MMA Hot Stuff

Strikeforce: Inside the training camps of Fedor & Rogers

Are you ready for this weekend? Free MMA on CBS! Fedor's Strikeforce debut! Brett Rogers' biggest challenge yet! It's going to be great.

Catch a glimpse of their journey to Chicago tonight on Showtime!

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

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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.

Dana White Talks Kimbo Slice

Dana White talks Kimbo Slice plans, Confirms Vitor Belfort vs Anderson Silva and Herschel Walker...

Dana White Talks Kimbo Slice

Dana White talks Kimbo Slice plans, confirms Belfort vs Silva and blitzes Herschel Walker

Roy Jones Jr joins the ESPN MMA Live crew at UFC 101

Roy Jones Jr stopped by ESPN's MMA Live set at UFC 101 to talk boxing, Anderson Silva and other topics with Jon Anik, Randy Couture and Stephan Bonnar. Will Jones and Silva ever meet in the boxing ring? And what does Jones think about the boxing skills of MMA fighters in general (this is the best explanation by a professional boxer I've ever heard, finally someone that realizes MMA fighters are not suppose to be experts at boxing). A great interview and makes me really like Roy!

UFC 100 Videos

Here's a group of UFC 100 videos worth watching if you haven't already done so.

Dana White talks about Dan "Hendo" Henderson



UFC 100 - Thiago Alves - Number One Contender For The Title World UFC Welterweight


Dana White talks about GSP



Dana White gives an analysis on Frank Mir

UFC 101 Press Tour And Heeeeere's Kenny!

Dear Dana White
Could you ask for a better 'face' for the UFC than Kenny Florian? I'm not kidding. He has the mad MMA skills, the pretty boy (east coast looking) face, the Boston College brain and his personable manner makes you feel like you're his friend. This interview sums it up perfectly.

In my opinion, UFC 101 BJ vs Kenny is going to be, hands down, the best fight of 2009. The entire island of Hawaii will make the long trip and I'm guessing the entire east coast will commute into Philly to see these two face each other.

Can't wait!