IS LEARNING THE PRINCETON OFFENSE
The tale of the tape reads like a old kung fu movie script. Only things missing are delayed voiceovers and, of course, the legendary Bruce Lee.
Tonight, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida will defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight title against top challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the main event of a 10-fight UFC 104 card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Machida, who knocked out Rashad Evans for the title in the UFC 98 main event, has gone from the hunter to the hunted in a division loaded with guys eager to smudge his pristine 7-0 UFC record (15-0 overall in MMA).
But instead of fearing the bull's eye on his back, Machida, a 31-year-old Brazilian brawler, revels in it.
"You become the target, but that is what I train for," Machida, said via translator. "I want to be the target . . . I like the challenge and train very hard to keep it going."
As for Rua, 27, who also hails from Brazil, the wins have come, but a lot tougher. Rua is 2-1 in the UFC (18-3 MMA), and his last win was a technical knockout of MMA legend "Iceman" Chuck Liddell in UFC 97. Rua has much respect for the elder Machida, but expressed that he's out to be the one holding the belt at the end of the night.
"Lyoto is a great fighter and someone that I actually like," Rua noted on his UFC Web page. "However, we are professional fighters and it's my goal to be the champion, so fighting him is a great challenge."
Josh Neer will fight for the first time since a lightweight loss to New Jersey native Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino at UFC 101 in August at the Wachovia Center . . . Pellegrino will be part of a night of big fights on Spike TV's "Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights" finale on Dec. 5, when he'll touch mitts against Frankie Edgar.
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