dutchnl
30-05-2009, 09:49
"Shogun" Signs On To Fight Lyoto Machida in October at UFC 104 [May 29, 2009]
Randy Harrison
Despite earlier reports that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was first in line for a shot at new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida and that the bout could take place in September, it appears that in both cases the plan has been changed.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, coming off of his first-round TKO victory over former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell at UFC 97 in April, has signed on the dotted line to become the first challenger to Machida's title in a bout that will likely serve as the main event of the promotion's return to Southern California in October for UFC 104.
Jackson allegedly turned down the opportunity to take on Machida, instead settling for a grudge match against Rashad Evans, likely after the tenth season of TUF. The bout will serve to put to rest the bad blood that developed between them when Evans got into Jackson's face after Jackson had just defeated Keith Jardine at UFC 96 in March. A trash-talking session followed and it now appears that they'll be following the format of previous TUF seasons with a fight at the end of the season, likely at the UFC's New Year's Eve weekend event.
Though "Shogun" is signed, sealed and delivered, UFC President Dana White has not announced the fight officially as of yet, stating during a conference call that not all bout agreements were finalized at that time. With Rua already signed, that leaves Machida, who is likely still celebrating his huge title win last weekend. If and when Machida signs as well.
UFC 104 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_104)
Randy Harrison
Despite earlier reports that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was first in line for a shot at new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida and that the bout could take place in September, it appears that in both cases the plan has been changed.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, coming off of his first-round TKO victory over former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell at UFC 97 in April, has signed on the dotted line to become the first challenger to Machida's title in a bout that will likely serve as the main event of the promotion's return to Southern California in October for UFC 104.
Jackson allegedly turned down the opportunity to take on Machida, instead settling for a grudge match against Rashad Evans, likely after the tenth season of TUF. The bout will serve to put to rest the bad blood that developed between them when Evans got into Jackson's face after Jackson had just defeated Keith Jardine at UFC 96 in March. A trash-talking session followed and it now appears that they'll be following the format of previous TUF seasons with a fight at the end of the season, likely at the UFC's New Year's Eve weekend event.
Though "Shogun" is signed, sealed and delivered, UFC President Dana White has not announced the fight officially as of yet, stating during a conference call that not all bout agreements were finalized at that time. With Rua already signed, that leaves Machida, who is likely still celebrating his huge title win last weekend. If and when Machida signs as well.
UFC 104 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_104)