Don't Get Me Wrong Machida is Awesome…

   Hey “Sports Fans” just wanted to get a few things off of my chest before U.F.C. 104 hits the air tomorrow night at the Staples Center.

   I know I went out on a bit of a limb by saying I thought Rua would defeat Machida by a third round stoppage.  Seems like a lot of people out there would disagree. Can’t say as I blame them either.

   Machida is a world class Karate expert. He’s been training it since he was 3 years old. He also sports a black belt in Jiu-jitsu. He is 15-0 in his professional MMA career.

   He is one of the slickest fighters at slipping strikes. I’ve heard he gets hit once every two rounds. I think Tito managed to hit him more than that but to Machida’s credit, he didn’t get hit with much.

   His strike accuracy is 2nd only to Anderson Silva in the U.F.C.  and is in the high 60’s percent wise. He has plenty of style and is very quick. Add in a few Knock outs to his resume and it’s apparent he has power to put you out when he has you in trouble.

   Machida could be the most complete fighter to enter the “ Octagon” since GSP, and Anderson Silva. He’s that good. So why “ in the blue hell “ would I pick Rua to win????????

   Did you see Rua vs. Griffin???????? Not Rua, by that I’m mean that wasn’t a healthy 100% Rua. He suffered a knee injury during training, and again during the fight. Not taking anything away from Forrest, he fought a great fight.

   Rua got surgery after that fight, took some time off, and then started training again.  He returned to competition at U.F.C. 93 with a lack lustre TKO performance over 44 year old Mark Coleman.

   U.F.C. 97 in Montreal saw Rua in top form as he took out Chuck Liddell via TKO in the first round. Some Pride fighters have a hard time making the transition from the ropes to cage. Maybe Shogun is one of these guys. All I know is that Shogun has a pretty long resume of beating good fighters, not all past their prime either.

   I admit Rua has looked average since coming to the U.F.C. I believe we’ll see the best Rua we’ve ever seen. He’ll need to be as he’s taking on one of, if not the best 205 lb fighter in the world. If Rua is 100% and healthy, I think he has the tools to beat the “elusive” Machida.

   So “Sports Fans” it’s not that I don’t think Machida is a great fighter, I know that. But, I also know that Rua is too…That’s all for now…