The Thursday Throwback: UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun
October 24th. 2009, Lyoto 'The Dragon' Machida lodges the first and final title defense of his reign as UFC light heavyweight champion, in his first meeting with compatriot Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua. In the event's headliner, karate specialist Machida takes home a relatively dubious unanimous decision over Rua, despite PRIDE FC icon Rua landing almost three-times the amount of total strikes over the twenty five minute affair. Judges Marcos Rosales, Cecil Peoples, and Nelson Hamilton all handed a 48-47 unanimous decision to Machida, with the pair running back their clash the following May at UFC 113. In the opening round of the rematch, Shogun scored a first round knockout to add the light heavyweight title to his trophy laiden cabinet.
Future UFC heavyweight champion and all time division great Cain Velasquez continued his siege to championship gold in our co-main event, picking up a second round knockout victory over Ben Rothwell. Velasquez remained undefeated that night and would later go on to beat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira next, before finishing Brock Lesnar in the opening round to seal the first of two heavyweight title reigns.
Cult hero and submission great Gleison Tibau managed a unanimous decision victory over Josh Neer, in a catchweight meeting as both men tipped the scales at the lightweight limit. Brazil's Tibau would go on to score notable triumphs over future UFC lightweight champion and interim welterweight title chaser Rafael dos Anjos, interim KSW lightweight best Norman Parke and former WEC lightweight gold holder Jamie Varner.
One-time UFC lightweight title challenger Joe Stevenson landed a brutal elbow stoppage of Spencer Fisher in what proved to be his last win in the promotion, before losing six straight. Spencer's luck wasn't exactly in either, winning just one of his next six meetings before retiring. In our main card opener, two-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, then still somehow competing at welterweight, finished Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the opening minute. 'Rumble' would go on to drop a submission losses to Brazilian icon Vitor Belfort and Josh Koscheck, resulting in his cut from the promotion.
On featured prelim, then on Spike TV, current Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader picked up a unanimous decision victory over Eric Schafer. Despite never obtaining champion status in the UFC, Bader holds some really impressive victories on his resume. Bader has toppled Antonio Rogerio Nogueira twice, Rashad Evans, Ovince Saint Preux, Rafael Feijao, Muhammed Lawal, matt Mitrione and PRIDE FC legend Fedor Emelianenko. Eric Schafer would only fight three more times in the organizations. Kickboxing ace Pat Barry also secured a second round finish of fellow kickboxing talent Antoni Hardonk in our other Spike TV prelim bout.
Three title UFC title hopeful Chael 'The American Gangster' Sonnen earned a dominant win over Yushin Okami to extend his win streak to two. Sonnen would go on to beat former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt to earn the first of two title challenges against fierce rival Anderson 'The Spider' Silva. Puerto Rican striker Jorge Rivera picked up a knockout finish of Rob Kimmons in the final round. Rivera won three of his last five outings, losing to Costas Philippou and in a memorable matchup and buildup, lost to future middleweight champion Michael Bisping.
In a light heavyweight meeting, Kyle Kingsbury managed a split decision win over Razak Al-Hassan, as the Roufusport product was cut from the promotion after just two appearances in the Octagon. Lofty heavyweight submission artist Stefan Struve managed yet another stoppage in our opening bout of the night, as he finished Chase Gormley via an opening tound triangle. Netherlands native Struve would go on to best the likes of Antonio Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and in a stand out performance, handed current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic his premier professional loss. Struve who recently announced his return to active-competition, is scheduled to meet the previously mentioned Ben Rothwell at December's UFC Fight Night Washington D.C.
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