the organization's first event in California since "UFC 76: Knockout" in September 2007.

"It's been two years since the UFC was in Southern California, and we knew we had to bring something special for our return to the capital of mixed martial arts," UFC president Dana White stated in the UFC's official announcement. "Lyoto Machida captured the imagination of fight fans with his knockout of Rashad Evans. And while [Machida] seems unbeatable right now, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua not only has the tools to beat any 205-pounder in the world, but he?s coming off a knockout of Chuck Liddell in his last fight, so his confidence is sky-high. This has the potential to be one of the greatest light-heavyweight title fights ever."

Tickets for the UFC's return to Los Angeles go on sale to the general public on Aug. 29, though pre-sales are available Aug. 27 for UFC Fight Club members and Aug. 28 for UFC.com newsletter subscribers.

The latest rumored UFC 104 card includes:

* Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (for light-heavyweight title)

* Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez

* Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonne*

* Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau*

* Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson*

* Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida*

* Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer*

* Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera*

* Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk*

* Chase Gormley vs. Stefan Struve*

* Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury*

Source: MMA Junkie

[Matrix XII]

Wow, Machida is going to rape.

[Rappy Veteran]

[Rappy Veteran]

[Rappy Veteran]

tonight!

[iamawesomewicked]

I hope Machida keeps the title.. I hope he does what he did against Rashad, that was a good Machida fight, none of this dodge the whole round.. although, that's awesome too see a guy do.

[Rappy Veteran]

the main event is going to be awesome!

[deletedxyz]

Yuck:

Edited October 25, 2009 by maskedforever

[Rappy Veteran]

Cain is a bit of a beast but maybe a bit of a early stoppage

[Rappy Veteran]

lolwat Machida was a bit lucky there imo...could of gone either way.

[iamawesomewicked]

lolwat Machida was a bit lucky there imo...could of gone either way.

Wait... Machida won?!?

[Rappy Veteran]

Wait... Machida won?!?

LOL

yeah he did but I honestly thought Shogun did more in that fight maybe that was just me though.

[iamawesomewicked]

LOL

yeah he did but I honestly thought Shogun did more in that fight maybe that was just me though.

There's no way Machida won any round.

[revvo]

wtf was that? UFC is dead.

[arrrgh]

What a pile of crap.. I'm a fan of Machida but he just got his ass handed to him.

[Rappy Veteran]

What a pile of crap.. I'm a fan of Machida but he just got his ass handed to him.

yeah a rematch already been talked about!