Lyoto Machida to defend UFC light-heavyweight title against Mauricio Rua

It will be an all-Brazilian championship bout tomorrow for the right to be called the world’s best light-heavyweight fighter when Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida takes on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.   At stake is Machida’s UFC belt, which he won from former champion Rashad Evans five months ago via a stunning second-round knockout.

Machida is undefeated in 15 matches with 5 KOs, 8 decisions, and 2 submissions; while Rua has won 18 of his last 21 fights, 15 by KO, two by decision and one by submission.

Being both from Brazil, albeit from different hometowns (Machida is from Belem), Machida and Rua had met before.  The karate black-belt Machida had trained for a while at the Chute Boxe gym in Curitiba, where Rua first learned to fight.

“I’ve known him from 2004 or 2005 from the Pride days,” said Machida.  “I was always following him as a fighter because I thought one day we would be opponents.”

Machida is the odds-on favorite in this fight, with betting still in his favor, up to 5-1, going into tomorrow’s clash.  Rua realizes this and he says he isn’t worried.  “So far in my career, every time I have entered as the underdog, I have won,” the challenger said.

In the co-main event, Cain Velasquez takes on “Big” Ben Rothwell in a heavyweight bout whose winner could be in line for a shot at champion Brock Lesnar.

[via sports.yahoo.com, paultaneo.blogspot.com; image: wikipedia.org]