With tickets set to go on sale later this week, the UFC today officially announced two contests for UFC 104 in Los Angeles.

As expected, light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will meet challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, while heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez will meet Affliction import Ben Rothwell.

Now titled "Machida vs Shogun," UFC 104 takes place Oct. 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card airs live on pay per view.

The card represents the UFC's first trip to Los Angeles since "UFC 60: Hughes vs Gracie in May 2006, and it is the organization's first event in California since UFC 76: Knockout in September 2007.

"It's been two years since the UFC was in Southern California, and we knew we had to bring something special for our return to the capital of mixed martial arts," UFC president Dana White stated in the UFC's official announcement. "Lyoto Machida captured the imagination of fight fans with his knockout of Rashad Evans. And while [Machida] seems unbeatable right now, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua not only has the tools to beat any 205-pounder in the world, but he's coming off a knockout of Chuck Liddell in his last fight, so his confidence is sky-high. This has the potential to be one of the greatest light-heavyweight title fights ever."

Tickets for the UFC's return to Los Angeles go on sale to the general public on Aug. 29, though pre-sales are available Aug. 27 for UFC Fight Club members and Aug. 28 for UFC.com newsletter subscribers.

Source: mmajunkie.com