UFC president Dana White confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Rua would get an immediate rematch.
"I think there will be a rematch in that fight," said White. "I talked to both of them and they both agreed to a rematch."
Rua voiced his opinion at the post-fight press conference that he's welcome to a second bout with the champion.
"Of course I'm thinking about a rematch ever since the fight, and if that's Dana's wish and Lyoto's wish, I'll fight him anywhere, anytime, wherever. It's just a matter of people wanting to put the fight together," said the former top ranked 205-pounder in the world.
Machida also expressed that he'd take the immediate rematch. "Of course if the UFC decides we should have a rematch then let's have a rematch," said the champion.
That's bad news for the champion, as Shogun clearly figured out how to beat Machida: control the footwork, refuse to be baited by Machida's feints but force Machida to throw the first strike in any exchange and tag him hard to the legs and body.
Kevin Iole says Rua should blame his corner:
The men who should be facing the wrath of those who felt Rua had won should not be Hamilton, Peoples and Rosales, who rendered their opinions in a very technical, taut affair. Rather, Rua supporters should be angry at his corner men, who continually told him he was well ahead.
Rua said he didn't press the action in the final two rounds because his corner had told him he was in control. If that's true, it's that advice that cost him the fight. And it's always the worst kind of advice to give a fighter in any match, but particularly a technical fight like Machida-Rua.
And while many disagree with the judges, their decision is at least defensible. ...
This was a fight that was there for Rua to win and he simply didn't win it. Had the decision gone Rua's way, Machida couldn't have complained, because there was little to choose from in many of the rounds. It was a very close fight and a case could be made for either man in most of the rounds.
I have to agree with Iole here. Scoring in a fight like this is so subjective that a fighter's corner should never reassure him that he is ahead on points. Especially when he's fighting for the title. Brookhouse is right that you shouldn't have to knock out the champion to take the title, but the reality is that a knock out is the only way to be sure that you'll take the belt. It's not the way it should be, but all too often it's the way it is.
And one more voice has been added to the chorus of those scoring the fight for Shogun.
FightMetric scored the bout 49-46 for Mauricio "Shogun" Rua over Lyoto Machida:
Nelson Hamilton
Round 1 - Shogun
Round 2 - Machida
Round 3 - Machida
Round 4 - Machida
Round 5 - Shogun
Cecil Peoples
Round 1 - Machida
Round 2 - Machida
Round 3 - Machida
Round 4 - Shogun
Round 5 - Shogun
Marcos Rosales
Round 1 - Machida
Round 2 - Machida
Round 3 - Machida
Round 4 - Shogun
Round 5 - Shogun
