Rua knocks out Machida in first round
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was convinced he had won the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title in October.
Seven months later, he finally was able to put the belt around his waist after knocking out Lyoto Machida in the first round of the main event at UFC 113 in Montreal on Saturday night.
After five tightly contested rounds in the first meeting, Rua left the cage disappointed when the judges awarded Machida the decision.
Rua vowed to not let that happen again and lived up to his word by quickly disposing of the previously-undefeated champion.
In other action, Josh Koscheck secured the next shot at welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre with a unanimous decision over Paul Daley, and Matt Mitrione knocked out Kimbo Slice in the second round.
Rua used a steady dose of leg kicks in the first meeting but chose to attack Machida’s head in the rematch.
Rua landed an overhand right to the top of Machida’s head that sent the champion sprawling to the mat. He pounced on Machida and achieved the mount.
Rua then started raining down punches, before a right hand knocked Machida out and prompted a stop to the fight.
Machida got two takedowns in the first round but could do little from top position. Rua was able to get back to his feet, where he looked comfortable and aggressive.
In his victory, Koscheck was satisfied keeping the fight on the ground.
He took down Daley in the early moments of each of the three rounds and held him there for most of the fight to secure the decision.
The outcome clearly frustrated Daley, and he followed Koscheck to the corner after the final bell. Daley then inexplicably threw a left hook at Koscheck, who had been talking in Daley’s ear throughout the final minutes.
UFC president Dana White announced at the postfight news conference that Daley will be cut from the organization and never will fight in the UFC again.
Mitrione surprisingly attempted several submissions against Slice in the first round and then battered him around in the second before securing a mount and finishing with a barrage of shots.
Also, Alan Belcher submitted Patrick Cote with a rear-naked choke in the second round, and Jeremy Stephens won a split decision against Sam Stout.
