Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

By FCF Staff

Although Mauricio “Shogun” Rua managed to defeat a game Brandon Vera, it was Lyoto Machida who stole the show tonight at UFC on FOX 4, as the former light-heavyweight champion brutally finished Ryan Bader in the card’s main event.

From the opening bell, Bader had difficulty targeting the elusive Machida, who outscored the renowned wrestler with strikes throughout much of round one. Shortly into round two, Machida dropped Bader with a pounding straight rirght as the fighter stepped in, and finished the bout in convincing fashion with several more punches.

In the main event, Vera worked his way out of several precarious positions early on to turn the battle into a long, drawn out war. Despite taking several hard shots, standing and on the ground, Vera pushed Rua throughout the fight and managed to land several of his own telling blows.

In round four, however, Rua sent Vera to the canvas with a flurry of punches as he retreated along the Octagon fence, and brought the battle to an end.

Prior to the card, UFC President Dana White announced that which ever light-heavyweight had the most impressive performance Saturday night, would be rewarded a title fight.

Current champion Jon Jones is scheduled to fight Dan Henderson on September 1st.

Here are the results from tonight’s UFC on FOX 4 card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mauricio Rua def. Brandon Vera by TKO (punches) R4 4:09
Lyoto Machida def. Ryan Bader via knockout (punches) R2, 1:32
Joe Lauzon def. Jamie Varner via submission (triangle choke) R3, 2:44
Mike Swick def. DaMarques Johnson via knockout (punches) R 2, 1:20
Nam Phan def. Cole Miller via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado, no contest (accidental eye poke) R1
Rani Yahya def. Josh Grispi via submission (north-south choke) R1, 3:15
Phil De Fries def. Oli Thompson via submission (rear-naked choke) R2, 4:16
Manny Gamburyan def. Michihiro Omigawa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
John Moraga def. Ulysses Gomez via knockout (strikes) R1, 3:46