MMA Hot Stuff

UFC 104 Machida vs Shogun Controversy CONTINUES

UFC 104: Machida vs. Rua

10/24/09 - Los Angeles, CA

CompuStrike Round-by-Round Stats

 Main Event

Lyoto Machida W 5 (Unan) Maurico Rua

View Round-by-Round Stats

 

Inside the Numbers: Rua outlanded Machida 89-50 in Total Strikes landed including 73 Leg Strikes landed. Rua dominated the fight and did just about everything he needed to do to beat the undefeated Machida, including out-landing Machida in every round, but apparently it wasn't enough for the judges. All 3 judges scored it 48-47 or 3-2.

The Arm Strikes were virtually the same as both fighters landed 16 total Arm Strikes but it was Rua who dominated every position by landing the damaging Leg Strikes. Rua was able to land 46 kicks when going toe-to-toe with Machida, and landing 27 knees when in the clinch. (thanks Compustrike for the info)

You can read more here: Machida vs Shogun Controversy

Follow me on Twitter!

 

UFC 104 Machida vs Shogun Controversy

I've let some time pass. I've even had a massage because I was so stressed out about last night's decision between Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua. Okay, so maybe that's not why I had my monthly massage but I did think about it during my aromatherapy. 

I watched the same fight everyone else did. Mind you my seats were in front of a tv. I had perfect viewing pleasure - no toddlers or drunks in my way. Sure, I picked Shogun in my UFC Fantasy picks, but after watching all 5 rounds I thought for sure clear the judges would also vote unanimously for Shogun as the winner. The new Light Heavyweight champion, the first person to defeat Lyoto Machida. I just got up to get more guacamole as they started to read the judges scores. Before the fresh green spicy goop hit my plate Bruce Buffer announced that all three judges scored the contest for Machida, the winner by unanimous decision and "still the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion". You could hear everyone's jaw hit the floor in my living room in absolute shock. 

There was a flurry of internet activity from people like me calling bullsh!t. Throw the challenge flag! Open the ballot box! I demand a recount! There was NO way it could have gone that way.  Fighters and journalists took to twitter also saying they disagreed with the judges. Even Dana White expressed his dissatisfaction with the judges decision during the post fight press conference.

As it grew later in the evening and into the early morning, some people started calming down a bit. Then people started saying things like "this is why you never leave it up to the judges."  Even I made a very conscious effort to NEVER disagree with judge's decisions in a public forum. Sure, I've thought it many times. But I'd NEVER say so on my site. I thought doing so would be disrespectful. But I've been giving it a lot of thought. What are the judges for if not to render a decision on the outcome of a bout that is so evenly matched as Shogun Rua and Lyoto Machida? Isn't that what they're expected to do? Their job is to judge who was 'better' in these areas: Clean Strikes, Effective Grappling, Octagon Control and Effective Aggressiveness. So, why should it be that dangerous for a fight to go the distance? Why not leave it up to the judges? Not every fight is going to end in a submission or knockout. As much as we fans would like for it to be that way, it's not.

I certainly understand the concept of fighters wanting to control their own destiny. And it's such a great motivational speech to hear your coach say "don't leave it in the hands of the judges" or "don't rely on someone else to give you the win". However, the time we need judges reliable judges the most is in title fights like Shogun VS Machida. In fights that pit two very evenly matched fighters against each other. Fights that are determined by the closest of margins and the slightest details. We can't expect title fights to always end by submission or KO / TKO, and do we really want them to? Isn't it the goal of an organization to pit two amazing fighters against each other such that they fully test each others arsenal of skills?

Sure this was a close fight, and judges have a view that we the public really don't have. Also, all we know about their criteria are the basic areas we're told about by Mike Goldberg before each event. However, Dana White has always said that the reason MMA will become so popular across the globe is because fighting is something that everyone understands, regardless of nationality or language spoken. Unfortunately for Shogun, last night fighting was not something everyone understood, because those judges saw something drastically different over five rounds than the majority of the crowd and those of us watching at home.

Oh, and this talk about 'taking a belt from the champion'... I've given that some thought as well! How does that make sense? It's like implying that the defending champ doesn't have to do as much to win.It's like saying that beating the defending Super Bowl Champs by only one point isn't winning 'by enough'. A win is a win, even if you're the challenger and it's by a razor thin margin. Both fighters should walk into the cage with the same blank slate and not a +1 point for the reigning champion. 

All I ask is that the judges and the athletic commission give the fans and the sport what we want. That's the ability for a fight to be judged in an educated and consistent manner. Many more of these questionable decisions will start to make us lose credibility as a sport.

This is just my personal opinion. I know some of my friends (all of which I highly respect) will have a different opinion and I welcome the discussion. If you agree or disagree, feel free to leave me a comment, email or send me a message on Twitter!

MMAHotStuff on Twitter - Follow me

If you missed the fights I think you can find them here... UFC MAIN EVENT

Having said all of that, I'm looking forward to the rematch. 

Want to know who had more strikes/kicks? Go here: THIS SAYS IT ALL

Dana White UFC 104 Video Blog - 10.21.09

Here's Dana's video blog from 10.21.09.

UFC 104 Machida vs Shogun VIDEO

See what Machida 'The Dragon' has planned to stop Shogun and maintain his light heavyweight title. UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun - Saturday, October 24th, live on Pay-Per-View from Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

UFC 104 Pay Per View Locations

In May, Lyoto Machida electrified the mixed martial arts world with a stirring knockout of Rashad Evans. On Saturday, October 24th, “The Dragon” will make the first defense of his UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 104 against former PRIDE star Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who is coming off back-to-back knockouts of Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman.

In the co-feature, two of the top young heavyweight contenders in the sport will clash, as unbeaten Cain Velasquez takes on former IFL star “Big” Ben Rothwell in what promises to be one of the most memorable bouts of 2009. 

UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun - Saturday, October 24th, live on Pay-Per-View from Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

List of bars/restaurants by city and state after the page break. See below!

If you want your bar/restaurant listed, please email me at rachel@mmahotstuff.com

 
 

RUMOR: Shane Carwin vs Cain Velasquez UFC 104 in LA

Thanks to Shane Carwin's Twitter, we know he's interested in facing Cain Velasquez October 24th in Los Angeles.  It looks like the bout is not signed sealed and delivered just yet but close.

The Heavyweight division is just so exciting and a match up between these two undefeated fighters would be fantastic.

Shane is coming off an impressive win against Gabriel Gonzaga where he won by Knock-Out 1:09 minutes into the first round.

There's been some buzz about Shane fighting the winner between Randy Couture and Antonio Nogueira.