Machida-Shogun II Scheduled for May 1st

[xtremebadass]

Mauricio Rua will likely have to wait another six months to rematch the man many people believe he defeated last month in a UFC light heavyweight championship match.

Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel is reporting that UFC President Dana White told him that Rua will face off with champion Lyoto Machida on May 1 in Montreal.

Machida’s manager, Ed Soares, confirmed the date to Sherdog.com through a text message, but Rua’s manager, Eduardo Alonso, said in an e-mail he has not been approached yet with a date.

The rematch was optimistically scheduled for Jan. 2’s UFC 108 but had to be moved back due to a hand injury suffered by Machida in the first fight.

Machida (16-0) took home a controversial unanimous decision that has been widely panned by pundits and fans as well as UFC brass. In an interview last week, White told Sherdog.com that both he and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta scored the bout four rounds to one in favor of “Shogun.â€￾

The 31-year-old champion dropped the first rounds of his UFC campaign against the former Pride star, who has rejuvenated his promising career after a rough start in the UFC. Rua (18-4), who was once thought of as the top 205-pound fighter in the world, used an impressive array of kicks and body shots to wear down Machida in their 25-minute tussle.

Rua, 27, looks to have put the knee injuries that slowed him down in his first UFC bouts behind him and has reclaimed his position among the elites of the weight class. It seems he will get his chance to climb atop the light heavyweight division next spring.

Look back on it, this is kind of bullshit. I know Shogun got screwed, but still by justifying the screws on Shogun Dana White and the UFC have just screwed the LHW division.

 

[EnterTamed]

why? theres no clear number 1 contender, i say with rampage out of action set up couture/evans and the winner of griffin/ortiz can fight the winner of couture/evans to decide number 1 contender. Before this past fight the only champion to defend his title goes back to rampage against henderson and that was even too close. the LHW division is filled with paper champions and to the veiw of many Machida proved to be another one but getting a very generous decision. Now my personal opinion is that the title should only change hands if the challenger clearly beats the champion, Rua made it close for the judges so in my opinion they made the right decision there and Dana made the right decision here with the rematch. How did he screw the LHW division its not like Silva was stepping up to fight Machida anytime soon and plus he needs to defend his own title first. Maybe Luiz Cane deserves a shot if he wins in devastating fashio this Saturday.

 

[Wordlife]

May 1st? You'd think maybe a little sooner?

 

[monkeystyle]

I don't care who's soul I have to sell. MTL is only ninety minutes away, I'm going.

 

[xtremebadass]

why? theres no clear number 1 contender, i say with rampage out of action set up couture/evans and the winner of griffin/ortiz can fight the winner of couture/evans to decide number 1 contender. Before this past fight the only champion to defend his title goes back to rampage against henderson and that was even too close. the LHW division is filled with paper champions and to the veiw of many Machida proved to be another one but getting a very generous decision. Now my personal opinion is that the title should only change hands if the challenger clearly beats the champion, Rua made it close for the judges so in my opinion they made the right decision there and Dana made the right decision here with the rematch. How did he screw the LHW division its not like Silva was stepping up to fight Machida anytime soon and plus he needs to defend his own title first. Maybe Luiz Cane deserves a shot if he wins in devastating fashio this Saturday.

By let's say March of next year there is going to be a sure fire number one contender no doubt. Look at it, we got Ortiz/Griffin, Rashad/Thiago Silva, and Couture/Coleman. This rematch is wasting time in the LHW division. Sure I am pissed Shogun got screwed, but this just isn't fair, an immediate rematch...

 

[Millzy Pt. 2]

May 1st? You'd think maybe a little sooner?

Yeah I said the same thing too, this fight should be bumped up sooner to around February or March on the real.

 

[monkeystyle]

Pretty sure Machida is injured.

 

[Wordlife]

so he hurt his hand.... shouldn't take like 7 months.. I broke my wrist and was fine within 3... idk maybe his is more severe? Who knows

 

[xtremebadass]

Figures...Machida fucks up everything to begin with, what's another thing or two?

 

[EnterTamed]

broken hands in fighting take a long time to heal and usually never recover fully, look at boxers they take time off after broken hands as well. Just look at Urijah Faber, he hasn't fought since June since breaking his hand against mike brown and wont fight until january maybe, thats a 6 month layoff so it is about the right amount of time to take off

 

[xtremebadass]

I can't wait for Faber to come back OMG. If he can take his opponent in January, he is surefire No. 1 Contender for Aldo's new belt. Mike Brown lost so Faber doesn't have to worry about beating him, since he hasn't ever beaten him.

 

[EnterTamed]

i do believe brown deserves a rematch before any other fighter gets a shot since he was a pretty good champion, wasnt just a paper champ like most fighters.

 

[Rated RJC]

This is a huge blow to the LHWs, May 1st is so long off but I like the ideas mentioned about a few winners of fights fighting each other and setting up a #1 Contender is just about perfect timing. It sucks that Machida is hurt, I guess we'll just have to wait it out.