Anthony Johnson was docked a mere 20% of his purse to show up, but allowed the full $15,000 win bonus.

A full list of disclosed the fighter payouts for UFC 104 are listed below:

Lyoto Machida $200,000 def. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua $155,000

Cain Velasquez $70,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Ben Rothwell $50,000

Gleison Tibau $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus) def. Josh Neer $14,000

Joe Stevenson $94,000 (includes $47,000 win bonus) def. Spencer Fisher $26,000

Anthony Johnson $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida $12,000
(Johnson was docked 20-percent of his $15,000 show money for missing weight)

Ryan Bader $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Eric Schafer $13,000

Pat Barry $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Antoni Hardonk $16,000

Chael Sonnen $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. Yushin Okami $18,000

Jorge Rivera $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Rob Kimmons $9,000

Kyle Kingsbury $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Razak Al-Hassan $3,000

Stefan Struve $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Chase Gormley $10,000

In his scheduled welterweight bout with Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Johnson was basically carried to the scale due to the dehydration he suffered while attempting to make the weight, only to weigh in a full six pounds over the contracted weight agreement of 170 pounds.

Anyone familiar with drastic cuts in water weight will tell you that the more drastic the cut, the faster you’re body will pack back on the weight. Johnson likely stepped into the Octagon near 200 pounds against an opponent he outweighed by at least twenty pounds. It was painfully obvious when watching the two engage that the size differential was a massive one.

It resembled what a bout between Anderson Silva and Shinya Aoki would look like.

When asked why Johnson’s knockout over Yoshida was not selected for the $60,000 knockout bonus that ended up going to Pat Barry, UFC President Dana White put it like this, “He should have. He should have won it. But because he didn’t make weight, he wasn’t eligible for it. But he would have won.”

It almost seems as if Yoshida should be honored with the knockout bonus for offering himself as a sacrificial lamb in the David and Goliath match that just had to go on.

Either way, kudos to the Octagon brass for doing the right thing in not rewarding a fighter for not honoring his side of the fight agreement.

Formerly the least hit fighter in UFC history, Machida suffered a severe reaction to the powerful leg kicks of Shogun that forced the typically elusive Brazilian champion to suffer a massive outbreak of welts and bruises to the thighs when it was all said and done. Rua utilized his paralyzing leg kicks to upset the rhythm of “The Dragon” that the karate master had employed so well in previous bouts.

Shogun beat Machida at what Machida does best; He took him out of his game by wreaking havoc to his tempo and gameplan while employing his own.

In the end it was Machida who left the Octagon battered and bruised. Rest assured that Lyoto will be icing the bulk of his body for a large chunk of tomorrow, while Shogun will be icing his shins more than anything else.

Both men know who won that bout deep down. Machida will say that he feels like he won the fight, but he knows better, and we know better: Shogun is the people’s light heavyweight champion.

Cain Velasquez put a major league beatdown on Ben Rothwell that likely had him wishing he was back in the IFL, taking the much larger brawler to the canvas at will and turning his face into hamburger before the pummeling was inevitably called to an end.

In what could easily be seen as an early stoppage by referee Steve Mazagatti, the bout was waved off as Rothwell was attempting to rise to his feet. If anything Mazagatti did more of an injustice to Velasquez than he did to Rothwell, being that he took away what was sure to be a decisive finish from Cain in a matter of seconds or minutes. Big Ben was already a wrap at that point.

Joe Stevenson improved upon his recent decision victory over Nate Diaz by stopping Spencer Fisher this evening via TKO. Fisher did a good job fending off the takedown in the early goings before being dragged to the mat and secured into the crucifix position, where a shower of Joe-Daddy elbows sealed the deal.

The second round stoppage victory over the always dangerous Fisher is that much more impressive due to the fact that Spencer was coming off of a three fight win streak in the Octagon coming into tonight’s contest. It seems likely that Stevenson may be just a win or two away from another bid at championship glory in the UFC.

Anthony Johnson basically got away with an assault charge tonight as he mugged his much smaller opponent, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, in just 41 seconds. Rushing across the Octagon like a man possessed, “Rumble” threw a flurry of punches at Yoshida early in the first before a brief clinch precluded the huge right hand that left the physically outmatched Japanese fighter in an unsurprising heap.

Ryan Bader fought the perfect fight against one of the UFC’s most dangerous submission artists in Eric “Red” Schafer, taking full advantage of his sizable wrestling advantage to keep the fight standing for the bulk of the fight, winning in the exchanges and mixing in the occasional takedown on his way to remaining undefeated in his professional fighting career.

A full list of the results from UFC 104 are listed below:

Lyoto Machida def. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

Cain Velasquez def. Ben Rothwell via TKO – Round 2

Gleison Tibau def. Josh Neer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Joe Stevenson def. Spencer Fisher via TKO – Round 2

Anthony Johnson def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida via knockout – Round 1

Ryan Bader defeats Eric Schafer by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-26, 30-27)

Pat Barry def. Antoni Hardonk by TKO – Round 2

Chael Sonnen def. Yushin Okami via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons via TKO – Round 3

Kyle Kingsbury def. Razak Al-Hassan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Stefan Struve def. Chase Gormley via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1

In tonight’s main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will attempt his first title defense against challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. In the nights co-main event heavyweight contenders Cain Velasquez and Ben Rothwell will square off to determine where each fighter stands in the division.

Live coverage of the night’s undercard will begin at approx 7:30 p.m. ET 4:30 p.m. PT. The television portion of the event begins on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET with the main card on pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET.

As always we welcome discussion of the event while it is in progress. For those looking to discuss the event live with other readers feel free to comment in this thread. It is suggested you VIEW THE LIVE PLAY BY PLAY HERE, and not in the inserted window if you would like to discuss the event to prevent loading issues.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com after the event for breakdown, analysis and any breaking news from the post-fight press conference that will be broadcast live ( If available) .

Below is a full list of the results for the event:

Lyoto Machida def. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via UD 48-47
Cain Velasquez def Ben Rothwell via TKO :58 R2
Joe Stevenson def. Spencer Fisher via TKO 4:03 R2
Anthony Johnson def Yoshiyuki Yoshida via KO :41
Gleison Tibau def. Josh Neer via UD
Ryan Bader def . Eric Schafer by UD
Patrick Barry def. Antoni Hardonk via TKO 2:30 R2
Chael Sonnen def Yushin Okami via UD
Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons via TKO 1:53 R3
Kyle Kingsbury def. Razak Al-Hassan by Split Decision
Stefan Struve def. Chase Gormley at 4:04 by Submission (Triangle), R1

The massive welterweight failed to make his contracted weight limit of 170 pounds, and had already notified his opponent Yoshiyuki Yoshida prior to stepping onto the scales. When it was all said and done Johnson weighed in at the 176 pound mark, and will most likely end up surrendering a sizable chunk of his purse to Yoshida for the foul.

UFC 104 will take place tomorrow evening from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, airing live on pay-per-view.

Below is a full list of the weigh in results for the event:

Lyoto Machida (202.5) vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (204.5)
Ben Rothwell (265) vs. Cain Velasquez (238)
Spencer Fisher (155) vs. Joe Stevenson (155.5)
Anthony Johnson (176)* vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (170)
Josh Neer (156.5)** vs. Gleison Tibau (157)**
Ryan Bader (205) vs. Eric Schafer (205.5)
Patrick Barry (237) vs. Antoni Hardonk (249.5)
Yushin Okami (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (185)
Rob Kimmons (185) vs. Jorge Rivera (185)
Razak Al-Hassan (204.5) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (205.5)
Stefan Struve (243.5) vs. Chase Gormley (262)

*Johnson failed to make weight and will likely end up surrendering a portion of his purse to Yoshida

**Both fighters have agreed to the weight differential

Be sure to stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for tomorrow’s LIVE play by play coverage UFC 104 and the post fight press conference.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view starting at 10pm ET)

* Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (for light-heavyweight title)
* Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez
* Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
* Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson
* Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV 9pm ET)

* Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
* Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk

PRELIMINARY CARD (Not televised)

* Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
* Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera
* Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
* Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

UFC 104 is set to go down this Saturday evening from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California..

Set to feature a headlining light heavyweight title fight between champion Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, also set for action will be Cain Velasquez, Josh Neer, Spencer Fisher, Joe Stevenson, Anthony Johnson and others.

As always feel free to agree or disagree with either of us in the comments section below, and please post your very own set of picks so they can either be voted up or down by the people: You guys.

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Cory Brady: While logic may tell me one thing in this match-up, my gut tells me another.

Lyoto is the least hit fighter in the history of the UFC, and very well may be the most difficult riddle to solve in mixed martial arts, but in my estimation he is ripe for a loss. Not just to anyone, but to the most complete mixed martial artist he has faced to date. Definitely the most complete fighter he has faced of the same size.

You’re not going to beat Machida with one facet of the game. We’ve seen what happens when Lyoto’s opponents employ a one dimensional approach, such as relying on standing up or trying to drag “The Dragon” to the ground, and it’s not pretty. The only way to beat a fighter as tactical as Machida is to be well rounded and dangerous enough in all areas to constantly keep him guessing.

Shogun is that guy. The combination of a slick submission arsenal, underestimated takedowns, and a punishing stand up and clinch game make Mauricio much more of a threat than his is commonly given credit for.

If Machida wins this fight I feel like it will most likely be by decision. Shogun has never been knocked out and he has been punched in the face by some of the best of them. The odds of Lyoto pulling off a submission on Rua are also just as unlikely.

I expect the best Shogun we’ve ever seen to show up at UFC 104, and in my own personal opinion, when the best Shogun shows up to fight, nobody can beat him at 205 pounds. Mauricio is one of the most naturally gifted fighters that has ever stepped foot into the sport, the time is now for him to finally recognize his full potential.

Winner: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via TKO

David Andrest: I have little to add to that masterpeice Cory, however the only thing I can say is YOU ARE WRONG.  It pains me to type it, as I am a big fan of  Rua and the memory of his aggressive style, and great finishing percentage.  Machida wins this fight, he is at the top of his game, and I can not pick against him with a straight face.   Answer this for me, when is the last time you saw Machida in trouble?  ………..don’t worry I’ll wait.

Winner:  Machida UD

Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell

Velasquez is a far cry from the poor fat kid that Big Ben put a merciless beatdown on early in is career.

Rothwell has never beaten anyone that tells me he can handle a fighter such as Cain Velasquez. On the other side of that coin, I feel like Velasquez has in Cheick Kongo, a stand-up fighter much like Andrei Arlovski, only with a better chin.

Velasquez has been active and successful against top notch competition while Rothwell hasn’t. This is going to be one of the deciding factors in this bout. There’s no known cure for ring rust, and I expect for Big Ben to have a bad case coming off of a win over Chris Guillen nearly a year ago.

I expect for this fight to be a carbon copy of the Velasquez vs. Kongo bout, without Cain being rocked.

Winner: Cain Velasquez via unanimous decision

David Andrest: You know what the difference between Cain and the poor fat kid that Big Ben put a merciless beatdown on early in is career?  The kid had more power behind his punches.  I am painfully aware of the Velasquez hype train that rolls past my window every 5 minutes as this event draws closer.  Hype based on what?  Potential?  A win over Kongo?   you have got to be kidding me.  I’m not saying Velasquez isn’t talented, and a great wrestler, and a blue chip prospect with a ton of upside.  I think people are overlooking Rothwell a bit, as well as over hyping Velasquez buy a tremdous amount.   I’ve seen it everywhere, you can’t surf the MMA internet and not see someone crowing Velasquez the next challenger.   Rothwell is the toughest, and most experienced guy Velasquez has ever fought.  I’ve seen Rothwell KO  people, submit people and finish fights.  Other people seem to forget that.   I’m not prepared to purchase my ticket aboard the Cain Velasquez hype train at this time.

Winner: Rothwell  TKO

Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau

I’m a huge fan of Josh Neer’s because the guy brings it every single time, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that seeing two guys coming off of losses on the main card didn’t seem a little bit odd. This bout makes more sense on a Fight Night card, or the undercard, but either way it should be exciting. Neer usually guarantees that.

These lightweights are just getting so good and well rounded that it’s hard for me to see this one going any other way than the distance. This should be a hard fought battle with transitions and exchanges a’plenty. In the end I see The Dentist’s grit and durability being the deciding factor in what should be a 155 pound scrap to remember.

Winner: Josh Neer via decision

David Andrest: “grit”  That is a perfect word to describe Josh Neer.  Entertaining every single time. This fight should be exciting while it lasts with an equal part stand up, ground work and scrambles.  I like Tibau as a fighter, but I think Neer is going to preform and on air extraction and end this fight.

Winner: Josh Neer  TKO

Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson

The winner of this bout could very well be just a fight or two away from a title shot. Fisher is coming off of three wins over the likes of Jeremy Stephens, Shannon Gugerty and Caol Uno, while Joe Daddy is fresh off of his impressive decision victory over Nate Diaz on June 20. Either way you slice it, one fighter moves on and the other is suspended in motion.

This fight has a ton of potential to end up as the “Fight of the Night”. Both guys are well rounded in all areas, with a slight advantage going to Fisher on the feet and a minor edge going to Stevenson on the ground.

I don’t think Stevenson is going to have as huge a wrestling advantage over Fisher as he had over Diaz recently. I’d go as far as to say that I expect Fisher to be capable enough to keep the fight on the feet for the most part.

If you’re a betting man, stay away from this one, it’s either man’s fight.

Winner: Spencer Fisher via decision

David Andrest: Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Daddy I’m really looking foward to this fight. My vote would be to send the loser to Japan to smash Aoki, but I digress.  This is a classic fight that should be very entertaining, but very predictable.  Stevenson spent a bit of time at Jackson’s preparing for this fight, and I belive is a much better figher on the floor.  I’m going to pick Stevenson, based on that, with the understanding that if Stevenson for some unknown reason decides to test his stand up against Fisher all bets are off.

Winner:  Joe Stevenson  choke

Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

The only way Yoshida wins this fight is on the ground via some type of choke or joint lock. It’s not going there though. Johnson is absolutely massive and powerful for 170 pounds. He’s also the much more explosive and technical striker.

This fight plays out a lot like Yoshida’s bout with Josh Koscheck. Johnson will utilize his superior wrestling game to keep the fight upright on the way to another vicious highlight reel knockout.

I’m a huge fan of watching “Rumble” in action. Looking forward to this one.

Winner: Anthony Johnson via knockout

David Andrest: Cory you have nailed it,  this will be another fight to make the case for  Johnson being a true contender at 170.   Yoshida could be dangerous on the ground, if  Johnson somehow forgets his roots  in wrestling.  I like Yoshida and will always appreciate the entertaing  choke he put on War Machine.  Yoshida is a good 170, however  good isn’t going to be enough to stop Rumble.

Winner: Anthony Johnson  via TKO

The UFC and  FiveOuncesofPain.com invite you to watch today’s  UFC104: Machida vs. Shogun  pre-event press conference .  The event will be presented live and  include  UFC president  Dana White,  light heavyweight champion  Lyoto Machida, Mauricio Rua,  Ben Rothwell and Cain Velasquez.

The press conference  takes place at the Westside Pavilion Mall in Los Angeles and kicks off a list of events leading up to Saturday nights fights.
UFC 104  airs on both pay-per-view (main card) and Spike TV (two-fight preliminary card) live from the Staples Center.

Be sure to stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for tomorrow’s LIVE  UFC 104 weigh-ins as well.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com  this week as we bring you continuing coverage of  UFC 104   that will include,  Previews, Predictions,  and analysis.   You will also be able to watch  the UFC 104 weigh-ins  LIVE and after the Play by Play,  Hop in the Press box with the 5oz’s  staff as we bring  Live video coverage of  UFC 104′s  post fight press conference.

Enough with the intro, let’s breakdown the undercard….

Ryan Bader Vs. Eric Schafer

David Andrest: I’m going to  throw analysis out the window.  I’ll let Cory come in and explain to you all why I’m a moron for not picking Ryan Bader to smash Red Schafer.    I don’t care what is typed below me,  Cory will be right about everything he types with the exception of the outcome of this fight.

Winner: Red Schafer  via Sub

Cory Brady: David already knows where I stand on this subject, and I would truly love to hear how he rationalizes agreeing with my assessment of the bout, yet splitting hairs on the fight’s outcome.

I’ve come to learn that the more friends I make in this business, the harder it becomes to pick fights in a completely unbiased manner. This fight is a little different being that I have learned from experience that both Ryan Bader and Eric Schafer are two of the nicest guys you’ll come across in the sport. However, one man has to win, and another has to lose, and one thing I have always held myself accountable to is picking fights with nothing but the facts in mind.

Bader is a smart guy. Smart enough to know that Schafer’s only path to victory lies on the canvas of the Octagon. Look for “Darth” Bader to employ a gameplan identical to his bout with Vinny Magalhaes in the TUF finals. Bader is going to utilize his superior wrestling to keep the fight standing, and will batter Schafer on the feet at will. Stylistically this is a great match-up for Bader, and a terrible one for Red. Look for the big right hand from Bader to set it all up.

Winner: Ryan Bader via TKO

Antoni Hardonk Vs. Pat Barry

David A: This is going to be a spectacular fight.  Someone is going to be knocked out  or  this fight will be a war of epic proportions that people will be talking about for months to come.  Both fighters are very dangerous strikers at the highest level.   You can throw records out the window,  and just know  Hardonk is absolutely one of the  best strikers in the game.   Oddly enough he and Barry used to train together.  Barry brings big power and excellent stand up as well.   This is a close fight but it’s hard to ignore the size difference.   Hardonk is 5” taller and will have a significant reach advantage.  When you are giving up that kind of size to a guy who is a slightly better striker, it’s going to be a long night………….correction short night.

Winner:  Hardonk  KO

Cory Brady: I agree with Dave’s analysis of the bout, but disagree with the outcome to some extent. An important fact to remember is that Barry has never suffered a legitimate KO or TKO loss (outside of a stoppage due to a cut) in kickboxing or MMA; Hardonk has been TKO’d twice in seven kickboxing bouts. Now provided this one turns into a slugfest like many anticipate, I don’t see Hardonk being able to stop Barry with strikes. The gloves may be smaller in MMA, but the shins are standard issue.

However, I see this one being everything everyone hopes for a moment or two before Hardonk uses his size to drag Barry to the canvas and work for a submission. Look for a keylock, RNC or guillotine.

Winner: Antoni Hardonk via submission

Yushin Okami Vs. Chael Sonnen

David A:To quote a fine reader of this site “Sonnen vs Okami likely will be a bit slower” . This fight is interesting on every level with the exception of excitement.  Why is Okami on the undercard?  What happened to his Title shot?  Why is the UFC brushing this kid under the carpet?  Well let’s be honest, would you buy a PPV  headlined by him?

As a fighter, I like Okami, however he is a very slow starter.  I don’t seem to remember him ever winning the first round of any fight.   His lone loss in the UFC came to Rich Franklin by Decision in a fight he clearly won the 3^rd round in.

Sonnen is a wrestler that doesn’t finish fights.  Plain and simple, he has the potential to get on top of an opponent and stay there.   Not do a whole bunch while there and win the decision.

Most say  styles make fights.  My question is, Who did Okami piss off?

Winner:  Okami  via  decsion

Cory Brady: Ugh! I’ve never been very good at sugar coating things. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you guys, neither of these fighters are among my favorites to watch. There’s no reason Okami doesn’t win this fight, but he better do it impressively. He won’t.

Winner: Yushin Okami via decision

Jorge Rivera Vs. Rob Kimmons

David A:The good news is, one of these fighters will get their very first winning streak in the UFC at the end of this contest.  Rivera has faced and defeated the better competition.  While anything can happen, I’m going to pick “El Conquistador”

Winner:  Rivera   decision

Cory Brady: Close fight to call. I’ll give Kimmons the edge in the submission department and Rivera the edge on the feet. Considering the fact that Kimmons has never been stopped with strikes I see him pulling out some form of a choke for the strangulation victory.

Winner: Rob Kimmons via submission

Kyle Kingsbury Vs. Razak Al-Hassan

David A:Both guys come into the fight off losses.  In fact they are both 0-1 in the UFC.  Al-Hassan has a fabulous Afro, and is tough as nails. Anyone who saw what Steve Cantwell did to his arm will never question this kids heart.  Kingsbury is a victim of Tom Lawler who will look to hold onto his contract. This is without a doubt a loser leaves the UFC type fight.

Winner:  Al-Hassan  TKO  high kick

Cory Brady: I don’t know if the afro has given you flashbacks from Sho’nuff in “The Last Dragon”, but there’s no way Al-Hassan wins this fight by high kick. The guy has never knocked anyone out in his professional career, and I’m not even sure if he could get his leg up high  enough to blast the 6’4″ Kingsbury with a high kick. But hey, anything can happen I guess.

The fact that Al-Hassan, who sports five submissions in seven wins, had his arm snapped in his UFC debut tells me a lot about the competition he had been facing previously.

Kingsbury has yet to be submitted, and he won’t on Saturday evening either.

Winner: Kyle “Special Sauce” Kingsbury via TKO

Stefan Struve Vs. Chase Gormley

David A: 6’11” Struve, wow.  What can be said about this kid.  At just 21 years old the kid has a ton of experience. With a pro record of 21-3  Struve looks to be battle tested on paper, however I have to wonder about his level of competition.  His lone loss in the UFC came to  Junior Dos Santos, which in hindsight  doesn’t seem  to crazy.

Gormley comes into his UFC debut with a perfect record of 6-0. Gormley is a wrestler who will have a significant weight advantage over Struve.

I’ll be honest about this one,  I have to look at it like this.  Struve is 21-3 and is in the curtin jerker against a guy making his debut.   He is 6’11”  and is 21-3 and this is who we have chosen to open the show with??  It’s obvious to me that the powers that be feel as I do.

Winner:  Gormley  via  TKO

Cory Brady: Gormley should be able to utilize his superior wrestling to give Stefan Struve “Frankenstein Face” in two consecutive bouts. Only this time, Chase should be able to finish the job.

Winner: Chase Gormley via TKO

The complete fight card for UFC 104 is listed below.
MAIN CARD

* Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (for light-heavyweight title)
* Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez
* Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
* Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson
* Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
* Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk
* Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera
* Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
* Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
* Stefan Struve vs. Chase Gormley

Sherk suffered a shoulder injury while training that will keep him out of action for a few weeks according to a recent report by Sherdog.com. Sherk was looking to get back into the win column after a unanimous decision loss to Frankie Edgar, back at UFC 98.

In “The Muscle Shark’s” place steps Josh Neer, who is coming off a unanimous decision loss himself at the hands of Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 101. The tough decision loss to Pellegrino brought Neer back to 2-2 in the Octagon in his third go-around with the organization.

Gleison Tibau is also coming off a loss, when he dropped a split decision to Melvin Guillard at the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, back in June.

UFC 104 is set to air live on pay-per-view from the Staples Center and will be headlined by a title bout between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Today the company revealed several match-ups for the event including Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau, Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson and Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

UFC 104 is set of October 4 and will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The show will be headlined by a light-heavyweight championship battle between fellow Brazilians Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Also expected for the card, yet not announced at this time, is a heavyweight bout between Cain Velasquez and Ben Rothwell.

A full list of the bouts expected for the card are listed below:

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez
Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau
Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson
Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk
Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
Chase Gormley vs. Stefan Struve
Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera

The news of the bout comes on the heels of reports that Velasquez’ previous opponent for the event, Shane Carwin, is currently in negotiations to face UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 106.

The bout between Velasquez and Rothwell has been confirmed through MMAFanhouse.com, stating that Cain has recently agreed to the proposed match-up.

Rothwell had previously been expected to face off with Chase Gormley at UFC 104 in a bout that had been transferred over from the abandoned “Affliction: Trilogy” event.

No news of a replacement opponent for Gormley has been reported at this time.

Velasquez will be coming back from the biggest win of his professional fighting career when he bested Cheick Kongo by unanimous decision at UFC 99, while Rothwell will also be coming off of a victory in the form of a TKO over Chris Guillen at “Adrenaline MMA II”.

The bout is not official but MMAJunkie.com has cited a source close to the fight who said it’s in the process of being finalized.

Stevenson is coming off an impressive performance over Nate Diaz in June. Stevenson dominated Diaz on the ground and picked up a much needed win. Before the victory over Diaz, Stevenson had lost three of his previous four fights.

Fisher most recently defeated UFC veteran Caol Uno for his third consecutive win in the organization. During his three-fight winning streak, Fisher has also defeated Shannon Gugerty and Jeremy Stephens.

Fisher has now won four of his past five fights and six of his past eight overall, which has put him back in contention for a lightweight title shot.

Should Stevenson emerge victorious, he too would once again throw his name back into the hat for a title shot down the road as well.

UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is set to defend his newly obtained championship for the first time when he faces off with a fellow Brazilian, and former training partner in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104.

Rua’s strengths in such a wide aspect of areas in the cage make him a legitimate threat to a champion many believe has no peers at 205 pounds.

Shogun is a strong wrestler. While not as technical as some of Machida’s previous opponents such as Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans on paper, Mauricio combines his punishing stand-up attack with explosive takedowns to keep his opponents guessing.

Throw in the challenger’s vast and indisputably dangerous submission arsenal, and you have a fighter with the skill-set that the elusive “Dragon” has yet to encounter up to this point in his fifteen fight career.

While both men are widely considered to be among the best fighters competing in the sport, the two couldn’t be any more opposite stylistically. Defensive fighter vs. offensive fighter. Something Rua confessed to being fully aware of in a recent interview with our friends at Tatame.com.

“He comes from the Karate school and I come from the Muay Thai school, but he’s an athlete who gives a lot of knee blows, plenty Muay Thai blows also, which he improved well,” explained Shogun. “I think the big difference is that he likes to fight in counter punching, and I’m the opposite, I like to go inside”

Tito Ortiz had Machida in more trouble than ever before in his mixed martial arts career and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has never been known for his submissions. It’s that exact viewpoint that has left many fans speculating about the possibility of Shogun being able to submit Lyoto should the fight go to the canvas. However, according to Rua the two are far from strangers and even he doesn’t expect things to be as easy as many may believe come fight night.

“He’s a very complete man; good standing, good on the ground, and good in wrestling,” said Mauricio. “Actually, people say that if I take the fight to the ground I’ll win, but it isn’t like that. He’s very good on the ground. I’ve trained with him, and sometimes that isn’t the solution. Staying on top in the fight may be an advantage, but I have to see it right so that I don’t make the wrong strategy”

A middleweight match-up between Yushin Okami and Chael Sonnen has been set for UFC 104.

The bout was recently via UFC’s Japanese website.

The event is set to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 24.

Okami boasts an impressive UFC record of 7-1 with his last bout being a unanimous decision victory over Dean Lister in December of 2008. Constantly on the cusp of a middleweight title shot, a win over Sonnen will push the Japanese fighter that much closer to his ultimate goal in the UFC.

Sonnen got a rough start in his recent return to the UFC when he was submitted by Demian Maia in the first round of their UFC 95 bout, but came back strong at UFC 98 where he pulled off the unanimous decision victory over an always game Dan Miller.

A full list of the bouts expected for UFC 104 are listed below:

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez

Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen

Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer

Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk

Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera

Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury

There were mixed emotions among the mixed martial arts community when 5 Oz. recently revealed that fellow undefeated heavyweight prospects Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez would be butting heads at UFC 104.

Many fans, myself included, were thrilled at the announcement. The two fastest rising prospects in the UFC’s big man division trying to beat one another into an unconscious stupor; What’s not to love.

Well there are quite a few out there that will tell you what’s not to love, and that’s the fact that one of these two unblemished titans will leave the arena that night….. well, blemished.

I say let the chips fall where they may. What better way to get to the bottom of exactly who the definitive contender to Brock Lesnar’s crown is than to have Shane and Cain figure it out the old fashioned way?

Apparently UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was thinking the same thing as it has been reported that the winner of this heavyweight slugfest in October is guaranteed a shot at Lesnar’s championship strap.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently had the opportunity to catch up with the educated smashing machine that goes by the name of Shane Carwin to get his quick thoughts on what is sure to be the most bout of his life up until this point in his career.

Cory Brady for FiveOuncesOfPain.com: So it’s going to be you and Cain in Los Angeles, I know there are a whole lot of fans already extremely excited about this upcoming fight and it’s still a few months away. What are your thoughts on Velasquez as an opponent and what he brings to the table?

Shane Carwin: The scouting report on Cain is that he is well rounded and has an unlimited gas tank. He is an aggressive fighter who posses a ton of skill. He trains with one of the elite camps in the world so I really expect him to be in top shape and ready to go.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What were you able to take away from Cain’s last performance against Cheick Kongo? Were you impressed or would you say that you saw a few holes in his game that you feel like you’re going to be able to ultimately capitalize on?

Shane Carwin: I saw that Cain is ready to bang it out with the top of the division. When preparing for a fight my team and I really just build our game plan. You can’t ever control what your opponent is going to do so we focus on imposing our will. Cain is a legitimate contender and I hope that winner gets a shot.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What are some of the major advantages you feel like you are going to possess over Velasquez going into this match-up?

Shane Carwin: It’s hard to say. I think my striking is an advantage but honestly you never know until you are in the cage. A good example was when Gabe took me down, we had drilled that situation so many times that it was like second nature getting back to my feet. You kind of go on auto pilot when the cage door closes. That is why a lot of guys say pre-fight “I am going to stand and bang” and they’re shot as soon as a single leg happens. You’re not thinking about your interviews or promises made to your fans. Your going over your game plan and looking for those situations your coaches told you would be there. My trainers Trevor and Christian don’t get the credit they deserve a lot of times.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: I know you’ve had to take some time off to recover from the nose surgery, how far out do you imagine you will start your training camp for this fight, and where do you plan on doing the bulk of your training?

Shane Carwin: I am always training. I have been back in the gym since the doctor cleared me. As soon as my team is back from The Ultimate Fighter we will crank up the training camp. Until then, I am working my fundamentals and strength and conditioning.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How did you hook up with Renzo Gracie black belt Amal Easton, and what was the motivation behind your desire to obtain your black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Shane Carwin: I was introduced through Eliot Marshall. I really enjoyed Amal’s attitude and approach to training and it will be a good fit. My head trainer Trevor really encourages us to work with other people. Lately I have been training at the Olympic Training Center along with my other regular spots. I think BJJ is a critical component to becoming a great MMA fighter. As a wrestler it is important for me to increase my exposure to all of the various aspects of the sport. Christian Allen will always be one of my top coaches as well, he has been with me from the beginning and is amazing in all aspects of the game. I earned a Purple Belt under Nate Marquardt, whom is a fabulous instructor. I made the choice to start over as a White Belt and it was out of respect to Amal and his approach to training.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Honestly, how excited are you that you are finally just one fight away from your dream, a shot at the UFC heavyweight championship?

Shane Carwin: I think the UFC has shown time and time again that they give those shots to the guys that are the most exciting. You have Randy and Nogueira fighting, and then you have great guys like Junior Dos Santos. I am in awe of the fighters in the UFC Heavyweight Division, they have really built up the talent pool.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Thanks for taking this time with me Shane, is there anyone you would like to thank?

Shane Carwin: I would like to thank the fans of the sport without you guys none of this would be possible, so thank you. I want to thank my amazing team and coaches, my management company. Last but not least my sponsors Warrior Wear, MMAadnet, Max Muscle, Xyience, CarnalDammage, and www.shane-carwin.com.

Two of the UFC’s most dangerous heavyweight knockout artists are set to wage war at UFC 104.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has recently been able to confirm a match-up between Pat Barry and Antoni Hardonk through sources close to the fight.

The two will square off at UFC 104 which is set for October 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Both men are veterans of the K-1 organization, and both are feared and respected for their vicious striking arsenals.

Barry has gone 1-1 in the UFC with a TKO victory and a submission loss to his credit, while Hardonk has put together a respectable record of 3-3 in the octagon, with his most recent bout being a ground and pound defeat at the hands and elbows of Cheick Kongo at UFC 97.

UFC 104 will be headlined by a light heavyweight championship match-up between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

The event is scheduled for October 24 in Los Angeles.

The bout announcement was recently made public through Bader’s Twitter account.

Bader will be looking to remain undefeated during his fighting career. He has compiled a 2-0 record during his time spent with the UFC following the show with a finale win over Vinny Magalhaes and a decision victory over Carmello Marrero.

Schafer is also coming of back to back victories in the octagon with recent victories over Houston Alexander and Antonio Mendes on his resume.

With both men coming off of consecutive wins in the UFC, the winner of this bout will emerge as a clear cut contender at 205 pounds.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned from sources close to the fight that Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez will face off for the #1 contenders spot in the UFC’s heavyweight division at UFC 104.

UFC 104 is set for Los Angeles, California on October 24.

Carwin will be making his return after he suffered a severely damaged nose in his knockout destruction of Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 96 in March. He has strung together a perfect record of 11-0 during his fighting career, with all three of his wins in the octagon coming by way of knockout or TKO.

Velasquez will be coming off of the biggest win in his young career as he recently defeated the highly ranked Cheick Kongo by unanimous decision at UFC 99.Velasquez has put together a perfect record of 3-0 with the UFC, with a career record of 6-0.

The winner of the bout between the two is expected to face off with the winner of UFC 100′s Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II at an event yet to be determined.