UFC 104 live results and play by play


LOS ANGELES – MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles for tonight’s UFC 104 event.

Tonight’s show features a main event title fight between UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, as well as a co-headliner between heavyweight contenders Cain Velasquez and Ben Rothwell.

Follow along as we provide live round-by-round updates from the night’s un-aired preliminary card beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT), the Spike TV card at 9 p.m. ET, and the pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET. You can also discuss tonight’s event in our UFC 104 discussion thread.

The night’s fight card features a number of other notable fighters,
including lightweight contender Spencer Fisher, fast rising
welterweight Anthony Johnson, “The Ultimate Fighter 8″ winner and
undefeated Ryan Bader, and perennial middleweight contender Yushin

Finally, don’t forget to stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com after tonight’s
show for complete post-event coverage, including fight-night bonus
winners, gate and attendance numbers, UFC president Dana White’s
assessment of the show, and comments from UFC 104′s top competitors.

Enjoy the fights everyone.

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Round 1 – Referee Jason Herzog gets the action started, and a touch of gloves gets the evening’s first contest underway. Snapping low kick by Struve. Gormley answers with his hands. Struve kicks low again, then misses high. Gormley throws four shots to the belly than lands a trip takedown. Struve takes a closed guard with his head against the cage. Gormley opens up with ground and pound shots. Gormley elevates and slams, and Struve maintains the guard. Struve looks briefly for the armbar, but it’s not there. Struve turns for a knee, and Gormley does the same as he falls. Struve rolls over as Gormley releases. Two minutes in, and Gromley’s almost free. Gormley looks for a leg, misses, and is forced to pull guard. Struve can’t maintain top position, and Gormley stands. It’s a quick clinch, and Struve earns the trip. Gormley tries for a knee on bottom, but Struve blocks and unleashes a flurry of right hands to the face. Herzog watches closely but lets the action carry on. Gormley bleeding, and Struve transitions. Struve looks for the triangle choke from top and rolls to his back, but it’s not there. He continues to cinch the hold, and Gormley is forced to tap. Stefan Struve def. Chase Gormley via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:04.


Round 1 – Referee Jason Herzog oversees the action as the two touch gloves. Quick jabs but both. Kingsbury pushing forward, clinches and tries a trip, eventually earning it. Kingsbury takes half-guard from underneath. Al-Hassan stands and tries to grab a choke as he falls to guard. Kingsbury quickly passes to mount and patiently sets up on top. Little action on top as Al-Hassan holds tight with his arms. Kingsbury moves to half-mount an dlooks to work on his opponent’s left arm. He can’t finish, so he slips out to the side. Halfway through the round, and the crowd calling for a standup. Herzog watches as the crowd boos. Kingsbury delivers a few left hands to the body, but nothing of consequence. Al-Hassan gains guard. Kingsbury postures and delivers a few left hands, then right. Al-Hassan offering nothing from his back. Kingsbury postures with a minute remaining, then moves back in. Herzog finally restarts. Kingsbury lands a jab, though Al-Hassan answers with a high kick, then hands. Al-Hassan just misses with a fierce right, then delivers a kick to the body. Left hand lands for Al-Hassan. Good work as time expires, but Kingsbury spent too much time on top. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Kingsbury, 10-9.

Round 2 – Al-Hassan throws a kick to the body and moves away. Al-Hassan spins, and Kingsbury clinches and earns the takedown. Al-Hassan earns a quick sweep and sets up in Kingsbury’s guard. Kingsbury kicks away, but Al-Hassan pushes him back to the floor. Kingsbury sits up, and Al-Hassan tries briefly for a guillotine choke from half-mount. He releases and Kingsbury stands and pushes Al-Hassan to the cage. Kingsbury has the body lock, though Al-Hassan circles off the cage. Both look for trips unsuccessfully. Knees inside. They pair finally breaks with just more than two minutes left. Al-Hassan throws a few sloppy strikes and they clinch. Kingsbury pushes forward while looking for the trip. Stalled pace again. One minute remains. Al-Hassan throws a few knees inside. Herzog restarts. Good hands score from both. Kingsbury has tape loose on his right hand, but the round will finish. Not much between the two, but MMAjunkie.com sees a close round for Al-Hassan, 10-9.

Round 3 – Both score as they open the final frame. Kingsbury lands a few combos moving forward. Al-Hassan lands a jab backing away. Al-Hassan throws a few kicks to the body. Kingsbury focusing on his hands. Al-Hassan with a lazy spinning kick. Kingsbury leaps win with his hands but misses. Al-Hassan does the same. Two minutes in, and still not much. Al-Hassan lands to the legs. Al-Hassan with a jab and a front kick. Al-Hassan avoids an advance and counters with a 1-2. Al-Hassan switching stances, but Kingsbury pushes in and clinches. Al-Hassan circles off the cage. Few knees inside, but not much there. Slow pace with 90 seconds remaining. Kingsbury tries a single-leg that turns into a trip. It works, but Al-Hassan is right back up and pushes Kingsbury to the cage. One minute left. Al-Hassan grinding Kingsbury into the cage. A toss sees both hit the floor in a neutral position, and both pop back up. Restart wit 25 seconds left. Al-Hassan avoiding, and counters with a few insignificant shots. Boos as the final horn sounds. MMAjunkie.com sees the final round for Kingsbury, 10-9, and the fight, 29-28. Could easily go either way. Kyle Kingsbury def. Razak Al-Hassan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).


Round 1 – Referee Jason Herzog works his third-straight bout, and Kimmons comes forward after the touch of gloves. Strikes mostly miss, but he pushes Rivera to the cage. Riivera works free and lands a few left hands, but Kimmons answers with rights and pushes forward. Kimmons throws knees inside while pressing Rivera in. He finally releases and backs away, but Kimmons repeats the strategy. Traded hands briefly, then back to the clinch. Rivera leaps in with a right, and now it;s his turns to move forward. Kimmons eats a few shots to the body, but grabs a Thai clinch.Rivera lands a quick flurry inside that inspired the crowd. Halfway through. Rivera lands three solid shots, but Kimmons stands his ground. Rivera pushes in, backs away for a few shots, then moves in again. Rivera picking his spots well. Kimmons eats a knee inside. One minute left. Kimmons eats a knee, but scores a takedown and sets up on top. Big left elbow from Kimmons. Rivera has half-giard underneath, but little room to move. Bad spot for Rivera, but the round ends quickly, and Rivera takes it on the MMAjunkie.com card, 10-9.

Round 2 – Kimmons scores with a jab after a quick clinch. Rivera lands knee, and Kimmons drops, but he may have just beem looking to change levels. Rivera lands another knee as he gets up from the squat. Rivera lands a right inside, then a left that hurts Kimmons. Kimmons drops, and Rivera sets up in half-mount. Kimmons holds tight, but Rivera postures and lands a few punches. Rivera still in half, but he shifts to the side. Kimmons regains guard, but Rivera postures and lands a mix of lefts and rights. Halfway through the round, and Kimmons’ head is against the cage. Rivera stands, and Kimmons is slow to do the same. Rivera pounces back in. Kimmons is hurt. Rivera in half, but Kimmons is trapped against the cage with nowhere to escape. Rivera bringing shots at will. Kimmons has a loose guard, and Rivera stands up, but returns immediately in. Rivera stands again, and Kimmons wearily follows. Rivera leaps in with hands on the restart. Kimmons starts to answer back with a few rights inside, but time expires. MMAjunkie.com sees a clear round for Rivera, 10-9.

Round 3 – Flurry by both to open, but Rivera lands eight unanswered punches while dropping Kimmons. Rivera follows to the floor, and Kimmons’ face is a bloody mess. Herzog watches closely as Rivera postures up and continues to punch. Kimmons sits up with his back to the cage, and Herzog wants the doctor to check the cuts. The eyes are clear, and Herzog resets the fight back on the ground. Rivera immediately postures and resumes the beating. Kimmons covers, but he has nothing to offer, and Hezog finally stops the contest. Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:53.


Round 1 – Referee Steve Mazzagatti starts the action. Sonnen moving forward with a few jabs, then shoots in. Okami sprawls against the cage. Okami spins off. Sonnen powers off the cage and earns the takedown. A few punches follow, and Sonnen moves tot he back. Okami stand, but Sonnen elevates and slams. Sonnen stays on the back, but Okami defending and stalling on the feet. Sonnen tries a footstomp. Sonnen jumps on Okami’s back, but releases. Okami feels an opening and slides away. Halfway through the frame, and the pair trades hands. Sonnen lands one to the body. Okami answering with a few quick shots. Trading flurries, but nothing scoring too firm. Sonnen works again to the body. Sonnen shoots in again and wrestles Okami to the floor. Okami ties up on the bottom then stands. Sonnen lands a nice left, but Okami does the same. Nice punches inside as time winds down Sonnen throws a few kicks out as the round ends. Sonnen takes it on the MMAjunkie.com card, 10-9.

Round 2 – Standup again to start, and Okami scores. Both wing wild hooks. Sonnen shoots in, and pulls Okami’s shorts down as he walks away. It keeps Okami close, and Sonnen shifts to the back. Sonnen sits, and Okami tries to turn to the guard, but Sonnen stands. Sonnen tries to sneak a choke but misses. Back on the feet. Sonnen showing quicker hands, though Okami scoring as well. Both trade stiff hands. Halfway through the round, and Sonnen moving laterally. Okami’s shots sound crisp, and he’s finding them a bit more frequently. Sonnen flashes a high kick. Okami kicks to the body and Sonnen catches but can’t capitalize. Sonnen lands a left over the top. Okami retreating, and Sonnen happy to chase. Less than a minute. Another left for Sonnen. Another. Okami answers with a right hand jab, but Sonnen is pushing the action and scoring. Time winding down, and Sonnen tries a spinning kick that misses, but he’s done enough to take it on the MMAjunkie.com card, 10-9.

Round 3 – Okami needs to find something that works. Sonnen shoots, Okami sprawls out and backs away. Okami land a stiff shot, but he eats one in return. Traded hands. Sonnen kicks left, then right to the body. Okami willing to trade in the pocket., but not moving away from the attacks. Sonnen works hands and backs away. Sonnen pressing. Okami stands his ground with a jab. Both trade jabs. Okami wipes his eye. Sonnen shoots in. Okami defends, but Sonnen elevates, slams, and moves immediately to the back. Few right hands sneak in from behind with two minute left. Okami stands, but Sonnen stays attached to the back. Sonnen lands a few knees to the quad. Okami can’t break the body lock. Okami tries the Sakuraba kimura from the front, then spins and falls to guard. Okami lets the arm go, then returns to it. Not there, and Sonnen spins out and returns to the back. Sonnen tries a suplex as time expires, and it’s a surprisingly one-sided win for Sonnen on the MMAjunkie.com card, 30-27.
Chael Sonnen defeats Yushin Okami by unanimous decision, 30-27 across the board.


Round 1 – Hardonk gets clipped with a right hook early.  Barry is quick on his feet. Hardonk misses a headkick and then follows with a body kick. The two are purely kickboxing to open the fight, as expected. Hardonk lands a leg kick and another. It appears that Barry is looking primarily to land punches, Hardonk looking to land kicks. Hardonk paws out a jab and catches Barry with an eye poke. Hardonk lands a very solid knee to the body. Hardonk lands another pawing jab that appears to catch Barry in the eye again, but Barry recovers. Barry lands a leg kick but eats one in return. Hardonk appears to slip, and Barry jumps on top in side control.  Barry looks to pin the arm and then tries to move to full mount while Hardonk looks to regain half guard. Hardonk gets back to his feet with just over a minute left, but eats a hard hook for his troubles. Hardonk lands a partially blocked right head kick, and follows with another thudding leg kick. Hardonk lands another partially-blocked head kick. Barry lands another hook, this to the top of Hardonk’s head. MMAjunkie.com scores the fight 10-9 for Barry.

Round 2 – Barry opens with a switch kick, but eats another thudding leg kick.  Barry lands a 1-2 combination and has aparently found his striking range as he lands another 1-2 immediately after, dropping Hardonk to his butt.  Hardonk is back up immediately, and Barry lands another combo, his hand speed aparently just too much for Hardonk to overcome.  Hardonk wades inside and tries for a poorly-set up takedown that fails. Barry lands a quick jab that connects square, and another. Hardonk looks for another kick but eats a jab to the temple, which causes him to slowly crumble to the ground. Barry jumps in and lands a hard swinging shot that causes the referee to step in and end the fight.  Patrick Barry defeats Antoni Hardonk via TKO at 2:30 of Round 2.

(Taking advantage of the quick end to the first televised fight, Spike interjects the first fight of the undercard, Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley)


Round 1 – Bader quickly takes the center of the octagon, and Schafer circles around. Bader throws several hard punches and lands a good straight right. Schafer misses a looping left jab and ducks a wild looping right from Bader. Schafer lands a short left hook, and then an overhand right. Bader swings for the fences again and misses wildly, again. Bader lands a right over the top, partially blocked, and then a left to the body. The fighters trade shots, and then Bader lands a clean jab.  Bader lands that big looping right and drops Schafer to the ground. Bader is very aggressive and explosive, pounding on Schafer and exploding out any time Schafer tries to control his posture. Schafer does a great job staying in the fight. Schafer fights back to his feet but gets slammed back down. Bader takes Schafer’s back for a minute as Schafer tries to struggle back to his feet. Schafer finally gets full guard and starts to look for submissions, first trying for an armbar and then an omaplata, neither of which catch. The round ends with Bader on his feet, standing above Schafer. MMAjunkie.com scores the round 10-9 for Bader.

Round 2 – Bader lands a leg kick, and then another. Schafer returns a right straight. Schafer paws out trying to find the range and we stop momentarily for an inadvertant eye poke. Bader appears to have slowed down quite a bit, isn’t moving forward and isn’t throwing as crisply. Schafer works forward behind the jab, dodging another looping right from Bader. Bader misses another looping home run right hand. Bader lands a good jab, and then a looping left moments later. Bader has slowed considerably, letting Schafer find success with counterpunches. Schafer lands a right hand, and follows it up with a solid left hook that lands. Schafer misses a jab and eats a counter right hook. Schafer scores with a 1-2 combo, and then a counter right straight when Bader tries to return.  Bader looks to try a round-stealing takedown, but Schafer stuffs and lands a solid right hand.  Bader tries another takedown as the round ends, but Schafer stuffs it too, and finishes looking for a guillotine choke.  MMAjunkie.com scores the close round 10-9 for Schafer.

Round 3 – The fighters circle and trade jabs as the round opens. Bader throws the home run right hand yet again, and this time it lands directly behind Schafer’s ear.  Schafer stumbles, and Bader jumps on top. Schafer gets to full guard, and eats an unintentional head but as Bader tries to transition. Bader stands out of guard, and the referee calls time for a quick check of the cut opened by the headbutt. We get back underway almost immediately, and the fighters circle each other in the center of the ring, exchanging shots. Schafer continues to land crisper punches but Bader lands occasionally with stronger shots. Bader sinks for a takedown with just over a minute left; Schafer looks for a guillotine briefly but Bader ends up on top in side control. Bader is doing a good job riding out the end of the fight, not really looking for any offense but doing just enough to avoid getting stood up. Schafer regains guard and tries to transition as the fight ends. MMAjunkie.com awards the round and the fight to Bader. Ryan Bader defeats Eric Schafer by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-26, 30-27).  The judge who had it 29-26 must have seen two 10-8 rounds for Bader and a 9-10 round for Schafer — a strange score for sure.

We close out the SpikeTV portion of our evening and switch over to the pay-per-view broadcast for the main card, starting with:


Round 1 – Johnson comes out and tees off early, blasing Yoshida with shot after shot. Yoshida tries to get a clinch and eats several more shots. Johnson pushes Yoshida backwards in to the fence and tees off again. Yoshida tries to work forward off the fence and eats a hard straight right that crumples him to the canvas. The referee jumps in quickly and ends the fight. Anthony Johnson defeats Yoshiyuki Yoshida by KO at 0:41 of the first round.


Round 1 – Fisher opens with a leg kick and eats a jab in return. Fisher takes the center of the cage, with Stevenson light on his feet, bouncing and circling around the outside. The fighters exchange shots, then Fisher lands a leg kick and a clean counter right. Fisher is bleeding from a small cut above his left eye. Stevenson shoots for a takedown but Fisher does a good job sprawling and defending. Stevenson continues to work the takedown, pushing Fisher up to the cage and continuing to work while Fisher continues to defend. Stevenson eventually gives up the takedown and the fighters stall in a body lock against the cage before they’re separated by referee Herb Dean. Fisher is clearly having trouble seeing out of his bloody left eye as the fight restarts. Stevenson targets the eye, landing an elbow. Fisher lands an inside leg kick. Stevenson sinks for a takedown that is again defended, but in the resulting scramble “Joe Daddy” is able to get behind Fisher and drag him to the ground. The round ends with Fisher turtled up, eating multiple shots to the side of the head.  MMAjunkie.com scores the first round 10-9 for Stevenson in no small part due to the closing action.

Round 2 – Fisher tries a front kick, then looks for a flying knee, but can’t score. Stevenson leads a left hook that lands. Fisher continues to work the inside leg kick. Stevenson ducks a kick and shoots for a single leg, completing his first clean takedown of the night. Fisher closes his guard while Stevenson walks him to the fence. Stevenson postures up and lands an elbow. Stevenson briefly drops for a leglock but transitions instead to half guard, and begins to rain down short elbows. Fisher eats numerous short elbows and is bleeding heavily again. Stevenson passes to side control, then pins an arm and unleashes a barrage of short elbows from the crucifix position. Herb Dean jumps in and stops the fight. Joe Stevenson defeats Spencer Fisher by TKO at 4:03 of Round 2.

(Since we’re already ahead of schedule, the broadcast jumps to the Okami vs. Sonnen fight from the undercard)


Round 1 – Neer pushes forward from the center of the cage and backs Tibau up by looking to land his jab. Tibau explodes off the cage witha  tremendous slam takedown. Tibau starts in north-south but Neer regains guard and then gets back to his feet quickly. Neer looks to land a punch and is on the receiving end of a second explosive takedown. Neer again regains full guard and is again back to his feet after only taking minor damage. Neer retakes the center of the cage looking to strike, and again Tibau shoots in for a successful takedown. Tibau tries to pass and Neer is able to create a scramble and get right back to his feet. Still, these takedowns are most likely scoring points with the judges. The two fighters exchange on the feet for a moment, and then Tibau explode and completes his fourth takedown. Neer uses the butterfly guard and then gets back to his feet. The round ends with Neer landing an uppercut, but MMAjunkie.com scores the round 10-9 for Tibau.

Round 2 – Neer again takes the center of the cage and looks to strike. Tibau shoots and throws Neer to the ground for the fifth time in the fight, and once again Neer gets right back to his feet. Neer tries to strike against the cage and Tibau drop to land takedown number six. Neer scrambles right back to his feet and lands a solid leg kick. Tibau drops and completes takedown number seven. This time, Tibau is able to jump in to full mount. Neer gives up his back immediately, and stands up with Tibau along for the ride. Tibau swings around for an armbar, but Neer defends, and Neer ends up on top of Tibau for the first time in the fight. However, Neer is unable to capitalize as Tibau is able to push him off and get back to his feet. Neer landing several good combinations, and then a solid uppercut. Tibau gets a trip takedown but doesn’t even try to get on top. Neer again takes the center of the cage and walks down Tibau while landing strikes. MMAjunkie.com scores the round 10-9 for Tibau again.

Round 3 – Tibau scores an immediate takedown and is able to pass to half-guard before Neer executes a hip escape and scrambles back to his feet. Neer lands a few solid shots in the standup and then presses Tibau up against the cage. Tibau backpedals then drops for a weak takedown which Neer is able to stuff. Tibau drops for another telegraphed takedown and Neer is again able to defend. Neer contines to try to back Tibau down; Tibau tries another slow takedown that is again defended. Neer lands a right hand but Tibau is able to sink for a successful single. Continuing the theme, Neer gets right back to his feet. Neer gets a kick checked and appears to have hurt himself. Tibau drops for yet another successful takedown agains the fence, but Neer yet again jumps right back up. Tibau shoots for a double from distance and secures one final takedown as time expires. MMAjunkie.com scores the round 10-9 for Tibau yet again.  Gleison Tibau defeats Josh Neer by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).


Round 1 – Velasquez throws a kick to the body, Rothwell counters with a 1-2. Velasquez sinks for a single and finishes it with a trip. Rothwell tries to work back to his feet, but Velasquez sucks him back down to the floor again. Rothwell stands but Velasquez dumps him to the floor again, but this time Rothwell climbs back to his feet immediately. the fighters exchange, with Velasquez actually landing the cleaner shots. Velasquez drops for another successful takedown, and lands some punishment from side control. Rothwell is able to create an escape, but Velasquez shoots for a successful single and brings Rothwell down again. Velasquez lands several big shot and then transitions to mount briefly. Rothwell is able to escape the mount, but Velasquez stays on top and continues to punish. Rothwell is able to stand up again but immediately gets dumped back down. Velasquez stands over his exhausted opponent and lands numerous hard shots. However, Rothwell is able to hang on and the round ends.  MMAjunkie.com scores the first round 10-8 for Velasquez and wouldn’t argue with a 10-7.

Round 2 – Rothwell tries a head kick as the round opens and almost falls over. Velasquez sinks for a single and throws his opponent to the ground. Rothwell is turtled with Velasquez on his back landing hard shots to the face. Rothwell is able to scramble over to the fence with Velasquez keeping the pressure on. Rothwell starts to stand up and eats five consecutive clean shots to the face while doing so. Mazegatti has seen enough and jumps in to call an end to the fight just as Rothwell gets back to his feet. Rothwell protests the stoppage, but it’s certain that he was getting absolutely demolished in the fight. Cain Velasquez defeats Ben Rothwell by TKO at 0:58 of the second round.


Round 1 – Rua jumps in and lands a left hand to open the fight, Machida grabs the clinch and lands several knees in return. Rua lands a right leg kick and then rushes inside for a body lock. Machida lands a knee, then Shogun answers with a knee inside and several knees to the legs. Machida pushes off the cage and Rua lands a knee to the body. Machida lands a solid knee as Rua rushes in again. Rua looks for a takedown but Machida defends. Machida measures the range and waits for Rua to engage. Rua is patient and looking to score with his leg kicks. Rua lands a hard leg kick but eats a body kick in return. Rua lands a clean counter right. Rua continues to push forward and lands another leg kick. MMAjunkie.com awards a close first round 10-9 to Rua due to aggression.

Round 2 – Rua opens by missing a hard leg kick; Machida counters with a kick to the body, but Rua lands a left jab in response. Machida scores solidly with a combination and backs up his opponent. Rua responds by pushing forward and landing another kick. Rua shoots for a single leg and eats a knee for his trouble as Machida successfully defends. Machida lands his own leg kick, then Rua scores with a body kick. Machida jumps forward and lands a solid body kick after a feint. Shogun runs forward and lands a body kick of his own in the next exchange. Rua lands yet another kick to the body. Rua’s muay thai skills have definitely figured out how to land on Machida. The fighters exchange knees while Rua pushes Machida against the cage. Rua lands multiple knees to the leg while holding Machida against the cage as the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores the close second round also 10-9 for Rua.

Round 3 -Rua opens the third with yet another hard kick to the body. Machida works forward and lands a hard right hand. Rua responds by landing a counter leg kick. Machida is able to make Rua miss on several strikes, but Rua remains patient. Machida lands a body kick and then makes Rua miss yet again. Rua lands another solid counter leg kick. Shogun jumps inside attempting a takedown, but Machida defends. Rua lands a knee to the leg inside, and then throws an elbow as the fighters separate. Rua takes the center of the cage and scores another leg kick. Machida lands a body kick, but eats another leg kick. Rua eats a straight left but lands a heavy kick to the body. Machida lands a solid body kick and then retreats across the cage as Rua chases. Rua lands a strong inside leg kick at the conclusion of the chase. With 30 seconds left, Machida gets aggressive and opens up. Both fighters open up and land. Machida scores several times, but Rua lands a hard right hook flush at the end, the cleanest shot of exchange. MMAjunkie.com awards a razor thin round to Rua again, putting him up 30-27 on our card, but that round could easily go either way.

Round 4 -The fighters try to find the range early. Over a minute goes by before the first strike is landed, Machida going to the body and eating a counter leg kick in return. Machida’s mobility appears to have been slowed down significantly. Rua lands to the body. Machida scores with a high kick. Machida slips on the canvas while retreating and Rua rushes in to try to capitalize, but Machida defends nicely. Rua lands another nice leg kick, but Machida responds with two quick inside uppercuts. Rua lands a clean knee to the body. Rua jumps inside but is tied up, but lands an elbow over the top on the break. Rua continues to push the pace, landing a knee and then a straight right. Rua lands another leg kick. The fighters circle for the last thirty seconds without either fighter throwing a strike. MMAjunkie.com scores the fourth round 10-9 for Rua.

Round 5 – Rua continues to move forward. Machida lands a right straight, but Rua responds with a knee to the body. Machida eats a big leg kick and almost stumbles. Machida lands a body kick, but it’s clear that his mobility has been affected by the toll of Rua’s assault. Machida lands a knee to the body as Rua pushes forward, and narrowly misses landing a knee to his opponent’s chin. Machida pushes Rua against the cage, but holds on to a stalemate which is quickly broken up by the referee. Rua lands another body kick. Machida lands a knee to the body and then a clean right hand. Machida lands another knee to the body as Rua tries to push in for the body lock but fails. Machida pushes forward and throws a a head kick that misses. Rua pushes forward in response but can’t land clean. Rua continues to push forward, Machida looks to counter but Rua lands a left clean in the exchange.  The round ends, and both fighters immediately raise their hands. MMAjunkie.com scores a close fifth round for the reigning champion, predicting either a 49-46 or 48-47 decision for Rua. The judges see the fight the other way: all three judges score the fight 48-47 for Machida. Lyoto Machida defeats Mauricio “Shogun” Rua by unanimous decision (48-47 across).



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