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by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 24, 2008 at 1:20 pm ET

Elite-level light-heavyweight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will look to finally rebound from a disappointing Sept. 2007 UFC debut in December according to the Brazilian website Tatame.com.

Rua made a verbal agreement with the UFC to face ex-light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (28-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Rua and Jackson met in 2005 under the PRIDE banner, with Rua earning a first-round knockout.

"I’ll be back in December," Rua told Tatame.com. "[The UFC] said that I might fight with Quinton Jackson, but nothing has been signed yet. They called me and offered a fight with him and I accepted, but they didn’t say anything else."

Rua is well-aware of Jackson's recent legal struggles, but feels confident Jackson will be available for the bout.

"[Jackson's troubles] surely can be a problem, but I want him back in December and against me," Rua said. "And I believe he can be back."

Rua has struggled through injuries that pre-dated his UFC 76 loss to light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The injuries forced Rua out of his UFC 85 bout with Chuck Liddell.

Rua said he has recovered fully and is back to training.

"I’m back to training," Rua said. "I’m doing some Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu stuff, and thank God everything is fine now."

[Noise Chopped]

Would love to see this over the proposed Wanderlai-Rampage fight. By miles and miles. Makes sense, great superstars, solid fighters - Big New Year's show, comeback stories both ways: how can you not love this?

Hope this happens. Hope, hope.

Only thing that sucks about this is one of the guys has to lose. I think it would be a lot worse for Shogun if he lost this fight. He had all that hype coming into his first fight, and he got out worked and choked by forrest. If Shogun loses this fight, what will the UFC do with him?

I'm sure he's being paid a lot of money, but 2 losses in a row could hurt him a little bit. Thoughts?

[UFC-chef/Hughes-fan]

I really hope his knee holds up and he doesn't have another long absence like this one. Can't wait for his return.

[Dr. MMA]

Yea I love both of these guys and I don't want any of them to lose. If I had to pick, I'd rather have Shogun beat Rampage and get his revenge against Forrest.

I'm hoping this fight doesn't happen though lol

[MYboyBISPING]

Originally Posted by Noise Chopped

Would love to see this over the proposed Wanderlai-Rampage fight. By miles and miles. Makes sense, great superstars, solid fighters - Big New Year's show, comeback stories both ways: how can you not love this?

Hope this happens. Hope, hope.

Hope, Hope and Hope. That would be awesome and have Chuck/Wand rematch yeahhhhhhhh!

[jlruthven84]

A loss at this point would be devastating for either fighter, and I'd hate to see that happen.

I'll tentatively pick Shogun to win it for now, until we see what kind of mental shape Rampage is in.

[Jardinewinstko]

rather see this then page wand 3, gonna be a great fight to show if shogun still at the top of his game as long as hes not injured

[beardown98]

I really like both guys but one would have to win i would say Rampage takes it Rampage with half his usual cardio could outlast the shogun we all saw fight forrest. Shogun slept on forrest and he got what was coming to him when you sleep on a opponent.

if Shoguns cardio is up to snuff it it may end differently but i still go Jacksons way he has come really far since Pride especially his hands

I would hate to see either guy lose and wouldn't be upset if either win.

This is just one of those fights with so many if's. We will have to wait and see how it shakes out when and if (another if) it happens.

[iverbure]

classic ufc match up, try to bury a former pride guy by putting him up against the toughest match up possible. This one may back fire on them though, and if Rampage loses ... than i don't wanna even know what would be going on inside his head.

Don't get me wrong i love to see big names fighting each other but both are coming off loses, Shogun hasn't fought in forever, Rampage went insane for a couple of days and is coming back what i think is very early.

Is this really the best time for these two to fight? Rampage could sell ppv's no matter who the hell he is fighting. Let them both fight lesser fighters and hopefully get a win, i'd much rather see fighters fighting when they are closer to the top of their game rather than possibly the bottom for both?