Lyoto Machida out until mid-January with hand surgery
It appears fans will have to wait a bit longer for the rematch between light-heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. After the controversial decision that went to Machida during UFC 104, it was rumored that Rua would get a rematch as early as January 2010.
Many believed Rua won the fight, including UFC president Dana White, who immediately began lobbying for a rematch. Both fighters verbally agreed to the rematch, but recent reports indicated Machida had undergone surgery on one of his hands. MMAJunkie.com has since been able to confirm the reports through Machida’s manager, Ed Soares.
“He had surgery yesterday on his left hand,” Soares said. “The doctor said it was a complete success. “Lyoto’s hand has been actually injured for a while,” Soares said. “Before the fight with ‘Shogun,’ he went to the doctor, and he went to a special surgeon in Brazil. Basically, they say said that he was going to need surgery, but he didn’t want to cancel the fight. He just roughed it through this training camp. The hand has been bothering him for quite a while now. It was one of those situations. He just roughed through it.”
Soares was quick to point out the surgery was not being used as an excuse for the champions performance at UFC 104, “We’re not trying to make any excuses or anything. We didn’t come out and say anything. We said Lyoto was 100 percent, which he was. But his injury has been bothering him for a while, so we went in and had the surgery, and they found bone spurs. They found a bone fragment down there. There were about four things the doctor said were causing him pain. Thank God they cleared him all up yesterday.”
According to Soares, Machida will need at least six weeks recovery, with an additional two to four weeks before being able to train at 100 percent. With this timeline, it will push any immediate rematch closer to March or April, but Soares declared the fight will be against Rua, “We want that fight. We want to leave no doubt who the light heavyweight champion is.”
Jason Polley is is a contributor to FiveOuncesofPain.com
| All posts by Jason Polley
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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arg
Well at least we have Fedor vs Rogers.
Well-Done.
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Weak-Sauce.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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Well-Done.
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Well-Done.
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Weak-Sauce.
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Weak-Sauce.
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That’s a little harsh Django. I support my team mates in everything they do. If my partner were to fight GSP, I would still stick by him, and tell him he will be the man to beat GSP. You don’t train with someone everyday so that you can leave him hanging when they need support.
Well-Done.
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Well-Done.
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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Im just glad that Ed Soares actually wants the rematch. He is usually against what everyone else wants lol. But after all the controversy, i think its only smart. Because if i were the champion, and alot of people thought i didnt deserve to be, i would be a little dis heartened lol.
Its the right way to go anyway, all this controversy needs to be cleared up. The rematch is much needed. And im happy to wait a while for that anyway. Im more interested atm in seeing Anderson Silva and GSP defend there titles. Brock Lesnar.. yeh i want to see him fight Carwin, but im far more interested in seeing Silva and GSP defend theres. Silva’s pushing it now!!! He needs to fight soon!!!
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In that weigh in pic on the home page for this story lyoto looks like ryu from street fighter
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This will give Machida more time to look at some tape. Doubt as to legitimacy of his title is not a good thing for a champion. I think that is why Soares is down for a rematch. They know they lost that fight. Now is the time to regroup and retool. I believe Machida learned a lesson from that fight of what it means to be champion. Its one thing to visualize it its another to experience it firsthand. Fortunately for him Helen Keller, Stevie Wonder, and Daredevil were judging the fight
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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I don’t know If I would give the judges that much credit. Especially Cecil Peeples. That guy has no business near an MMA ring (and maybe not a boxing ring either). And Daredevil can actually see, just not with his eyes. He could have judged the fight better than any of them!
I just can’t hate on Machida for this. He’s not the one that robbed Shogun. That was the three guys I’ve yclept Winken, Blinken, and Nod.
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