UFC on Fox 4 shaping up: Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader, Travis Browne vs. Ben Rothwell both added to card
Posted on May 1, 2012, 11:49 AM by Mike Drahota
Recently UFC on Fox 4 on August 4 in Los Angeles was targeted as the location for the promotional debut of Hector Lombard. Scheduled to fight highly-ranked Middleweight Brian Stann, the fight will be an anticipated war with future title implications. Now two more exciting bouts have been added to the card.
Former Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will find himself facing wrestler Ryan Bader. This bout will be very important to both fighters in a division stacked with talent and an enigma waiting at the top in Jon Jones. Both fighters seem to be at a crossroads of sorts in their own respective careers, and a win would put them back on the cusp of contention. A loss, however, may catapult them down the ladder with a long way to climb back.
For Machida, the bout will be a chance to prove that the elusiveness and karate stylings that gained him the belt three years ago are still effective in the UFC. Starting his career an amazing 16-0, Machida has been on a bit of a slide lately, going 1-3 in his last 4 outings. Some say he won his close decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Despite that, he had another shot at the belt last December, and made Jon Jones look surprisingly human in the first round before being brutally submitted in the second.
Bader is at another place in his career right now but still needs a win badly. Starting out undefeated at 14-0, he also ran into the freight train of Jon Jones and succumbed to a guillotine, similar to Machida. He then lost to Tito Ortiz in a huge upset, and people started jumping off the Ryan Bader hype train quickly. Undeterred, he clawed back by knocking out Jason Brilz and then grinding out a well-fought decision versus Rampage at UFC 144 in Japan. A win puts him back in contention, a loss may put him back in limbo.
Who will win this battle of wrestler vs. karateka? Both fighters are hungry and still relevant, but having been manhandled by Jon Jones, another title shot will be tough to come by at 205 lbs. UFC on Fox 4 is shaping up to be an exciting card. The Heavyweight bout of Travis Browne vs. Ben Rothwell has just been added as well, a match featuring two fighters who earned a bonus at UFC 145, Browne for Submission of the Night and Rothwell for Knockout of the Night. A win puts the victor into the mix at the increasingly more stacked Heavyweight division. Stay tuned to Lowkick.com for more coverage of the event from Los Angeles.
Further Reading: Hector Lombard will face Brian Stann in his debut at UFC on Fox 4
Comments
How many more time Travis Browne have to prove him self before UFC give him a top 5?
Agreed. This is a stupid match up. Rosario is short an opponent still, right? He would be a much more worthy opponent.
I think this is a good fight for him. There are quite a lot of guys in the mix at HW (Mir, Werdum, Cain, Bigfoot) and if Travis takes a few more fights he will probbaly get his shot once all of the guys in the mix the now get their shot or are put out of the mix.
Werdum? Bigfoot?
What did they do to be in top 5?
Both lost their last, they need to prove them self...
Sorry Werdum won Nelson fight, my bad
Cain lost his last are you saying he isn't top 5?
Bigfoot probbaly isn't top 5 but apart from his last fight he has looked good of late and is probably a name to be up there.
true he is undefeated with a win over struve, draw with kongo.
should get a top 5 fight!
or a rematch with kongo
The Dragon is back. I cant wait, whenever Fedor or machida are fighting it feels like if it was me in the cage, I feel as much pressure as them hahaha
I guess its always like that when your all time favorite athletes are competing.
I hope the Dragon is gonna win
I agree but Rothwell is a tough dude so he still has his hands full.
It will be nice to see The Dragon back in the win column. Lyoto via KO/TKO in the first or second round.
Machida vs. Bader seems like an easy one for Machida IMO, yes Rampage beat Bader but I just don't see how Bader will beat Machida apart from a punchers chance.
Shogun is in a similar position as well, fighting Silva.
Machida and Shogun seem to have "tune up" fights against guys which haven't had much talk about them for a while, and both the fights are very close to each other.
UFC trying to to set up Machida Shogun III?
I think so.
Im expecting machida and shogun to win decisively, however it will be easier for shogun i think.
Machidas TDD is too good. Bader gonna be doing the stanky leg
i want machida to win dammit, bring back the dragon era!
YEah man !
Bring back the DRAGON MACHIDA and the LAST EMPEROR FEDOR Eras
I hope Karate will be back, MACHIDA KARATE!!! . Besides, it's the Dragon's Era (2012) :))