The Staples Center has played host to many historic events. It was in this very arena where six NBA Finals series took place with the 15 time NBA Champions the Los Angeles Lakers playing host to the event. The prestigious Grammy Awards have been taking place in the Staples Center since 2000. The huge boxing fight between Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito attracted a record crowd of 20,820 fans. The arena was also the site where a public memorial service for the late Michael Jackson took place in one of the most emotional events of the year.

As for mixed martial arts, we have to go way back in 2006 where the last UFC event was held in that very arena, headlined by a catchweight bout between then UFC Welterweight Champion and future Hall of Famer Matt Hughes against the legendary UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie. Three years later, the UFC will return to the Staples Center for UFC 104. This event boasts a pretty good lineup, which also features a heavyweight bout that is sure to be worth a watch as Cain Valesquez takes on UFC newcomer and MMA veteran Ben Rothwell. However, all eyes will be on the main event as two of the finest light heavyweights from Brazil today clash for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title as the champion Lyoto Machida takes on the challenger Mauricio Rua!

UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Lyoto Machida (c) vs. Mauricio Rua

Lyoto Machida is quite possibly one of the greatest fighters to ever come out of Brazil. Revered in the style of Machida Karate taught to him by his father, Yoshizo Machida, Lyoto Machida is one of the true karate practitioners in MMA. Using a very elusive style that has made him one of the most controversial fighters out there, Machida can either be an exciting fighter or a frustrating fighter to watch in action, whichever floats your boat of course. However, despite being elusive and despite going the distance throughout his career, Machida is known to possess dangerous and powerful strikes in addition to his sleek submissions skills as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Just ask the last two fighters he knocked out, Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, whom he beat to become the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Machida is a unique individual. He is truly the epitome of what a martial artist truly is. One who is very focused and driven in his quest to become the greatest fighter in the world and one who trains hard and excels at what he does. It is these traits which prompt many fans, including UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, to compare him to another very dedicated and legendary martial artist, the late great Bruce Lee. There is absolutely no doubt that Machida is one of the world’s top MMA fighters today and for him to be undefeated since his debut at the Tokyo Dome in 2003 is a testament to that.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Octagon is the renowned Mauricio Rua. Once upon a time, Shogun Rua was the top light heavyweight in the world. Specializing in the arts of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Rua tore through the ranks of the PRIDE middleweight division, holding notable victories against the likes Akihiro Gono, Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arona, Kevin Randleman and Kazuhiro Nakamura. After PRIDE was bought over by Zuffa, Rua signed with the UFC, but in his debut UFC fight at UFC 76, didn’t make the same impact he made back in PRIDE where he was knocked out by Forrest Griffin, who would eventually become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion a year later. Suffering a knee injury during his fight against Griffin, Rua was out of action for more than a year as he underwent surgery to repair his injured knee. When he came back, he was able to seek revenge against Mark Coleman at UFC 93, who broke his arm in a freak accident during their fight in PRIDE back in 2006. Months later, Rua would pick up the biggest victory of his career thus far when he scored a huge upset by knocking out UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell in the first round of their co-main event at UFC 97! Since then, Rua has a lot of momentum and confidence on his side and the man once known as the top light heavyweight in the world has the chance to make it to the top once again.

The Dragon vs. Shogun: Just who is Brazil’s top light heavyweight in the world?!

It is a no-brainer that most of the top fighters in MMA mainly come from Brazil. After all, it is there where the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed and it forms the basis for most top MMA fighters. Unsurprisingly, both Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua are strict practitioners of the art and both will want to make full use of their BJJ skills when the fight does go to the ground. However, when both men are standing up trading strikes, there is a potential knockout that could occur by either men. Machida will use his Machida Karate against Rua’s Muay Thai, which will play a huge factor in this fight. The question though is, which art will prove to be the superior one?

In addition to that, Machida vs. Rua is another fight in the many dream fights between a fighter formerly from HERO’S and a fighter formerly from PRIDE. Sure Machida may have fought in HERO’S once (at their maiden event with a win over current UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn), but he has also fought at FEG’s first all-MMA event before the formation of HERO’S, ROMANEX. Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, Rua was one of the top fighters to ever come out of PRIDE, so this makes for a very intriguing fight between the two Brazilians.

One man is looking to hold onto his title and remain unbeaten while the other is looking to make a huge impact and reclaim his spot as the top light heavyweight fighter in the world. Who will walk out this coming Saturday night live at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion?