Shogun Rua wants the belt, not vengeance, in Lyoto Machida rematch

by Eduardo Cruz on Nov 19, 2009 9:20 PM EST Comment 24 comments

Quoteworthy:

"I don’t want to face him because I felt I won. I want to fight Lyoto because it’s for the title, and that is my dream. What I want most is that belt and, therefore, I want to fight Lyoto again."

After the rematch was announced for May 1, 2010, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua says that his dream of becoming the UFC light heavyweight champion comes first rather than a desire for revenge. Lyoto Machida defeated Shogun at UFC 104 this past October with all the three judges scoring the bout 48-47 in favor of "The Dragon." It's a result that to this day still sparks debate and discussion. Think Chapter 2 will end the argument once and for all?

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Machida by Decision

Machida wins by another close UD imo… that should shut all the doubters up!

by JRE on Nov 19, 2009 10:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Does he win by close decision? Or “win” by close decision?

by Amos14 on Nov 19, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it won't shut me up

cause it won’t change the fact that Shogun was robbed and deserves to be wearing that belt right now. I expect Machida to win the rematch, which just adds to the injustice of the first decision. It’s like playing a game of poker and after you’ve put all your money in the pot and shown the upper hand, the other guy says, “Sorry, that was just a practice round, so you don’t get the money. Now that I know all your tells, we’ll play again for real.”

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They would have rematched anyway

The fight was close and there aren’t any other top LHW contenders, Rashad and Thiago don’t fight until next year and Randy is nowhere near a title shot after squeaking past Vera. If Shogun can’t beat Machida in a rematch then he isn’t the best LHW in the world so doesn’t deserve to be champion, I agree that he won the first fight and he should be champion now but if he can’t beat Lyoto again then he would have had a short title reign anyway.

by David W-S on Nov 20, 2009 7:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Shogun via confidence

I think Shogun has gained al ot of confidence from that first fight and that will be the difference in the rematch. He knows he can beat Machida and he knows better than to let it go the judges again so I fully expect him to come out on top this time around. I’m sure Machida will learn fro mthe last time they fought but Shogun didn’t even get too deep into his bag of tricks and I think he will be working a lot harder on takedowns and jitz trips in order to make sure this time he gets Machida on his back.

"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes."

by Buster Bluth on Nov 20, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a short title reign

is better than no title reign! Shogun deserves a chance to wear the belt, even if only for a short while. Even if he lost it in an immediate rematch, he’d be no worse off than any of the other revolving door champions since Chuck. But I doubt they’d have given Machida an instant rematch. With Machida on the throne and the top 2 contenders having already lost to him, the title picture was kinda stagnant. With Shogun there, Rashad and Thiago suddenly become relevant again, not to mention a rematch with Rampage. (They didn’t give him an immediate rematch after that controversial loss to Forrest). I think Machida would have had to go the traditional 2-rebound-fight path to get a rematch, because even though it was close, everyone would have agreed with the decision and it would be in the UFC’s best interest to have a seemingly less invincible champion who hasn’t fought the other top contenders yet to keep the title picture more exciting.

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’re right. If Rua wins the rematch, the rubber match would not come immediately. Machida would be forced to fight at least once before getting another shot. Maybe Rampage would be fed to Machida when Rampage comes back.

However, regarding the silly “Rua got robbed” insanity, give me a break. Sure, I was pissed off that Rua lost. But I’ve also reconsidered my verdict, and I now think Machida’s 48-47 win is justified. Let’s face it: we were all blown away by the new improved Rua that we really weren’t paying much attention to what Machida was doing, which was scoring more points… by a razor’s edge, but still enough to win. I now Machida winning R1, R2, and R3. Not by much, but still winning. That’s at least a split if the other judge had given it to Rua.

by MMACrossfire on Nov 20, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmm

Lol not quite sure its like that but to each their own.

I’d say more like Shogun goes all in, shows his aces with an ace on the flop & 4 & a 2, machida shows his 2 7 offsuit n he hits a 2 on the turn, and again on the river.

4 of a kind! Machida wins! Yay!

by daniel worby on Nov 20, 2009 9:00 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

please translate

Me no speekee pokerish or whatever “ish” or “ese” you be speekee.

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am going with Machida again.

I know most people feel he may have lost the last fight, but I thought it was close, and I am picking Machida to win again. I picked him the first time, and really thought it would be pretty one sided. I still think Machida wins it, but I don’t thave the same confidence I had for the first fight.

by naturalshadow on Nov 20, 2009 6:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

i think it will be a dif fight now that machida knows his opponent much better..i like rua for how humble he is..
and the old shogun showed up to fight him that was for sure..hopefully this will just be a kick ass fight for all of us to witness..and please, please don’t let cecil peoples be one of the judges again!!

by sarah- on Nov 19, 2009 11:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Might be a classic

Both are great fighters and just as Machida can change his game plan so can Rua. Both have something to prove and will come out looking for blood. I just don’t like that we have to wait till May to see this rematch.

by MMACHAMP on Nov 20, 2009 12:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Machida will kick this time

He won’t be sleeping on the leg kicks. Rua needs to counter by mixing in some takedowns and dirty boxing (if he can ever get close enough).

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

hmm

I thought shogun won 3-2 when I saw it live

I saw it after a few times and I had it 3-1 1st rd total draw but if anything I would give it to rua for being aggressor, so 4-1

1st 3 were close, so I see why decision could be how it was. (Still I feel rua pulled them)

Anyways I would like to see shogun take on possibly jardine, franklin, or even winner of bones/hammill in the meantime.
Vera would be good matchup but my guess is they wanna save future opponents

by Phenomenal Angel on Nov 20, 2009 3:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Whole MMA Community thinks ShoGun won. Machida was exposed that night.

by OM20 on Nov 20, 2009 3:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought Machida scored 3-2

It’s going to be a great rematch and Canada will make it insane. I think Machida will come up with a better strategy and Shogun will have to be prepared for more from “The Dragon”. We fans have another clash in sight.

"No one wants to be defeated."

by Eduardo Cruz on Nov 20, 2009 7:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i dont know about you guys...

i honestly feel like machida won that fight..just because someone had a good fight against him he lost? someone who actually puts up a fight automatically beats the dragon? screw that. shogun dropped some leg kicks…a few head shots.. but machida wasnt standing in front of him like shogun was..who had more damage inflicted? come on… lyoto had a close one but still won.. he will sleep shogun next time ’round.

"i just want to be known as the greatest of all time, is that too much to ask?" - BJ Penn.

by Omoplato on Nov 20, 2009 7:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

by jesuslovesyoumma on Nov 20, 2009 7:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

more damage?

look at the faces after the fight.

close fight but Shogun outworked him

dude.....i am

by brendog on Nov 20, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and their ribs

They were serving Machida’s ribs at Shogun’s after-party, and one of his legs was twice the size of the other. Shogun blocked 80% of Machida’s punches and ate the rest with a smile on his face. How can anyone think Machida did more damage???

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Me Too!

Extremely close fight, but after watching it a few more times I have too agree Machida did the same damage to Shogun – not enough for Shogun to win.

The next match, both will have a new plan, both will be dangerous in a new way. Should be exciting!

by UFC Champ on Nov 20, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

F*ING RETARDS

machida never duz anything different in any of his fights! u really think he’s guna change up his game of the 1st time in 30 years! U cant prepare for shogun he’s too unpredictable & too gud at everything!muay thai is guna dominate karate again!! i just hope they have sum sober judges at the fight this time!

by d*locc on Nov 20, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Machida's changes are more subtle

but after having 7 months to study the tape and figure out Shogun’s timing and his own mistakes, I think it’s very unlikely that lightning will strike twice. I hope you’re right, cause I though Shogun was cheated and would much rather see him wearing the belt. But I doubt it.

by (shonuff) on Nov 20, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a long time to train before this immediate rematch. It’ll be interesting to see if any of the two bring anything different to the table for rematch.

by Vic De Zen on Nov 24, 2009 10:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs