That'll be a great match up, Shogun could out move him and work those legs and add body shots he'll break machida down and win.

for the future of karate mixing up ufc.

One win against a washed up Liddel and two pathetic performances against Griffin, Coleman equals one UFC title shot! This is going to be a walk in the park for Machida! Shogun has not done anything impressive for years! Hell i think i deserve a shot at the title!

i couldnt agree more with you bif

shogun whilst he was once one of the most entertaining and superb fighters to eva watch compete, has fallen from grace and landed squarely on his a**.

his knock out of chuck by all rights was a good knock out of a truely great fighter, BUT, that fight was very even up until that point. Chuck could have put him away and he could have possibly faced leaving the UFC.

He hasnt performed well in AGES and for him to step in with Machida is a completely different class

A shogun in his prime would create a spectacular opponent for Machida as he would fly at him with kneees and cut his legs to ribbons with lashing leg kicks.

But hte shogun of late will crash and burn spectacularly.

A question to ask is this . . . if or more likely when, machida turns shogun inside out . . . what is next for shogun?

there is no fall back, this is do or die, he hasnt performed lately, he has got this shot off of his form from years ago and his reputation, not because of his fights in the UFC.

if he loses this he will have to face another top name to keep him in the picture maybe the loser of rashad and rampage, and to be fair i can see both of them turnin his lights out, he will have no legitimate claim to still being in the UFC.

I say shogum should have faced jon jones as this would give jon jones a true name on his list of defeated fighters and would give him a step into facing top top fighters.

All in all i still say Bring Back Chuck!!!

Why did Danna say during the UFC 98 post fight conference that Machida will fight Rampage. WHAT THE f**k IS HE DOING. Give the fighters who deserve to fight for the belt the chace. THIS ISN'T WWE where all you want to do is sell tickets. Danna's heart is more on the $ rather than the sport itself. FIRE THIS PIECE OF s**t. HE'S THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL PRESIDENT IVE EVER SEEN IF NOT THEN NAME ONE.

Shogun doesn't deserve this fight so soon.. f**k it! he'll get his face mangled in the first round anywho..

On the bright side; there should be a Rashad and Rampage fight round the corner

The reason shogun gets the title fight is because rampage wants to fight Rashad Evans so their going to be the coaches for the next season of the ultimate fighter. And i think it makes perfect sense that he gets the title shot. He's ranked number 5 Light Heavyweight And the only guys ahead of him are Rampage and Rashad how are going to fight each other. And Forrest Griffen who is fighting anderson Silva. Pluse i think shogun could win the fight. Each one of his performances are getting better and better. Plus Shogun in the Forrest and Mark Coleman fight was going through injuries. So don't count out Shogun he has good leg kicks solid stricking and a great ground game

While I'm a big fan of Shogun I don't think he should have a title shot this fast. Maybe another fight and take on the winner of Machida vs Rampage. But honestly Shogun "if in his top condition" could prove to be a serious...very serious challange for Machida and if anyone could beat Lyoto it would be Shogun or Rampage. So in Lyoto's eyes it's a loose/loose when it comes to an easy challange.

This title defense is going to be a very though one.

lyoto machida is in a league of his own. this in no way takes away from potential challengers. mauricio rua is a champion in his own right. but in order to pose an actual threat, he's going to have to come with a new and improved gameplan. whether its leg kicks, knees, aggression, its nothing machida hasn't seen before, not to mention machidas uncanny ability to not get hit and to top it all off, his incredible speed and power. this sport is always evolving and lyoto machida is the next step in this evolution

Well i still think Shogun has a good chance of winning. Look at the fight with Machida and Tito. Tito almost made him tap with a triangle. Tito. I don't think he's ever made anyone ever tap out unless it was from stricks. Now i know shoguns no the best with submissions but if he can get Machida up by the cage use his knees and take him down i think he can make him tap.