Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida Confirmed for UFC 76

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will make his highly-anticipated UFC debut agains undefeated Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida at UFC 76 on Sept. 22 at Honda Center in Anaheim, UFC representatives confirmed on Thursday.

The UFC also confirmed TUF 1 winner Diego Sanchez will take on Jon Fitch at UFC 76.

Mauricio Rua, of Curitiba, Brazil, who comes from the same Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil that produced Wanderlei Silva, is considered one of the top 205-pounders in the world. Rua made a name for himself fighting in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships, winning the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix.

Rua holds victories over current UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arona and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

Ryoto Machida, of Belem, Brazil, the son of Japanese-Brazilian Shotokan Karate master Yoshizo Machida, is considered a rising star in the mixed martial arts world.

He has victories over former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, former UFC welterweight champion BJ Penn and TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar. He is 2-0 since joining the UFC this year with decision victories over David Heath and Sam Hoger.

Diego Sanchez (17-1), of Albuquerque, N.M., is trying to bounce back after suffering his first loss, a three-round unanimous decision to Josh Koscheck at UFC 69: Shootout. Fitch (14-2), of Fort Wayne, Ind., has a 13-fight winning streak, including six in a row in the UFC.

Source: www.ocregister.com