The year is half over, and we're recognizing the best in MMA in the first six months of 2009. Up first is our Fighter of the Half Year, Lyoto Machida.
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Lyoto Machida: Fighter of the Half Year
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The year is half over, and we're recognizing the best in MMA in the first six months of 2009. Up first is our Fighter of the Half Year, Lyoto Machida.
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Stephan Bonnar: Even at 44, Mark Coleman Still Dangerous
Since his April 2005 slugfest with Forrest Griffin, a fight which helped launch the UFC to its current place in the sports landscape, Stephan Bonnar has been a consistent crowd favorite.
In January, Bonnar returned from a serious knee injury, but dropped a decision to top prospect Jon Jones. Now, he looks to get back into the win column at July's UFC 100, and will have to do so against UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman.
Bonnar recently took some time to speak to FanHouse about his "lifetime contract" with UFC, what Coleman has left in the tank at age 44, and how he plans to beat "the Hammer."
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Lyoto Machida to Fight Shogun Rua in First UFC Title Defense
UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has an opponent for his first title defense: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. UFC President Dana White confirmed during the Ultimate Fighter Finale that Machida will take on Shogun in the fall.
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MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: What's Next for Rich Franklin?
After his victory over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99, Rich Franklin is now on my list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts -- and Silva is off it. But what's next for Franklin? I'd love to see him get a Top 10 opponent, but most of the rest of the Top 10 are already committed to other fights: Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin vs. Anderson Silva, Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva.
I think the best option is to match up Franklin with Luiz Cane, and I think a dark horse possibility is Franklin vs. Tito Ortiz, if Ortiz returns to the Octagon. In any event, my list of the top 10 light heavyweights in MMA is below.
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Who Might Beat Lyoto Machida in the UFC? I Like Shogun Rua
Now that Lyoto Machida has won the UFC light heavyweight title, there's a growing sense that we're headed into -- in the words of Joe Rogan -- a Machida Era: A time when Machida simply dominates the light heavyweight division and defends the belt several times in a row.But as great as Machida is, everyone can be beaten. So which fighters would have a chance of beating Machida at 205 pounds? My list is below.
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UFC 98 Morning After: How Will Anyone Beat Lyoto Machida?
The light heavyweight division is the most talented weight class in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but after watching Lyoto Machida dominate Rashad Evans for the title Saturday night at UFC 98, I'm having a very hard time seeing how anyone is going to beat him any time soon.That might sound like a crazy thing to say, because upsets happen all the time in mixed martial arts, and the light heavyweight title has changed hands four times in the last two years. But the fundamental way to win a fight is to hurt your opponent without getting hurt yourself, and there's no one better at that than Machida.
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MMA Podcast on UFC 97
We're back this week with another MMA podcast, and I'm joined again by Ariel Helwani. The big topic of conversation, of course, is the disappointing performance of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 97, and who we think might give Silva a tough test.We also talk about the likely retirement of Chuck Liddell, the future of Shogun Rua, and how every weight class in the UFC -- except middleweight -- has a big title fight in the coming months. Listen below.
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MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Shogun Moves Up, Liddell Moves Out
My new list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts reflects the changing landscape after UFC 97, with Shogun Rua moving up and Chuck Liddell moving out.I'm sorry to see Liddell go, but at this point I don't think there's any point in ranking him because I think it's probably safe to say he's no longer an active mixed martial artist. Even if I were counting him as an active fighter, I don't think he'd be in my Top 10 anymore. Shogun is now in my Top 5, and I'm very excited to see what he does next. Top 10 below.
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UFC 97 Morning After: Don't Forget Shogun Rua
Coming out of UFC 97, two stories will dominate the discussions: Anderson Silva looking unimpressive and needing to go the distance to win his ninth straight fight, and Chuck Liddell probably walking out of the Octagon for the final time. I agree that those are the two big stories of the night, but I'd urge mixed martial arts fans not to forget a third: Shogun Rua is back.- Share:
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UFC 97: Shogun Rua KOs Chuck Liddell
Mauricio Shogun Rua knocked out Chuck Liddell in the first round of their fight at UFC 97, perhaps ending the career of the Iceman, the most popular fighter in the history of American MMA.
UFC 97 Photos
Chuck Liddell and Shogun Rua shake hands before their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
UFC
Chuck Liddell, right, punches Shogun Rua during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
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Chuck Liddell, right, punches Shogun Rua during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
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Chuck Liddell, left, punches Shogun Rua during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
UFC
Shogun Rua, right, attempts to punch Chuck Liddell during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
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Shogun Rua takes down Chuck Liddell during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
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Chuck Liddell and Shogun Rua battle during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
UFC
Chuck Liddell and Shogun Rua battle during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
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Shogun Rua pounds Chuck Liddell during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
UFC
Shogun Rua pounds Chuck Liddell during their match at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 19, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
UFC
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