Machida-Rua Announced for UFC 104

[rajuB4U]

Machida-Rua Announced for UFC 104

Sunday, June 21, 2009

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.