[Beowulf]

Lyoto Machida vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura Set for UFC 76
Posted by UFC Junkie on August 2, 2007 at 8:59 pm ET
The UFC 76 fight card just got bolstered with some solid international talent.

Japan’s Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a longtime PRIDE veteran and recent UFC acquisition, will take on Brazil’s Lyoto Machida at the Sept. 22 event, UFC.com‘s Thomas Gerbasi is reporting.

Nakamura, who’s fought his entire career in PRIDE, has taken some of the world’s top talent, including Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. However, each one of those fights ended in defeat.

Still, though, he has some quality victories over the likes of Kevin Randleman and Igor Vovchanchyn.

He’ll taken an opponent who is still trying to get some traction with an American audience.

Since joining the UFC earlier this year, Machida has earned unanimous decision victories over Sam Hoger (in an un-televised UFC 67 bout) and David Heath (in a heavily criticized fight that was yanked from the tape-delayed UFC 70 Spike TV broadcast).

UFC 76 takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Other bouts scheduled for UFC 76 include Chuck Liddell vs. Keith Jardine, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Forrest Griffin, and Diego Sanchez vs. Jon Fitch.

Machida was expected to face Rua at UFC 76, but Forrest Griffin was eventually chosen instead.

For the latest UFC 76 fight card, check out the UFC Rumors section of UFCjunkie.com.

I'm psyched about this. Nak doesn't have a good record, but he is a tough SOB. He gave Shogun a hell of a fight. He also has one of the best names in MMA. I liked when the crazy PRIDE lady would scream, "Kahhhhh-zuuuuuuuuu-heeeeeeeeeeee-roooooooooo Naaaaaaaaaaaaa-kaaaaaaaaaaa-moooooooooooooo-raaaaaaaaaa".

I think this is a very important LHW match, and probably Machida's biggest test. A lot of people complained about Machida's UFC fights, but I really enjoyed both of them, especially Rd. 3 vs. Heath.

[jas123]

That's huge. I'm glad they scooped up Nakamura. He fights everyone hard so I'm hoping this will show us what Machida is made of.

[Reaper329]

I really like this fight. I think Machida will take it but glad to see Nak there

[Alexander]

Great match-up. Machida by decision.

[Alexander]

Here's what the card looks like right now.

Liddell vs Jardine
Shogun vs Griffin
Nak vs Machida
Tavares vs Griffin
Fitch vs Diego
Gouveia vs Lambert
Wiman vs Omigawa

[jas123]

Originally Posted by Alexander

Here's what the card looks like right now.

Liddell vs Jardine
Shogun vs Griffin
Nak vs Machida
Tavares vs Griffin
Fitch vs Diego
Gouveia vs Lambert
Wiman vs Omigawa

It looks like it's turning into a pretty good card. 2 top 10 vs. top 10 matchups, the debut of Shogun, Liddell-Jardine is somewhat interesting, and Gouveia-Lambert is a solid matchup as well.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by jas123

It looks like it's turning into a pretty good card. 2 top 10 vs. top 10 matchups, the debut of Shogun, Liddell-Jardine is somewhat interesting, and Gouveia-Lambert is a solid matchup as well.

Definitely. I think I'm liking this card better than 74 or 75. They both have better main events, but overall are not as complete. MMA is about to seriously heat up in a couple weeks. Late Aug and September is going to be great. We've got 74, WEC 30, 75, EliteXC event, Fight Night 11, and 76 all in that short span.

Oh, and I think Tanner is suppose to make his return at 76, hope so.