Does A “Lyoto Machida vs Shogun Rua” Rematch Rescue the Division?

Controversy might not be a good thing, but is certainly never a bad thing—especially if it can be used to divert attention away from a deeper-seated problem.   

At the UFC 104 post fight press conference, UFC President Dana White grinned at the prospect of putting together a rematch between the two best light heavyweights currently competing inside the octagon.

And why not, it’s not like he had anyone else to legitimately market in a title fight.

The light heavyweight division isn’t exactly what it used to be.

Gone is the shake your tail feather of Chuck Liddell. Lost to a lighter division is the former fear factor of Wanderlei Silva. Misplaced by the lights, camera, and action is the unflappable Quinton Jackson.  

What’s left standing starts with the UFC 108 winner of Rashad Evans vs Thiago Silva‚ neither of whom let their respective fights with Machida go to the judge’s decision.

Also in the mix: the return of the forty-six year old prodigal son Randy Couture who is set to scrap with Brandon “the truth is relative” Vera at UFC 105.

And let’s not forget the rematch fans have been waiting years for: Forrest Griffin vs Tito Ortiz at UFC 106…fill in your own sarcasm.

If Machida would have won the fight in a more dominating fashion (cough)…then the question burning a whole in Dana White’s suite pocket would have been, “Who is next?”

The judges—who are contemplating three blind mice as their Halloween costumes—as luck would have it gift wrapped another light heavyweight title fight to MMA fans.

While a nation is bemoaning the outcome of the first fight, they will soon forget the bad taste it left in their mouth and move on to part duex.

In the meantime, perhaps some of the aforementioned combatants can create some of their own noise and make the case for their future marketability in a TBA affair.