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[TheDoucheyWun]

Shogun Rua “on the mood” for Rashad Evans

By Erik Engelhart
Photo Josh Hedges

UFC Light heavyweight champion after knockout Lyoto Machida, an act that conceded him the “Oscar” of the Best knockout of 2010, Maurício Shogun Rua will defend his title for the first time in March 19th, against the American Rashad Evans. 100% recovered from his knee injuries, Shogun started the training and is focusing on Wrestling and Muay Thai so that he can impose his own game to Evans. On the exclusive chat, which you can check here below, the tough guy talked about his preparation, commented the expectations for his first belt defense, talked about the coming of UFC to Brazil and said he misses the time of the GPs, when he fought on Pride.

How is your preparation going for your first belt defense on UFC? In what phase are you now?

I’m on the beginning of my preparation for this fight, I still am on the first month, of the three I usually take for preparing myself, I’m already on the mood and getting more conditioned and doing some aerobic workout.

Do you fell any pain? How is your knee?

I’m not feeling any pain in my knee and my doctor said I could fully return to my trainings, so I’m training as I always did, super confident and if God helps me, I’ll be prepared on March 19th.

What are you doing to avoid Rashad’s takedowns?

Rashad’s a very tough guy, he’s a good wrestler and boxer, actually he is a guy I consider complete and I believe he’ll try to use his boxing skills on my or will try to take me down and use his ground and pound, so I’m training much Wrestling and Muay Thai, he’s tough and I have to train all modalities.

Are you looking forwards to fight on March 19th? How are you dealing of your mental state?

I’m very cool because all I’ve ever done in my life was fighting, it’s my job and my only obligation is to give my best, I do what I love, which is to train and fight and I never think about winning, I think I’ll give my whole best.

You were on Palácio Guanabara in Rio de Janeiro to promote UFC Rio. How is your expectation for this event and in which way do you think it can help the sport in Brazil?

I’m sure people that don’t know MMA and UFC will be impressed with its greatness and despite there’s much prejudice yet, I believe that after this event things might change, it can change much things.

Strikeforce will do a heavyweight GP which promises to change many things on international MMA. Do you miss disputing a GP, like when you did on Pride?

Oh man, I miss it for sure, I won one of its most disputes GPs that they did, with 16 athletes on its dispute, and of course I miss it, but my memories are great.

What can your fans hope of your on your return to UFC?
You can hope I’ll bring my best to give it back for all the affection my fans from all over the world has given me and I’ll be on my best to represent Brazil the best possible way I can.

Shogun Rua “on the mood” for Rashad Evans :: TATAME

[JCVD]

Please god don't let him have much ring rust that Rashad can exploit to lie on top of him for 5 rounds. I thought Rashad fought almost scared in the Thiago Silva and Rampage fights. His facial expression during the fight even looked scared. He kept a huge distance so rampage and thiago couldnt exchange with him, then looked to win the decision by scoring a repeated take-downs that he didn't do a whole lot with when he got them down. For the sake of a title fight that will be the main event i hope Shogun's lay off and injury don't effect him to the point that he can't counter Rashad's negative tactics. Shogun's rarely in boring fights so hopefully he can bring the best out of Rashad that will make for an interesting fight. War Shogun!!

[MickeyKnox]

^^^ Because sugar didn't want to get KTFO like he almost did in both fights. Unfortunately, he survived and pulled out some super sweet decison wins...

He is not going to beat Shogun with a 5 round decision win but I pray that Shogun buries him worse than Machida.

RIPieces Evans!!!

[GL Jeff]

Ring rust is going to mess Rua up. I just cant see Rashad not winning this fight, his Submission defence is really good,and hes incredibly fast with his TD's, he ducked under one of Rampage's hooks,and scored a TD ffs. This is going to be a long night for Shogun, he really needs to be prepared to spend some rounds on his ass, I think he will need to score a finish in this fight, going to the judges against a Greg Jackson fighter is scary.

[JCVD]

Yeah the Machida knockout has clearly effected him mentally and its showing in his game. Damn Thiago was so close to finishing him in their fight, just hadnt the energy left in his arms to chase him. I know i will have a shiny new sig if Shogun ko's him, Rashad getting KTFO by Shogun=dream sig!

[FFFRpickup]

Originally Posted by DayneFS

^^^ Because sugar didn't want to get KTFO like he almost did in both fights. Unfortunately, he survived and pulled out some super sweet decison wins...

He is not going to beat Shogun with a 5 round decision win but I pray that Shogun buries him worse than Machida.

RIPieces Evans!!!

I agree totally. I believe Rashad will be able to take Shogun down, but I also believe that Shogun will sub him....maybe even a knee bar him like he did randelman.

[Repenter]

maybe i'm guilty of being just as dismissive of rashad as the rest of you, but shogun will walk through him. shogun is a much, much more dynamic and creative striker than anyone rashad has faced besides machida, and his ground game is fucking vicious. if rashad can't get his shots off first, and he won't, then he has no chance to win a decision besides lay and pray... which just plain won't work as well against shogun as it did against silva and rampage. it also has to be noted that when shogun smells blood, he runs in and finishes the job. he won't be tentative and gunshy like silva and rampage.

[pantomime horse]

Originally Posted by JCVD

Yeah the Machida knockout has clearly effected him mentally and its showing in his game. Damn Thiago was so close to finishing him in their fight, just hadnt the energy left in his arms to chase him. I know i will have a shiny new sig if Shogun ko's him, Rashad getting KTFO by Shogun=dream sig!

I'm looking forward to that.

[Xanatos]

To be honest, who I want to win this fight depends entirely on who the next contender is.

EDIT-I thought maybe I should add a little bit more to this. my opinion on this fight is that Rashad can only win in one way, and that is a decision. I don't see him getting in close and knocking Shogun out like he did Liddell. So in my mind this fight all depends on if Rashad can control the fight for the majority of five rounds before Shogun knocks his head off.

[macewen]

I really want Shogun to finish rashad like he has never been finished before...But i personally think, this is rashads fight to lose...everyone pray im wrong please.