UFC 104: 
Machida vs. Shogun

© Marc Wickert 
www.knucklepit.com
October 24, 2010

All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges

In Earlier Matches

Ryan Bader def. Eric Schafer by unanimous decision.
Pat Barry def. Antoni Hardonk by TKO – 2.30, Round Two.
Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons by TKO – 1.53, Round Three.
Kyle Kingsbury def. Razak Al-Hassan by split decision. 
Stefan Struve def. Chase Gormley by triangle choke – 4.04, Round One.

The Battles

Anthony Johnson (6’2” 176) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (5’11” 170) 
Welterweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti

Southpaw Yoshiyuki danced around Anthony, then high-kicked before absorbing fiery fists from the orthodox American.
4.35: Anthony high-kicked and they clinched as he pounded Yoshiyuki with a series of high-impact uppercuts.
4.22: Anthony interrupted his uppercuts to iron out Yushiyuki with a crushing right hook.

Result: Anthony Johnson by TKO – 0.41, Round One.

Joe Stevenson (5’7” 155.5) vs. Spencer Fisher (5’7” 155) 
Lightweight
Referee: Herb Dean

Round One
4.46: Joe threw a right as Spencer leg-kicked.
4.19: Joe inside-kicked his southpaw opponent.
4.10: They exchanged and Spencer detonated a right cross.
3.59: Spencer inside-kicked.
3.50: Joe snuck in a left hook.
3.22: Spencer delivered a mixed bag of kicks.
3.00: They traded before Stevenson attempted a takedown; Fisher sprawled and the pair waltzed around the cage in a clinch.  Stevenson persisted with his takedown campaign from the tie as blood appeared around Fisher’s right eye.
1.30: Herb Dean separated them.
1.18: Fisher inside-kicked.
1.06: And again.
1.03: They briefly became entangled; Stevenson using the opportunity to land an elbow to Fisher’s cut.
0.47: Spencer unloaded a barrage of strikes before Joe took his back and pounded.

Round Two
4.54: Joe took a high kick on the mitts. Spencer kept coming with fist combos and inside kicks while Joe picked off Spencer’s right eye with accurate jabs.
3.50: Spencer brought up a left knee, Joe latched onto the knee and used it to eventually take Spencer down before dropping into his guard.
2.54: Joe attempted a leg lock, then aborted the move before taking half guard whilst zoning in on Spencer’s right eye with clinical elbows.
1.18: Stevenson progressed to side control, pinned Fisher’s left arm with his knee, and pounded him into submission with right elbows.
This was a convincing victory for Joe Stevenson and for Greg Jackson’s camp.

Result: Joe Stevenson by tapout due to g’n’p – 4.03, Round Two.

Chael Sonnen (6’1” 185) vs. Yushin Okami (6’2” 185) 
Middleweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti

Round One
They exchanged jabs as Chael punctuated his lefts with inside kicks.
4.46: Yushin resisted a takedown and they clinched.
4.10: Chael took Yushin down from the tie-up.
4.01: Yushin climbed to his feet with Chael clinging to his back before he slammed Yushin into the canvas.
3.35: Okami stood, but Sonnen remained in the saddle whilst driving knees into Okami’s thighs.  They continued to swap fists; however Sonnen kept punishing his opponent’s right leg with inside kicks.
0.57: Sonnen shot in and chalked up another takedown.
0.37: Okami got back up and Sonnen followed.

Round Two
Yushin was picking off Chael with well-timed jabs which caused Chael to become less disciplined with his attack.
4.23: Chael shot in and took Yushin down; Yushin stood back up with Chael latched to his back.
3.38: Yushin broke free and the jabbing resumed.

Round Three
They were back tit-for-tat jabbing with the odd combo thrown in until 2.30, when Sonnen shot in and eventually slammed Okami into the ground and took his back.
1.42: Okami climbed up and Sonnen kneed while clasped to his back.
0.52: They collapsed to the floor – Okami looking to submit Sonnen with a kimura.
0.34: Okami gave up the arm and Sonnen unleashed g’n’p.

Result: Chael Sonnen by unanimous decision.

Gleison Tibau (5’10” 157) vs. Josh Neer (5’11” 156.5) 
Catchweight
Referee: Josh Rosenthal

Round One
Southpaw Gleison did a Hulk and ripped his T-shirt to shreds before entering the Octagon.
4.45: Josh came forward and Gleison found himself against the cage as they traded blows until Gleison notched up a spine-rattling double-leg takedown (D-L T) at 4.37.
4.21: They stood.
4.10: Josh kept coming and Gleison popped out a straight left.
4.07: Josh inside-kicked.
3.58: And again.
3.45: Gleison rolled off D-L T number two.
3.16: He was in Josh’s guard, then stood and Josh scrambled to his feet.
2.48: Neer inside-kicked.
2.12: Tibau performed D-L T number three before they climbed back up.
2.00: The pair briefly became entangled.
1.50: Tibau blocked a high kick.
1.43: Neer leg-kicked.
1.25: Neer front-kicked and they continued to shadow box.
0.58: Tabau scored D-L T number four, and whilst he wasn’t able to capitalize on the ground battle, he was scoring points with his pile-driving dumps which were frustrating for Neer.
0.31: They were vertical and resumed the toe-to-toe.

Round Two
4.44: Gleison pulled off D-L T number five.
4.31: Both men stood.
4.09: Gleison effortlessly got D-L T number six.
3.48: They stood.
3.26: Josh inside-kicked.
3.20: He walked into D-L T number seven.  Was Gleison getting close to a Guinness record?
2.55: Gleison took the mount; Josh rolled and Gleison took his back.
2.11: Josh worked Gleison off his back, but Gleison went for an arm bar, only to have Josh shake free and g’n’p.
1.48: Tibau stood and Neer followed him up.
1.43: Neer front-kicked.
0.54: Tibau earned D-L T number eight; they stood and banged up to the hooter.

Round Three
The pair traded until 4.44, when Gleison notched up D-L T number nine.  Would he be able to maintain his four-per-round average?
4.07: They were back standing after little was achieved by either man on the floor.
3.18: Josh resisted a takedown.
2.57: He warded off another takedown and kept pushing forward until 2.01, when Gleison scored D-L T number ten.
1.42: They were standing.
0.52: Gleison chalked up D-L T number eleven.
0.15: He did it! Gleison Tibau performed D-L T number twelve and preserved his four-per-round batting average.

Result: Gleison Tibau by unanimous decision.

Cain Velasquez (6’1” 238) vs. Ben Rothwell (6’4” 265) 
Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti

Round One
Cain opened with a left hand and a right leg-kick; Ben replied via a right and a left hand.
4.56: Cain trialed another leg kick as Ben answered with heavy hands,
4.42: They traded some more before Cain latched onto Ben’s left leg and swept his right ankle.
4.29: Rothwell knelt against the cage with Velasquez capturing Rothwell’s right leg, then his waist.
3.51: Rothwell briefly stood, only to have Velasquez heave him back to the canvas with a D-L T.
3.49: Ben climbed to his feet and exchanged blows with his opponent.
3.13: Cain downed Ben with a single-leg takedown before gaining side control, then moved into north-south position whilst g’n’p-ing.
2.50: Cain returned to side control.
2.35: Ben scrambled to his feet.
2.27: Cain took Ben to the mats and punished him with elbows.
1.35: Velasquez pounded from the mount before standing over his brave opponent and raining down blows.
1.10: Velasquez g’n’ped from the mount.
0.56: He took Rothwell’s back.
0.46: Rothwell stood and was dumped once more.
0.22: Velasquez attacked from Rothwell’s back.
0.11: Rothwell was vertical.  He might have stood 6’4” but he had a 20-foot heart.

Round Two
4.46: Cain applied the right-leg takedown, then secured Ben’s back.
4.18: Ben was against the cage, looking to get back to his feet; however Cain began landing left hooks when Steve Mazzagatti called the contest off.

Result: Cain Velasquez by TKO (referee stoppage) – 0.58, Round Two.

Lyoto Machida (6’1” 202.5) vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua (6’1” 204.5) 
Light Heavyweight Title
Referee: Herb Dean

Round One
They face off with Lyoto in southpaw stance and Shogun in orthodox.
4.49: Lyoto dodges a body kick, then Thai-clinches and delivers knees.
4.33: Lyoto dodges a body kick.
4.14: Shogun body-kicks.
4.11: Machida leg-kicks and body-punches.
4.04: Shogun leg-kicks.
4.02: They clinch; Machida knees to the body and Rua looks for the takedown before attacking Machida’s thighs with a series of knees to the thighs and a knee to the body before they separate.
3.18: Shogun takes a high kick on the mitts and counters with an inside kick.
3.03: Lyoto comes in with a knee; however Shogun seizes the opportunity to close the gap and takes Lyoto down to his knees with a shoot.  They clinch against the cage as Shogun attacks with more knees to the thighs.
2.28: They separate.
2.11: Machida retreats as Rua comes in with a fiery fist and high kick.
2.06: Rua dodges a left hand.
1.45: Rua lands a body kick and Machida counters with a right hand.
1.00: Rua catches Machida with a whip-cracking leg kick.
0.52: Machida body-kicks.
0.50: Shogun delivers a right body kick and a right hook.
0.21: Shogun chalks up another body kick.
0.16: Lyoto retreats from Shogun’s attack, but is caught by Shogun’s leg kick.

Round Two
4.40: Machida front-kicks and cops a jab in the face for his trouble, which is backed up with a Rua leg kick.
4.14: Rua leg-kicks.
4.07: Rua leg-kicks; Machida counters with a right hand and Rua dodges the follow-on strikes.
3.58: Machida body-kicks.
3.50: Rua returns the kick.
3.18: Shogun knees to the body and Lyoto answers with a right hand.
3.13: Lyoto knees to the body and Shogun uses the opportunity to shoot in.
2.56: They break free.
2.23: Shogun body-kicks.
2.18: And again.
2.02: Lyoto body-kicks.
1.55: Rua attacks with fists and a body kick.
1.35: Rua body-kicks.
1.30: Machida walks into another big body kick.
1.11: Rua leg-kicks.
0.56: Rua front-kicks.
0.50: Machida knees to the body and Rua gives it back as they clinch.  Rua forces Machida into the fence and unloads more knees to the legs.  They part as the round ends.
Mike Goldberg says, “I wonder, is he (Machida) down two to love?”

Round Three
4.50: Lyoto throws a left hand, but it’s countered by another savage body kick that has Lyoto in retreat mode.
4.33: Lyoto throws a right hand and a left kick before they exchange kicks.
4.14: Shogun leg-kicks.
4.03: Shogun body-kicks.
3.18: Lyoto body-kicks as Shogun leg-kicks.
2.55: Rua intercepts Machida’s punch with yet another kick.
2.38: Machida avoids the takedown as Rua forces him into the cage.
2.33: Rua lands a left elbow as they break free.
2.20: Machida attempts a tentative left kick and Rua slams the leg with his own kick.
2.00: Rua punishes Machida with an inside leg kick.
1.55: Shogun slams in a body kick and Lyoto counters with a left hand.
1.28: Shogun advances, dispatching a volley of fists and body-kicks.
1.07: Lyoto body-kicks; however Shogun chases him down and cracks off another leg kick.  Lyoto knees to the body and Shogun returns the strike, again.
0.36: Machida rushes in throwing a barrage of wild punches, but the feeding frenzy comes to a halt when Rua catches Machida with a solid right hook before the pair clinches.  This brief spurt is probably the highlight in the fight for Machida, thus far.
0.16: They separate.

Round Four
4.07: Lyoto leg-kicks.
3.50: Shogun intercepts Lyoto’s kick with an inside kick to Lyoto’s right leg.
3.40: Shogun counters Lyoto’s tentative kick with a powerful leg kick.
3.15: Shogun unloads a savage body kick.
3.10: Lyoto detonates a high kick that Shogun blocks with his arm.
3.02: Rua leg-kicks.
3.00: Machida slips after delivering a leg kick and Rua rushes in for a takedown as Machida sprawls.
2.35: They separate.
2.18: Rua leg-kicks and Machida replies with blazing fists; they tie up before Rua knees to the body, and they part.
1.45: Rua leg-kicks.
1.31: They clinch, then part and Rua lands a left elbow.
1.05: Shogun knees to the body and has Lyoto retreating as Shogun lands another body kick.
0.46: Shogun notches up yet another leg kick.
As they return to their corners Lyoto’s team is still telling him he needs to find Shogun’s timing.

Round Five
4.52: Rua leg-kicks.
4.32: And again.
4.30: Machida knees and they briefly clinch before breaking free.
4.20: Machida throws a left.
4.12: Rua kicks to the body as Machida throws a right.
4.00: Rua leg-kicks.
3.38: Rua body-kicks.
3.31: Lyoto body-kicks; Shogun catches the kick and leg-kicks.
3.19: Lyoto flees another Shogun attack.
2.46: Lyoto knees to the body before they clinch and Herb Dean separates them.
2.03: Shogun slams off yet another body kick.  They exchange, clinch briefly, and separate.
1.24: The same crowd that roared for Machida is now chanting Shogun’s name.  They have witnessed The Dragon’s fire being extinguished by five rounds of Shogun’s vicious kicking and unrelenting warrior spirit.
0.10: The pair clash and Rua unloads a left hook.
The hooter sounds.
The body language says it all! 

Then Bruce Buffer announces the victory to Machida and the boos drown out the cheers.  Joe Rogan interviews Lyoto and asks, “Do you agree with the decision?”  Lyoto doesn’t answer the question directly, but says, “Three of three give me the win.  Sorry guys.”

In fairness to Machida, he was not on the judging panel.

Result: Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision.

For more on this bout see

http://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-mauricio_shogun_rua.htm

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