UFC 113: Shogun Knocks Out Machida to Seize the Crown

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua left no decision to debate in his second championship meeting with Lyoto Machida. At UFC 113 on May 8, 2010, at Montreal’s Bell Centre, Rua knocked out the previously unbeaten champion in the opening round to win the light heavyweight belt. Josh Koscheck also earned a welterweight title opportunity by defeating Paul Daley, while Matt Mitrione and Alan Belcher finished their main-card assignments. Eleven bouts made up the event.

Video: UFC’s contemporary open-workout feature with Machida and Rua before their championship rematch.

Rua resolves the rematch with a knockout

Their first meeting at UFC 104 ended with Machida retaining on three 48–47 scorecards, a verdict disputed after Rua’s effective body and leg kicks. The rematch therefore carried an unusually clear purpose: both men needed to establish a result that would settle the argument beyond another close reading of the rounds.

Rua found his opening in the first round. He hurt Machida with a right hand, followed him to the ground and landed the punches that ended the fight at 3:35. Machida’s movement and counters did not prevent the challenger from reaching a decisive position. There was no long tactical stalemate and no final set of scorecards to interpret.

The finish completed an important recovery for Rua. His UFC debut loss to Forrest Griffin and subsequent injury problems had interrupted the reputation he built in PRIDE. Wins over Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell had restored momentum, and the two Machida fights now culminated in a UFC championship.

For Machida, this was his first professional defeat and the end of the reign he began by beating Rashad Evans at UFC 98. The rematch did not rewrite the official result of UFC 104; it supplied a new result with its own authority. Rua became champion by knockout, and the rivalry’s central question received a decisive answer.

Koscheck beats Daley and earns the next title opportunity

Koscheck used takedowns and ground control to contain Daley’s striking, winning 30–27 on all three scorecards. Daley had delivered first-round finishes at UFC 103 and UFC 108, but he could not reliably keep this contest in the standing exchanges where his power was most useful.

The win gave Koscheck a shot at Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title and a coaching role opposite the champion on The Ultimate Fighter. Its significance was overshadowed by what followed the final bell: Daley swung at Koscheck after the bout had ended. The referee intervened, and the UFC subsequently released Daley because of the incident.

The post-fight strike did not turn the recorded outcome into a disqualification. Koscheck’s official victory remained a unanimous decision. Keeping the bout result and its aftermath distinct is necessary for an accurate account of one of the event’s most discussed moments.

Stephens edges Stout, Mitrione and Belcher finish

Jeremy Stephens defeated Sam Stout by split decision in a lightweight fight that went the distance. Stout had entered after beating Joe Lauzon at UFC 108, but Stephens secured the judges’ verdict here. Matt Mitrione stopped Kimbo Slice in round two, turning their heavyweight matchup into a successful early step in his UFC career.

Alan Belcher submitted Patrick Cote with a rear-naked choke at 3:25 of the second round. Cote was returning from a long injury absence, while Belcher had finished Wilson Gouveia at UFC 107. The submission gave Belcher another important win and added a grappling finish to a main card already defined by Rua’s knockout.

Doerksen rallies and Hendricks remains unbeaten

Joe Doerksen recovered from a difficult opening round to submit Tom Lawlor in the second. Marcus Davis stopped Jonathan Goulet with punches, and Johny Hendricks defeated TJ Grant by majority decision. Those results brought together a veteran’s comeback, a striking finish and another victory for an unbeaten welterweight prospect.

Joey Beltran beat Tim Hague and Mike Guymon defeated Yoshiyuki Yoshida, both by unanimous decision. John Salter won the opening bout when Jason MacDonald suffered a leg injury during a takedown sequence. The six preliminary results complete the evening’s history and show why UFC 113 was more than its championship rematch and co-main controversy.

Complete UFC 113 results

Main card

• Mauricio Rua def. Lyoto Machida — KO (punches), round 1, 3:35; won the light heavyweight title.
• Josh Koscheck def. Paul Daley — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00 (30–27 on all three cards).
• Jeremy Stephens def. Sam Stout — split decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Matt Mitrione def. Kimbo Slice — TKO (punches), round 2, 4:24.
• Alan Belcher def. Patrick Cote — submission (rear-naked choke), round 2, 3:25.

Preliminary card

• Joe Doerksen def. Tom Lawlor — submission (rear-naked choke), round 2, 2:10.
• Marcus Davis def. Jonathan Goulet — TKO (punches), round 2, 1:23.
• Johny Hendricks def. TJ Grant — majority decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Joey Beltran def. Tim Hague — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• Mike Guymon def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
• John Salter def. Jason MacDonald — TKO (leg injury), round 1, 2:42.

Sources

• UFC: Rua’s championship victory.
• UFC: main card and Daley aftermath.
• UFC: preliminary-card report.
• UFC: Rua’s career context.
• UFC 113 event archive.
• Sherdog: complete results.

Article Tags

UFC 113, Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Josh Koscheck, UFC Results