As a result of an injury sustained in his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship defence against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will undergo surgery on his hand. The procedure will prevent Machida from facing Rua at UFC 108 next year in a rematch from their controversial UFC 104 meeting last weekend.

Public outcry followed in the hours and days after the pair’s first meeting, as Machida was awarded with a highly controversial Unanimous Decision that most observers felt should have gone to Rua.

Machida (16-0-0) escaped with his UFC Lightweight Championship, but his once-invincible mystique was shattered at the hands and knees of Rua, who punished and bloodied the champion with an effective game plan that wore Machida down.

Rua (18-4-0) arguably gained more fans in defeat than in any of his past victories, as the vast majority of fans and MMA journalists scored the fight in Rua’s favour. Many, including MMARising.com, scored four or more rounds for the challenger.

In the wake of the controversy, UFC President Dana White announced that both fighters had verbally agreed to an immediate rematch, which was then set for UFC 108 on January 2nd. However, with Machida set to undergo surgery to repair his damaged hand, the fight will have to be postponed.

It is highly likely that Rua will still receive the next shot at Machida, as White himself felt that Rua had won the UFC 104 battle, but a revised date and event have not been set.