UFC 104 – Lyoto Machida Vs. Shogun Rua Play By Play

Like I said in the UFC 104 preview, this isn’t the most hyped fight card of the year. If Machida wasn’t headlining it, it might not be a must see. But right now, you have to watch one of the top 5 fighters in the world. This card all in all might not be can’t miss, but Machida is can’t miss.

1. Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Johnson weighed in six pounds heavy and is fined 20% of his purse and should be at least one whole weight class higher than Yoshida by bell time. Punk Thomson and Cung Le are in Johnson’s corner.

You kind of feel badly for Yoshida. Johnson was absolutely huge. He tried to clinch Johnson but he wasn’t strong enough to hold him there. Johnson was able to throw punches at will and just crushed Yoshida with a right hand for the knockout.

Winner: Anthony Johnson by 1st round TKO

2. Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher

Joe’s arms specifically look a lot bigger. Stevenson looked like he had issues with the left handed fighter and he walked into two punches. But he also threw a left hook that opened up Fisher’s right eye. Stevenson worked for a takedown up against the cage for over a minute but couldn’t get it. On the feet, it’s clear that Fisher is the better fighter. Stevenson worked the takedown again, got him to his knees and tried to get the rear naked. Looked like Stevenson said something about Fisher being greasy at the end of the round. Fisher mentioned that he couldn’t see to his corner, but he’s coming out for round two.

Stevenson took him to school in the second round. He got the takedown and was nailing Fisher with elbows from the half guard. He moved to side control and trapped his left arm with his leg and dropped about 10 hard elbows in a row before it was stopped.

Winner: Joe Stevenson by way of 2nd round TKO

3. Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen

Sonnen looked great and won the round with a really solid stand-up which was opened up by leading with the inside leg kick. He also took Okami down twice and was impressive in his aggressiveness on the ground.

Okami landed a few good shots early on, but he couldn’t take Sonnen’s pressure. The second round was mostly a sloppy boxing match, but Sonnen was the one setting the tone and applying the pressure.

It was a good mix of the first two rounds. Sonnen took Okami down and worked for a submission. He also got the better of him on his feet. Sonnen looked good, but he doesn’t have the kind of power necessary to fight the top top guys at 185.

Winner: Chael Sonnen by unanimous decision

4. Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau

They both weighed in heavy so it’s officially a catch weight fight.

Tibau scored with four highlight reel takedowns that won him the round. On the feet, Neer did fine as the aggressor, but no one was really dominant on the feet.

Tibau scored with a couple of more takedowns and he had his back at one point, but Neer has looked good defending on the ground and on the feet, he looked much better. Tibau, even though he seems to be winning the fight, looks way more tired. I wouldn’t be surprised if Neer knocks him out in this round if he can connect on a few.

Tibau’s going to win the fight. Neer looked at times like he was going to figure him out, but three late takedowns by Tibau probably seeled it for him. Both guys were tired and just didn’t have much on their punches. Neer was having issues with his shin and was grimacing whenever his kicks were checked.

Winner: Gleison Tibau by unanimous decision

5. Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez

Rothwell looks like a big old lumberjack.

Velasquez looked great in the first round. He picked up Rothwell and threw him around and even beat Rothwell to the punch, which was expected to be Rothwell’s strength over Velasquez. He had Rothwell down and was just launching punches at him. He opened up a huge cut over Rothwell’s right eye. Velasquez looked awesome in the round.

Velasquez pinned Rothwell up against the cage and Velasquez threw about six left hands before it was stopped. It was an early stoppage in the sense that Rothwell was on his way to being completely on his feet. Even if it was early, it looked like Rothwell was on his way to being hurt badly.

Winner: Cain Velasquez by way of 2nd round TKO

6. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Lyoto Machida

If this was three years ago, you’d think Shogun would be the favorite. Three years later, Machida is the heavy favorite.

Based on how they look, Rua looks a little soft/small with no definition in his pecs at all. Machida looks like Machida to me.

Shogun may have just won that round. He landed a few nice kicks to the mid section, which was surprising, given that Machida rarely gets hit. But Shogun was countering with kicks very well. Machida landed some clean shots too, but they were just one shots without any combinations.

Machida won the second round, but Shogun still looked good. He was bringing the leg kicks again, but Machida was more accurate.

Shogun might’ve barely won the third round. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg are clearly looking for Shogun’s body kicks and not Machida’s left hands that are also answering at the same time. Machida backed him up against the cage and got a nice flurry in there, but took a big right hand by Shogun.

I think Shogun got that round too. Rua stayed with his game plan with the hard kicks and Machida didn’t have answers for them this time. Machida looks a bit gun shy.

I had Shogun winning the fifth round and the fight, four rounds to one. If you scored the fight as a whole, he definitely won. He won the last two rounds fairly easily in my book, but the first three rounds were close enough to be debatable.

Winner: Lyoto Machida by way of unanimous decision

The scores were 48-47 for Machida.

I won’t say that Rua was robbed because I thought the first three rounds were close. Machida clearly lost the last two rounds. I’m not sure Machida took all three of those rounds, but I guess I can see how it could be judged that way. It’s amazing that all three judges saw it the same way.

Rua at least deserves an immediate rematch.

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