What Are Rua's Chances Against Champion Lyoto Machida?

Even amidst the deafening roars at sports bars all over the world, there was one phrase from the UFC 98 broadcast that stuck in the minds of captivated audiences - "Welcome to the Machida Era". 

With Lyoto Machida's knock out of Rashad Evans for the UFC Light Heavy Weight Championship, fight fans ushered in the first truly dominant Light Heavy Weight champion since Chuck Liddell, and that is without so much as a first title-defense. 

Why is that?  Because Lyoto came to prominence through the long-hard road, earning his title shot not by knocking off a single big name opponent, but by methodically working straight through the middle of the division and dominating six quality UFC opponents. 

Many would have you believe that Lyoto's first title defense, against Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, will simply be a formality in the continuation of the 'Machida Era', but Rua has never been an opponent to be overlooked.

Although Rua's high profile UFC debut in 2007 left a lot to be desired from the popular Brazilian who used to dominate over in Japan, he looked every bit his old-self in his first round TKO over Chuck Liddell back in April. 

At 27 years of age, Mauricio could just now be reaching the 'supernova' potential always attributed to him.  Rua doesn't seem to care much for mind games, he often unleashes unrelenting bursts of aggression on you whenever he feels good and ready.   Equal parts dynamic, crafty, and brutal, Rua is a threat to anyone, both on the ground or on the feet, who loses their focus for even a second. 

While making a mistake is just about the last thing Machida ever does inside the octagon (with one notable exception), Rua just might be fast enough and dynamic enough to frustrate the fellow Brazilians technical and often patient approach.

Machida is a brilliant tactician and counter-striker, while Rua sometimes shows to be equally brilliant with his aggressive Muay Thai style.  It is going to be a pleasure to watch these two incredible talents clash in October and while Machida is deservedly the betting favorite, don't fall asleep on 'Shogun' Rua because he is a confident and capable young man who is more than willing to disrupt and usurp 'the Machida Era'.