UFC 104 Recap And Analyses: Shogun Rua Should Be #1 Light Heavyweight In The World

by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 25, 2009 4:00 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

UFC LHW Champ Lyoto Machida

I can't even describe how the judges ruined what otherwise was a classic fight between Shogun Rua and Lyoto Machida. Shogun Rua was robbed of the UFC light heavyweight belt in this fight. He dominated Lyoto Machida and battered him like no one has ever been able to do in Machida's career. At the end of the fight, even Machida seemed surprised that he was given the decision nod. Shogun Rua is back, and he's the #1 light heavyweight fighter in the world in my book. I'd like to think he used some of my game plan as he did quite a bit of work in the clinch, but it was the leg kicks and kicks to the body that did the majority of the damage against Machida. Rua never let Machida find his rhythm and that was probably the biggest factors in the fight. Rua deserves an immediate re-match. I say do it at UFC 108 as the main event, but Machida probably couldn't be ready by then.

In other fights, Cain Velasquez dominated the much larger Ben Rothwell. Rothwell was pressured heavily and never got anything going against the rising heavyweight.

Joe Stevenson seemed much improved against Spencer Fisher. The move to Greg Jackson's camp may finally be paying off for the TUF 2 champion. He's won two in a row now after dropping a decision to Diego Sanchez earlier this year.

Anthony Johnson walked thru the much smaller Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the first round. However, it must be noted that Johnson weighed in 5 pounds over the limit and Yoshida agreed to take the fight anyway. Johnson needs to move up to the UFC middleweight division.

A big upset(that I called!) on the preliminary fight was Chael Sonnen dominating Yushin Okami to win a unanimous decision win. I knew that Sonnen was probably the better wrestling and I thought that would be the factor in this one. Sonnen solidify's himself as one of the top middleweights in the UFC.

Ryan Bader won a decision, but it wasn't a great performance. He has a lot of improving to do if he wants to be competitive with the big dogs of the UFC light heavyweight division.

Pat Barry proves he has KO power as he took out Antoni Hardonk.

UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun coverage

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Joe Stevenson seemed much improved against Spencer Fisher. The move to Greg Jackson’s camp may finally be paying off for the TUF 2 champion.

Although I won’t disagree that Stevenson has been looking better, the two wins probably odn’t have much to do with Yoda. Wrestling down a Diaz and Fisher isn’t exactly a hard thing to do (just ask Frankie Edgar and Clay Guida), and that played a BIG part in both wins.

Anthony Johnson walked thru the much smaller Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the first round. However, it must be noted that Johnson weighed in 5 pounds over the limit and Yoshida agreed to take the fight anyway.

I’d like to know how much more Johnson weighed, because he was probably practically a LHW by fight time. If he can really cut down to 170 consistently then good for him, but this 220 to 170 stuff ain’t gonna cut it. Poor Yoshida.

Sonnen solidify’s himself as one of the top middleweights in the UFC.

There are some people that would probably disagree, and although I like Sonnen, he’s still pretty one-dimensional. A good BJJ dude will probably sub him, and a good striker with decent wrestling will probably KO or decision him. It’s a helluva win though!

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by -Neil- on Oct 25, 2009 4:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs