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UFC 104 Back In L.A. With Machida and Shogun!
By David A. Avila
Mixed martial arts tries once again to conquer Los Angeles. This time they’re bringing the big guns to do some damage to a boxing-crazy town.
Welcome to Ultimate Fighting Championship 104, the rematch.
Last time UFC ventured into the city of Angels, it was met with mediocre attendance and plenty of empty seats for MMA’s most popular organization. That was 2006, this is now.
No longer is MMA new to Los Angeles. The mistake UFC made was in thinking L.A. is like Orange County. That’s like comparing New York City to Newark.
In the first foray into Southern California UFC planted its initial show in Anaheim, the heart of Orange County and home of Disneyland. It’s also home to many MMA studios. They didn’t know O.C. was different from L.A. County.
Now, UFC 104 hits the Staples Center with Lyoto Machida (15-0) defending his light heavyweight title against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-3) and Mexican-American Cain Velasquez (6-0) meeting Big Ben Rothwell (30-6) on Saturday Oct. 24. The fights are available on pay-per-view television as well.
Even the heavy Latino population of L.A. knows these guys.
Since 2006, when UFC 60 brought Matt Hughes and an ageing Royce Gracie as the main event, MMA has made great strides in Los Angeles as fans of professional fights have become familiar due to the abundance of club shows and television coverage of the sport.
Dana White, the president of UFC, has made it clear he’s targeting not just Latinos, but aspirations of worldwide domination.
When Machida arrived in Los Angeles at LA Live for the press conference a month ago, the Brazilian champion was greeted by several hundred fans who shouted his name. Most were Latino MMA fans who are growing in numbers every day.
Rua, another Brazilian, was equally cheered by fans in L.A. who shouted his nickname “Shogun” in unison. Three years ago this would not have happened.
Even Velasquez was cheered though he only has six MMA fights. He could be one of the important keys to UFC’s capturing the fight crazy Latino fans.
“I’m real excited to be fighting in Los Angeles,” said Velasquez, a former college wrestling All American from Arizona State. “It’s just like any other fight. I think of all my fights as title fights.”
Rothwell is a former heavyweight champion from the now defunct International Fight League. Well-spoken and amiable, Rothwell is making his debut for UFC against Velasquez.
“I can already preempt the boos coming out. There’s nothing I can do about that,” said Rothwell knowing that the Latino fans will be cheering for Velasquez.
“I expect a lot of fans to be behind me,” Velasquez said.
No title will be at stake but the winner is promised a shot at the heavyweight title.
Fans know Machida will be defending his light heavyweight world title that he took from former champion Rashad Evans. Now he has Shogun in front of him and though both are from Brazil and speak little Spanish, Latinos and MMA fans in general will be stacking the seats at Staples Center this Saturday.
This is the rematch for UFC. It should be a KO.
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Nate:
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While Rothwell was undefeated in the International Fight League, he never won a title as they weren't offered until after he left for Affliction and Adrenaline.
Roy Nelson, who Rothwell beat in the IFL was the only heavyweight champion the IFL had who won the belt by winning a grand prix tournament before the organization went belly up.
Good article, see you L.A.
Nate from Milwaukee
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 12:41:58 AM
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Isaiah:
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Yey, a UFC match. (::insert supreme sarcasm::) I've love to see it, but I'm leaning towards getting that just as exciting root canal. Brock Lesnar, a former freak show WWE wrestler got a UFC title shot with a 1-1 with 1KO record. There's how legit this "SPORT" is. Nuff said. Darn it . I just remebered I'm watching paint dry and grass grow competion on this night, oh well. Guess I'll get by somehow. I'm not saying anything, but Floyd Mayweather called and these guys aren't exciting to watch. Oh, so did Wladmer Klitschko. Tell you all what, I'll watch another UFC event just as soon Sergio Mora knocks out Vitali Klitschko and there's and end to world hunger and Floyd Mayweather fights Manny Pacquiao, Paul Williams, Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto all next year and beats them.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 03:31:27 AM
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MisterLee doing the Smiley C:
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Wow! A lot of haters here fo' sho!
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 06:34:30 AM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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This fight is going to be big! They should have televised this one on the same night as PBF-JMM event. I'm taking Lyoto "Machite" Machida by KO!!!!
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 09:19:59 AM
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TSSreader:
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Hey TSS how much is dana white paying you to shill for them..I have tried to mma a chance
and it """"BORING""" ..anybody can become an mma fighter just like Isaiah said Brock got his first title shot with a 2-1 record and beat there champ.just 3 months ago Ray mercer beat 3 time mma champ Tim Silvia in an mma match you know lets talk about boxing here not mma.,
you could be reporting on David Haye has now been insulting Valuev or make up a story on boxing..or how Pac-man is good for boxing ....
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 12:22:06 PM
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brownsugar:
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I haven't seen an MMA fight since my son bought a few events in the spring,.. I heard of Machida but never saw him fight,.. I'll see if Jr want's to see it,.. be an excuse to down a couple brews...
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 01:41:42 PM
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UFC is corrupt:
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even more so than Boxing. I just can't get into the UFC or MMA. boxing is #1. UFC doesn't pay the fighters anything compared to boxing. I will read about this UFC event on the net. Dana white is not getting my hard earned money for this fight.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 02:05:10 PM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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Not every fight fan favors of the art of the sweet science. I am a fan of both. I love watching fights with brutality, bloody, and last second knockouts. I'm also a fan of the sweet science and who could've put together a masterful piece than the great Sugar Ray Leonard himself. This comes to show that there a lot of fans out there who want action-packed fights. So they've shifted to a more brutal sport. These MMA fans are also ex-boxing fans who lost the interest of the sport of boxing.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 02:50:47 PM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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Not everybody can fight in MMA. You need all sorts of different types of training. You can be a hell of a street fighter or a pro boxer but that doesn't mean you can be successful in MMA. You'd be seen as a one dimensional and you'll be quickly exposed. What you would need is grappling, wrestling, JJ, etc. in your game if you want to survive. Brock's success in the MMA is all due to his wrestling skills. Say you put Mayweather up against Anderson "Spider" Silva in the octogan. I would choose Silva everytime because of the fact that Mayweather would not the defense to get away from Silva. He wouldn't be able to avoid the shoot, upkicks, and all sorts of different moves that Silva brings to the table. He may tag Silva at times but he'll have no answer to the Brazilian Ju Jitsu.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 03:03:39 PM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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Here's one thing many of you might not know. Mayweather and Silva used to spar, it was to improve Silva's boxing skills. I bet May gave him one hell of a boxing lesson.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 03:11:27 PM
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MisterLee:
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Dang man, you guys are idiots. You're saying it doesn't take skills to fight in the octagon? First, the heavyweight division, 205+ is probably one of the most shallow. You go down one division, 175-205, LHW, you got guys with amazing size, speed, and capability. Are you saying it takes 0 skill to tap someone out? It's all skill, b/c when you're manipulating a joint agst a person's will, you have to have perfect leverage and technique (like a kimora or a arm bar and knee bar) to get them out and fast. If you guys ever seen machida fight, you'd know he was skillful: 14-0, undefeated, rare in MMA, never lost a round, beat up tito ortiz real good, Shotoken Karate Champion, can kick and punch you, can beat you down, very fast, almost knocks out all his opponents. It's ridiculous to say guys who put their life on the line are going in there with no idea what they're doing. ANd as far as UFC being corrupt, i dunno about that, boxing IS corrupt for sure. Either way, lots of ignorant pple here for sure. B/c you point out a couple heavyweights it means you know a thing about the sport? You ever see Royce Gracie tap out guys who outweigh him by 50-60lbs? that's skill. Holler!
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 08:20:04 PM
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Isaiah:
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Mr. Avila, if you'd like me to try to find something to make a boxing article about, I'd like you to give me a chance. These UFC articles just don't belong here. I know I can do well if you let me do one. If interested, put down some info to get in contact with you and give me a decent wage to do one and I bet I could make you all proud. These articles about this pathetic UFC really need to stop. Cmon, you're all better then this. Don't bring yourself down to the UFC'S level, that is, unless the TSSreader is speaking the truth and you are being bribed to do this. SAY IT AIN'T SO!
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009 11:42:02 PM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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I have no problem with the MMA articles TSS. This shows how openly this site is when it comes to fightfans. I don't mind them so keep em coming. I hope Machida-Silva someday happens, I see that one as a classic.
Thursday Oct 22, 2009 09:08:40 AM
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RG - just saying to holla at sport and combat science:
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I have no problem with the freedom of writing. And comedy is good for the soul. There's no way in anybody's world that a MMA/UFC fighter can compete with any skilled, talented, superelite boxer, especially with those little-arse MMA gloves, mitten or whatever they are called. Trust me! I know. These guys from that combat has tried it in many of gyms. And even in a match or two on Native Americans' reservations. Go to Youtube and peep at ancient Ray "Merciless" Mercer's job on one of that combat top dawgs. Grant it! Mercer psyched out against Bimbo Spice. There is a standing offer from Mayweather that he will put top dollars on his choice of a hurt bitnezz heavy knocking out the MMA/UFC top man in about 30 seconds. Guys, PLEASE! It is a reason that boxers' hands are considered a legal weapon. The powers-that-be were going to expel Mercer from the game. And the authority was talking about arresting his arse for attempted murder. So Kermit Cintron changed his mind about taking on and out a MMA/UFC champion of his weight. Everybody in every other sports believe that he/she can compete with a pugilist in that squared jungle until the bell rings. Boxing is dangerous for a non-trained combatant. Maybe you guys better holla at Sport Science. A punch from a boxer can generate 55 to 95 mph and more than 1, 500 pound of pressure. One person will get more damage from a boxer than a car wreck. Ask some of the fools who decide to take on Iron Mike Tyson in a street fight or two back in the day, not to long ago. I was hanging with Hector "Macho Time" Camacho back-in-the-not-so-long-ago day. A college football player wanted to start some $hit. Hector knocked that big about 6-foot-6 fool straight da fudge out with couple of punches. Dude got a broken rib, collapsed lung and dislocated jaw for mythic belief. Somebody in New York holla at da Macho Man. If Jermain Taylor was not a trained boxer, he would be dead from that shot of "King" Arthur Abraham. Boxers train and build up their bodys and brains and guts to take continuous punishment that no other sports or combat can take. Maybe some of the Rican readers will holler about how a local boxer killed a tourist a couple year ago trying to pick a fight on the mean Rican street in the tourist district of those islands. Sonny Liston -- it is reported and some film shows -- use to get drunk and five of six billy-club swinging cops who had on armor and still got busted up. The Night Train could hit. The tourist was a trained MMA/UFC, so the story went. His name slips my mind. May God Rest his soul! Holla!
Thursday Oct 22, 2009 09:13:20 PM
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#1 PacFan "KO's Cotto in 7":
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@RG, I guess you didn't absorb my comment the way I wanted you to. I said that if you put an ELITE BOXER like May in the OCTOGAN with a fighter like Anderson Silva, that elite boxer don't stand a chance. Remember that MMA is a full contact sport. There's a reason why boxing and MMA are totally different types of sport other than that they're both a violent sport. It goes both ways if you put Brock Lesnar in a 18x18 ft squared ring with guys like the Klitschkos that Brock won't last one round. UFC has it's on Sweet Science and it goes when a guy taps his opponent out it's like an art. You put that boxer in those situations what is he to do when on the ground? You put an MMA fighter in the boxing ring and take away his legs, wrestling, JJ, and Kickboxing skills and you have a helpless fighter.
Friday Oct 23, 2009 03:48:29 PM
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MisterLee:
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A boxer couldnt' survive agst a kick boxer then yet an MMA fighter, at least not with their own rules.. just as even a straight kick boxer would struggle with a MMA fighter, or even a straight ju jitsu guy agst a well rounded MMA fighter. There are many fights with Sanda, chinese kickboxing, vs. boxing and even muay thai (arse whoopin'). Holler!
Friday Oct 23, 2009 06:29:00 PM
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RG - Manny is about to in the USA:
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RG@ #1PacFan and MisterLee, let us just agree to disagree. Those is a lot of hype and mythology in these professions. But reality rules. This is why boxers have posses and bodyguards. Somebody from those other disciplines are always challenging them on the streets, in the malls, clubs, restrooms, etc., etc. But the quickest way to any target is a straight line. By the way, there have been match against top boxers and kick boxers using their own rules. The boxers kayoed the leg-raising kick boxers 95 percent of the time. Raising those feet from the ground defeats prefect balance and power. These are the word of the late, great Bruce Lee, not I. As he said, "Be like like water and adapt to any situation....when you can run like hell, instead of confronting danger....My (performance) on the big screens is scripted...You win in any combat with your head, not always with your hands and feet...." Boxing is a thinking-man sports. I'm sure that you can find Bruce Lee's statements on the net. By the way, I believe that quite a few is on Youtube. Any way, when a lot boxers who were not successful in boxing were going to kick boxing during the late 80s-early 90s, kick boxing rules then changed. They required a certain amount of kicks every round or disqualification. This made the score even, and the boxers started losing from points taken for not kicking or from DQ. By the way, several armed forces, including the USA, sometimes have a free-for-all to determine the top dawg. Maybe you can find some of that on Youtube or free-for-all fighting sites. Any way nice to chat about the fight science. Holla!
Saturday Oct 24, 2009 08:48:57 AM
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RG - closing the gap:
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Let me say that boxing bums and stiffs got kayoed 99 percent of the time by street fighters, MMA/UFC, drunk women and even by fussing, cussing three-year olds. Holla!
Saturday Oct 24, 2009 09:11:30 AM
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the Roast:
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According to my pals at the Savage Science, Shogun just got robbed. Dude won 4 out of 5 rounds and still got the shaft. See, MMA and the fight game do have alot in common...
Saturday Oct 24, 2009 10:54:56 PM
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Angie And Goody...23 Years Later
Twenty three years later after they seconded Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Goody Petronelli and Angelo Dundee crossed paths again. This time, it was at Foxwoods. Photo/friend of TSS "The Iceman" John Scully reports there were only pleasantries exchanged. Goody didn't debate the split decision victory enjoyed by Leonard, which to this day Hagler disputes.
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