UFC 104 Light Heavyweight Title Betting Pick: Shogun Vs. Machida

The UFC 104 card is solid but the main buzz seems to be about the title fight between Shogun Rua and Lyoto Machida.

The two Brazilians are among the most gifted fighters and athletes in mixed martial arts and their fight could be a classic on Saturday night at UFC 104.

The betting lines have Machida as a solid favorite but is he really that good of a bet to win this time around against such a feared and respected light heavyweight contender?

UFC 104 Light Heavyweight Title Betting Prediction: Shogun vs. Machida

The key to this fight will be how the aggressive style of Shogun with his muay thai striking and clinch game matches up against Machida, who is elusive and a great counter-striker.

Analysts have long said that it will take someone fearless and not afraid to get in Machida's face to combat his long-distance karate-based style but if Shogun doesn't pick his spots well he will be drilled with kicks and straight right hand shots all day long.

No one has figured out how to beat Machida or even take a round from him yet in the UFC, but Shogun has the ability to make him work for everything in the Octagon.

In the end, however, the pick here is Machida because he is simply too well-rounded, strong, and mentally tough for Shogun right now.

Shogun looked good in his last fight, finally like the PRIDE legend he is, but it was against a fairly washed up Chuck Liddell so more proof is needed before bettors can place their faith in Shogun to upset a top-notch fighter like Machida this time around at UFC 104.

Machida will take this one by TKO in the second round in a surprisingly close fight, however.