UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida will soon undergo surgery that will postpone his immediate rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, according to Yahoo! Sports: “UFC officials have confirmed that Lyoto Machida will need surgery on one of his hands, thus delaying the planned middleweight championship rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua”.

UFC 104 winners Lyoto Machida and Patrick Barry were among eight fighters from Saturday’s event in Los Angeles who were issued medical suspensions by the California State Athletic Commission on Tuesday.

Machida, the UFC’s light heavyweight champ who won a controversial decision over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the UFC 104 headliner, was suspended for 60 days for a lip laceration, potentially delaying an immediate rematch with Rua that was reportedly being planned for UFC 108 on January 2.

UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who headlined Saturday’s UFC 104 event in Los Angeles, topped the pay-per-view event’s disclosed $922,000 fighter payroll, according to figures released Tuesday by the California State Athletic Commission.

Machida earned an event-high $200,000 for his controversial main event win over Rua, while “Shogun” received $155,000 for his efforts. Other top earners included Joe Stevenson ($94,000), Cain Velasquez ($70,000), and Chael Sonnen ($54,000).

UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua have agreed to an immediate rematch following Machida’s controversial decision win over Rua on Saturday in the main event of UFC 104.

“I thought “Shogun” won the fight. I think there will be a rematch.” said UFC President Dana White at the post-fight press conference. “I talked to both of them and they both agreed to a rematch.”

The “Machida Era” was extended in controversial fashion on Saturday, as light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida was awarded a questionable unanimous decision win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event of UFC 104 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Cain Velasquez dominated Ben Rothwell in the UFC 104 co-headliner, while Gleison Tibau, Joe Stevenson, and Anthony Johnson also earned main card wins.

All twenty-two fighters who will be in action at Saturday’s UFC 104 event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles hit the scales today to weigh in for their bouts. Light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida (202.5) and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (204.5) successfully made weight for the UFC 104 main event, as did co-headliners Cain Velasquez (238) and Ben Rothwell (265).

Anthony Johnson, Josh Neer, and Gleison Tibau were the only fighters who failed to make weight, but their fights will go on as scheduled.

Round 5 today announced that its first series of UFC figurines, which go on sale early next year, will include Chuck Liddell, Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian, Clay Guida, and Lyoto Machida.

With UFC President Dana White surprisingly absent from Tuesday’s UFC 104 press conference at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, headliners UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vowed to put their friendship aside and display unique styles in the October 24 showdown.

The UFC will hold a press conference on Tuesday at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles to promote its October 24 “UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun” event, which takes place at the Staples Center in LA.

Though most of the focus at the press conference will be on UFC 104, White headed to Los Angeles on Monday with hopes of finalizing a deal with an undisclosed network to air a November event headlined by BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian. If finished, the deal could be announced as early as today.

The UFC on Monday officially announced “UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun,” the promotion’s long-rumored event which is set to take place on October 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will defend his title against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the pay-per-view headliner, while a heavyweight matchup between Cain Velasquez and Ben Rothwell was also confirmed for the card.

UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and middleweight champion Anderson Silva have been nominated for ESPN’s 2009 ESPY award for Best Fighter. Boxers Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley will also be competing for the award.

Fans can support Machida and Silva by voting at espys.tv.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will reportedly not retire despite the wishes of Dana White, with rumors swirling that he could return to action this fall, possibly for a bout against Rich Franklin.

The anticipated showdown between TUF 10 coaches Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans is expected to headline UFC 107 on December 19 in Las Vegas.

Continue reading for the latest MMA news and notes in MMAFrenzy.com’s Quick Hits…

During Saturday’s broadcast of The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, UFC President Dana White announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort could soon return to the UFC and challenge UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

As a guest on “Inside the Octagon” hosted by TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah, White also confirmed that light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will defend his title on October 24 in Los Angeles against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and maintained that he’d prefer Chuck Liddell retire, though the most surprising news was the announcement that Belfort may again be competing inside the Octagon.

All 10 fighters tested by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for performance enhancing drugs and drugs of abuse at UFC 98, including headliners Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans, have tested clean. NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer confirmed the negative tests to MMAFrenzy.com on Monday afternoon.

A rumored bout between UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will not headline UFC 103 in September and is now expected to take place at UFC 104 in October, according to Super Lutas, who reports that Rua has agreed to the October matchup.