Lyoto Machida out indefinitely due to surgery
Several major UFC bouts that were scheduled or tentatively planned for the next few months have started to unravel the…
Several major UFC bouts that were scheduled or tentatively planned for the next few months have started to unravel the past two days because of injuries.
UFC officials have confirmed that Lyoto Machida will need surgery on one of his hands, thus delaying the planned middleweight championship rematch with Mauricio Shogun Rua (18-4). Machida injured his hand during his controversial win over Rua during UFC 104 Saturday in Los Angeles.
Machida (16-0) retained his championship with a unanimous decision, but the vast majority of media and fans thought Rua had done enough to take the championship. UFC president Dana White was among those who thought the decision went the wrong way and wanted to set up a rematch as soon as possible.
White was hopeful to get the rematch in as soon as Jan. 2, when the company has one of its traditional major events of the year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Rua had agreed to the date, but Machida’s surgery eliminates whatever slim possibility there was that he would be fully recovered and ready in time for that date. Right now, it is not known when the fight would be able to take place.