The co-main event at UFC 134 wil feature a rematch between two former UFC light heavyweight champions Forrest Griffin and Mauricio Rua. The two previously met at UFC 76 with Griffin scoring a third round submission victory in that bout.
Since that time both fighters captured the UFC crown and subsequently relinquished it in their very next fights. Griffin took the title strap from Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 86 in July 2008 after a five round unanimous decision. Griffin’s reign atop the division ended on December 27 of the same year when he fell to Rashad Evans via third round TKO.
Rua spent a bit more time with the title than Griffin did, but that was more the result of time spent on the sidelines rehabbing an injury than defending the title. Rua defeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 via first round knockout. After that May 2010 bout he underwent surgery to repair a damaged knee. The rehab kept him from the cage until March 2011. He met Jon Jones in his return bout with Jones taking the title from him with a third round TKO.
When they meet at UFC 134 both will bring identical records into the cage since they last met, 3-2.