Machida Retains Light-Heavyweight Title
Lyoto Machida has retained his UFC Light-Heavyweight title against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, but not without any commotion. Machida, who was a 6-1 favourite, survived a five-round assault from Rua on Saturday night, retaining his light-heavyweight mixed martial arts title.
Although he lost, Shogun might have set the blueprint of how to fight against Machida. Most felt that Shogun should have came away with the decision victory, as did I. However, the judges saw it differently and Machida has to feel a little lucky by narrowly escaping with the victory.
To me, Shogun controlled the Octagon, and was the more aggresive fighter, while doing the most damage. The three things that judges are supposed to take into consideration for determing the round scores. How on earth all three judges scored it a unanimous decision for Machida is beyond me. Shogun won the first round, Machida the second, and Round 3/4 went to Shogun with Round 5 really close to call, and I could agree with either of the two fighters winning that round. One of the worst judging decisions I have seen in a long time.
The only silver lining – Shogun and Machida have already agreed to a rematch and UFC President Dana White has said Shogun will receive an immediate rematch, as in his eyes, Shogun won the fight also. When that rematch happens has yet to be determined, but most likely in the beginning of the new year.
Co-Main Event
The co-main event of the PPV pitted two huge heavyweights. One unbeaten, Cain Velasquez, against “Big” Ben Rothwell. Velasquez used his wrestling skills to dominate Rothwell en route to a second-round TKO.
Rothwell was lucky to even make it that far as Velasquez swarmed him early and often. Velasquez battered Rothwell through the entire first-round by controlling him with ground-and-pound strikes. Early on in the second round Referee Steve Mazzagatti had seen enough stopping the fight with Rothwell on one knee against the cage taking about 5 or 6 shots to the head. Velasquez improved to 7-0 while Ben Rothwell lost for the first time in 10 fights.
Main Card
To fill out the rest of the night, top lightweight contender Joe Stevenson controlled Spencer “The King” Fisher on the ground, and won by TKO from a series of vicious elbows. From that solid performance, Joe Stevenson has solidified himself as a top lightweight in the UFC and improved his record to 31-10, winning his last two fights. Fisher drops to 23-5 snapping a three fight win streak.
Although he weighed in five pounds over the 170-pound limit, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was able to forfeit some of his purse to keep his fight with Japenese fighter Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Coming off two straight wins, you knew Johnson was going to look for the knock out home run punch. Unfortunately for Yoshida, that punch came 21 seconds into the fight. Johnson earned his third straight knockout win, vaulting him up the Welterweight ladder. Yoshida lost his second straight by a devastating KO.
Lastly, a wrestling matchup between Gleison Tibau and Josh Neer. A fairly un-eventful fight ended with Tibau earning the unanimous decision victory. Tibau used his superior wrestling and size to overwhelm Neer on the ground. Tibau improved to 28-6, and his third fight in his last four appearances. Neer dropped his second straight, and third of his last four.
That would be it, as the UFC returns for a November 14th event, live on SpikeTV featuring Randy Couture and Brandon Vera.
