A rematch between UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is in the works for UFC 108. Dave Meltzer revealed the news on his radio show (subscription required) last night, and Heavy.com has confirmed with sources close to both fighters that the bout is under preliminary discussion.
Rua has agreed to the fight, and Machida will take the fight if he is medically able to do so. The light heavyweight champion has been suspended for sixty days, however, including sixty days with no contact. The suspension will make a Jan. 2 fight incredibly difficult to book.
UFC 108, expected to be subtitled “The Ultimate 2009,” will also feature the postponed Brock Lesnar/Shane Carwin bout. The company had tentatively slated a middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort for the card, but Silva’s recent surgery may leave him unable to perform on the card. With the addition of these two main events, there will likely be no need for Silva to rush back for the date.
UFC 108 takes place Jan. 2 in Las Vegas. The card will feature a light heavyweight contender’s bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva and a heavyweight bout between fast-rising prospect Junior dos Santos and former championship contender Gabriel Gonzaga.