Answ3r
05-30-2007, 09:07 PM
Ranked as the #1 light heavyweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly.com, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has been one of the fighters seemingly in limbo since the announcement that the Fertitta brothers, owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, purchased the venerable Japanese promotion Pride FC.
Amassing a 16-2 professional record, the majority of Shogun’s career has been spent fighting for the Pride organization. He won the Pride Grand Prix in 2005 – narrowly avoiding a fight with Chute Boxe teammate Wanderlei Silva – by defeating rival Brazilian Top Team fighter Ricardo Arona in the finals.
His only losses to Renato “Babalu” Sobral in 2003 and Mark Coleman due to injury last year, Shogun has amassed one of the most impressive resumes in the sport. Among his victims are Alistair Overeem (twice), Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kevin Randleman, Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Quinton Jackson among others.
Following Jackson’s dominant performance over Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 in Las Vegas, Nev., MMAWeekly’s Ivan Canello caught up with Shogun in Brazil for an interview. Of course Shogun gave his impressions on Quinton Jackson becoming the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and also discussed the K-1 show coming up on Saturday at the L.A. Coliseum.
That’s not all though, Shogun expounded upon many issues including some of the fighters headed to the UFC, like Dan Henderson and how he feels Henderson will do in the Octagon against Jackson.
But, of course, everyone wants to know about two certain Chute Boxe fighters and if they will grace the Octagon. In this exclusive video interview with MMAWeekly, Shogun finally broached the subject talking about what he and Wanderlei Silva would bring to the UFC’s 205-pound weight class and whether he sees himself fighting for Pride or the UFC.
Source - MMAWEEKLY
The interview was a members only thing so you had to pay for a subscription, but to sum it up:
- Shogun is back to training 100%
- His contract states that he can fight in both Pride and UFC
- He will more likely fight in UFC next
- He thinks in a couple of weeks his next fight will be worked out
- He wants the UFC title
- He wants to show America his skills
- He thinks Rampage will beat Hendo
- Didn't pick a winner of Royce Sakuraba, just said Royce has a huge ground game but Sakuraba is Chute Box and always brings something new to his fights.
- He said he and Wandi don't pick their opponents but he thinks Tito and Rampage would be great fights for Wandi in UFC.
I would like to see him get a chance against Henderson/rampage in UFC. He's beatin rampage once and it was pretty convincing.
Amassing a 16-2 professional record, the majority of Shogun’s career has been spent fighting for the Pride organization. He won the Pride Grand Prix in 2005 – narrowly avoiding a fight with Chute Boxe teammate Wanderlei Silva – by defeating rival Brazilian Top Team fighter Ricardo Arona in the finals.
His only losses to Renato “Babalu” Sobral in 2003 and Mark Coleman due to injury last year, Shogun has amassed one of the most impressive resumes in the sport. Among his victims are Alistair Overeem (twice), Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kevin Randleman, Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Quinton Jackson among others.
Following Jackson’s dominant performance over Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 in Las Vegas, Nev., MMAWeekly’s Ivan Canello caught up with Shogun in Brazil for an interview. Of course Shogun gave his impressions on Quinton Jackson becoming the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and also discussed the K-1 show coming up on Saturday at the L.A. Coliseum.
That’s not all though, Shogun expounded upon many issues including some of the fighters headed to the UFC, like Dan Henderson and how he feels Henderson will do in the Octagon against Jackson.
But, of course, everyone wants to know about two certain Chute Boxe fighters and if they will grace the Octagon. In this exclusive video interview with MMAWeekly, Shogun finally broached the subject talking about what he and Wanderlei Silva would bring to the UFC’s 205-pound weight class and whether he sees himself fighting for Pride or the UFC.
Source - MMAWEEKLY
The interview was a members only thing so you had to pay for a subscription, but to sum it up:
- Shogun is back to training 100%
- His contract states that he can fight in both Pride and UFC
- He will more likely fight in UFC next
- He thinks in a couple of weeks his next fight will be worked out
- He wants the UFC title
- He wants to show America his skills
- He thinks Rampage will beat Hendo
- Didn't pick a winner of Royce Sakuraba, just said Royce has a huge ground game but Sakuraba is Chute Box and always brings something new to his fights.
- He said he and Wandi don't pick their opponents but he thinks Tito and Rampage would be great fights for Wandi in UFC.
I would like to see him get a chance against Henderson/rampage in UFC. He's beatin rampage once and it was pretty convincing.