UFC 128: Shogun Rua Talks Rashad….

UFC 128 sees the comeback of UFC Lightheavyweight Champion, Mauricio Shogun Rua, as he takes on ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans. Shogun talks pre fight on his expectations of the bout.

We’d all like to see abit of this again….

Rashad Evans says there is “No Need” for UFC LHW Interim Belt

An interview with #1 contender to the UFC Light Heavyweight Belt, ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans speaks on his fight with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, the possibility of an interim title shot for Lyoto Machida and the Shogun Rua situation.

Rashad claims there is no need for an interim title bout. maybe he’s just trying to avoid a repeat of the scenario he found himself in last time versus Lyoto….

Shogun Recovery Faster than Expected

UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is on track for an early 2011 return — possibly at the promotion’s annual Superbowl weekend event in February — after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in his left knee on June 10 in Los Angeles.

UFC President Dana White told the media earlier this month that the newly crowned titleholder wouldn’t be expected back at least until March. Eduardo Alonso, Rua’s manager, said all signs point to the 28-year-old fighter accomplishing that and possibly doing White one better.

“Off the top of my head, I think of the Superbowl card in February, but this is something that could change depending on his recovery schedule and the UFC’s business schedule,” said Alonso. “But the way things are going right now, I can tell you that he’ll be ready sooner than expected.”

The 2005 Pride Fighting Championships middleweight tournament champion’s injury and subsequent surgery were kept secret for weeks, said Alonso, to ease the fighter mentally into his recovery process.

Alonso said Rua injured his left knee during his first-round knockout victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 last May in Montreal.

“It was precisely on the second takedown where he tried to take down Machida and Machida stuffed it and ended up on top,” said Alonso.

Rua had previously undergone surgery on his torn left ACL in September 2007, following a disastrous promotional debut against former 205-pound champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 in Anaheim, Calif. Rua also had a follow-up operation on the same knee in 2008.

“The first time he injured his knee was in training, and maybe from years of training, before the Forrest Griffin fight,” said Alonso. “He opted to fight with the injury and ended up having surgery right after. We don’t comment on it very often because we don’t like to take anything away from Forrest.”

Alonso said that the UFC helped facilitate the most recent surgery.

“We had options to do the surgery in many different places, but opted with the UFC’s advice to do it in Los Angeles with Dr. Kitvme,” said Alonso. “Honestly, I think it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.”

Following surgery, Rua traveled to Las Vegas and has spent the last four-and-a-half weeks in physical therapy with Alonso, Rua’s wife and his newborn daughter at his side.

Alonso said this recovery period has been the quickest of the three for an anxious Rua, who wanted to stop taking his pain medication a day after the surgery. Alonso praised the UFC for allotting its champion the time to heal without the pressure of committing to his next bout.

“Shogun is very happy, as he’s doing through a great moment in his life with (winning) the belt and the birth of his daughter,” said Alonso. “Mindset is very important for the recovery process, so we made sure he was comfortable. But he’s very anxious because he’s such an active guy. He has great genetics, so his recovery is going great. The challenge for us as a team has been to hold him back and make sure he takes his time.”

Alonso, Rua, and his family leave the United States for Brazil on Saturday, where the fighter will complete the rest of the physical therapy in one of the world’s biggest soccer clubs in Sao Paulo. Alonso said Rua will begin to integrate some training back into his rehabilitation and will resume his full-time regimen once his physicians give him the go-ahead.

White had said that Rua’s first title defense against Rashad Evans, who earned a unanimous decision over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114 last May, wouldn’t be scheduled until the former Chute Boxe fighter’s prognosis was clearer. However, a projected March return has ignited recent talk of Evans fighting another candidate for an interim title. Alonso said the chatter hasn’t fazed Rua.

“Honestly, we don’t mind talk of interim titles, because this is the UFC’s decision and not ours,” he said. “Shogun has the belt and it means a lot to him and he’s the legit UFC champion right now. If the UFC decides to set up an interim title for other fighters, it’s not really for us to evaluate this. Each manager is really trying to push his fighter’s best interests.”

With Rua’s fast-improving progress, a 205-pound interim title might not sound like a necessity after all.

“Whatever happens, Shogun will have to defend his belt when he’s back sooner or later and if it’s against an interim champion or just a contender, it doesn’t change much,” he said. “The way we see it, unless a champion retires, the interim champion is just another contender.”

Thanks to Sherdog

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s first UFC title defense likely delayed by knee surgery

Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s first title defense likely will be delayed due to a recent knee surgery.

Rua, who knocked out Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 to earn the 205-pound title, was expected to meet Rashad Evans later this year.

With Rua’s window of recovery, UFC president Dana White is unsure when the Brazilian champ will fight again.

“He just got out of the hospital; it was a successful surgery,” White said. “He had the surgery in Los Angeles, and he’s going to be doing all his therapy in Vegas.

“So he’ll be in Vegas for the next five weeks.”

White said Rua’s injury occurred during the fight with Machida, though a report from ESPN’s “MMA Live” the night of the May 8 event stated Rua’s knee was already injured.

“He got hurt in the fight,” White asserted.

The UFC president does not know which knee Rua injured.

The Brazilian superstar previously has struggled with knee injuries. He faced Forrest Griffin with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his octagon debut at UFC 76 and afterward underwent surgery to repair the damage. Less than six months later, he withdrew from a scheduled fight with Chuck Liddell at UFC 85 with the same injury and underwent another surgery.

Source: MMAJunkie

UFC: Shogun vs Evans Promo Trailer

Chael Sonnen Calls UFC Light Heavyweight Division ‘A Joke’

Paulo Filho calls out UFC Champ Shogun Rua

Paulo Filho took almost everyone by surprise with his inclusion on the card for this coming Friday’s Memorial Fight Qualifying event, in the city of Santos, Brazil. GracieMag had a chat with the fighter after hearing of confirmation of his presence.

“I have to fight. Time is going by and I can’t just sit around. This opportunity came at the right time. I don’t know anything about my opponent; what I want is to fight!” he says with excitement.

Paulo went on to explain the visa problems that kept him out of his Bellator fight.

“They told me the event would be in one place and the letter from the organization that came in said another. When I went to the interview at the consulate there was this mistake and I was turned down; we didn’t even get to talk about it. They didn’t even want to hear how I’ve been to the United States several times without any problems,” he recounts.

Paulão also remarked on the challenge he issued Maurício Shogun. At Bitetti Combat 7, both were honored in the cage. Paulão heaped praise on Shogun, but admitted he would like to face him some day. Shortly thereafter he was cheering frenetically for Murilo Ninja, once a rival of his.

“I couldn’t miss the chance to challenge him. I want to fight him and feel the pressure up close by the end of my career. That’s just something I want. Shoot, I’ve been getting lambasted on forums. Folks are acting with a lot of disrespect. But it’s what I want and I know I can make it.”

Paulo’s physical conditioning coach Julio Muniz guarantees the black belt is in excellent shape for his coming challenges.

“I can guarantee he’s clean. There’s no point in talking; what he has to do is fight and win. We have four fights ahead of us and he’s going to show how he’s in shape. He’s going to trample everyone and prove it,” he warns.

Source: GracieMag International

UFC 114: Lyoto Machida Talks Future @ UFC 114

Machida hopes to have the title back within 10 months

Machida

Lyoto hopes to regain his title back within 10 months and hopes to regain it back from the first man to solve the Machida mystery. Many people believe that Rua is stylistically bad for Machida’s famous karate base, however the ex champ feels the victory would be much sweeter if he was to gain revenge for the only blemish on his record.

“I don’t care who has it, I want to have the opportunity to fight for the belt,” Machida told Tatame. “If it’s Shogun I’m OK, I’ll enjoy the win more.

“That punch really got me and, in this division, it’s really hard to get a punch like that. When it gets you, it’s really hard. Sometimes you are winning it, but the guy hits you and you lose. I think I was winning this fight, despite his aggressiveness.”

UFC 113: Machida vs Shogun 2 Highlights