Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-0) has announced he’s healthy and training for the anticipated rematch with third-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4) at UFC 113 in Montreal May 8.
The first fight ended in a controversial decision for Machida. The rematch should crown a definitive champion at 205 pounds.
If Rua wins, we could even see a mouthwatering matchup versus top contender “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4), who also reigns as Fighters.com and UFC Middleweight Champion. Silva has indicated his unwillingness to fight training partner Machida, but Silva and Rua have a war of words between them and a title fight would be a grudge match as well.
Fourth-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (14-1-1) won a workmanlike unanimous decision over fifth-ranked Thiago Silva (15-2) at UFC 108 in Las Vegas January 2 with a return to his wrestling base. Next for Evans is seventh-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) at UFC 114 in Las Vegas May 29.
Silva should get a second crack at a top ten opponent in his next fight.
Sixth-ranked Forrest Griffin (17-6) and eighth-ranked “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3) are likely to matchup at UFC 113, though the fight isn’t yet official.
Ninth-ranked Strikeforce champ “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) expects he’ll fight rising star “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (4-0) at Strikeforce in April on CBS.
Tenth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) has been preparing to return after facial surgery, but into the middleweight division.
Fighters.com’s January Light Heavyweight Top Ten
1. “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-0)
2. “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4)
3. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4)
4. “Sugar” Rashad Evans (14-1-1)
5. Thiago Silva (15-2)
6. Forrest Griffin (17-6)
7. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7)
8. “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
9. “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1)
10. “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1)
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how can anderson be number 2? he’s only had two fights at light heavyweight. snd its not like it was against the cream of the crop