Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio "Shogun" Andre Dida and Murilo "Ninja" Rua in Shogun's corner. Machida comes out to some traditional Japanese music that becomes Linkin Park. Machida comes out in s SilverStar and Lugz gi over a SilverStar t-shirt. The UFC's moron graphics team spells "Elusive" as "Allusive", no Ivy Leaguers on that crew. Machida looking cocky in the corner. Herb Dean is the ref. Round 1 Shogun misses a kick, they clinch and Machida scores with knees.Shogun covering and charging in. Shoots,eats some knees, pushes Machida to the fence. Shogun's back is covered with boils. Machida gets free. Side kick from Lyoto. Shogun with inside leg kick. Shogun tries a takedown, Machida stuffs it. Machida with his back to the fence, gets free. Both men have marked flanks from knees. Shogun with spinning kick. Shogun lands kick as Machida comes in. Shogun refusing to let Machida control the cage. Stalking the champ. Shogun with a leg kick. Shogun lands a sharp right hand counter. Shogun has really studied Machida's game. Shogun with another kick. Machida is limping. Bloody Elbow scores it 10-9 for Shogun Rua. The first time Machida has lost a round in the UFC.
Machida's brother ices his hamstrings between rounds.
Round 2 Shogun and Machida aggressively trade feints. Shogun refuses to let Lyoto control the rhythm. Machida with a combo of punches. Scores. Machida scores with a leg kick. Machida lands a knee as Shogun shoots. Machida escapes. Machida switches stances. Goes for a trip, Shogun recovers. Shogun lands a body kick. Machida with a body kick. Hard round to score. Shogun with a body kick that hurts Lyoto. Machida with a left. Shogun scores with a knee. Machida is black and blue on his left ribs. They end against the fence with Shogun controlling the clinch. Bloody Elbow scores it 10-10.
Round 3 Shogun stalking the champ. Legs a side kick. Machida lands punch. Really nice exchange. Machida switches stances. Body kick by the champ. Shogun fires and misses. Shogun cracks with a leg kick. Shogun shoots. Elbow to the champ's head on the break. Leg kick by Shogun. Machida eats another leg kick but responds. Shogun with a huge body kick. Shogun chases with strikes, Machida can't counter. Machida with body kick. Knee by the champ. Machida with punches. Has Shogun stunned. Shogun lands back. Shogun clinches. Bloody Elbow scores this 10-9 Shogun Rua.
Round 4 Shogun has refused to let Lyoto control the rhythm of the fight. This is a great fight! Trading leg kicks. Shogun is playing the lead in the footwork dance but looking for Lyoto's "kyo" and counter striking. Machida slips and Shogun shoots. They are in countering high crotch lifts. Back to the feet. Machida with a flurry in response to a leg kick but Shogun with a knee. Leg kick, punch trade. They clinch. Shogun lands an elbow as they break. Knee by Shogun. Punch by Shogun. Bloody Elbow scores it 10-9 Shogun.
Round 5 Shogun with a leg kick. Machida charges but gets nothing. Shogun pressing with a body kick. Machida punches to counter. Shogun HURTS the champ with a leg kick. Shogun catches a kick. They trade leg kicks. Shogun charges behind punches. Machida staggers due to battered legs. Knee to the liver from Machida doesn't seem to phase Shogun. They clinch. Knees to the legs from Shogun. Dean breaks them up. Shogun counters a knee to the body with several punches. Shogun advancing behind punches. Machida's lip is bloody and swollen as the Machida era bleeds away. Shogun ends the fight with a left. Bloody Elbow scores it 10-9 Shogun. Final score 50-46 Shogun.
Final score 50-46 Shogun.