Report: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua Returns to UFC on April 19 And He Is Injury Free

Warchief · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (16-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), a former PRIDE standout who underwent knee surgery after a submission loss to Forrest Griffin in September, will return to the UFC at an April 19 event in Montreal, Canada.

The news comes from GracieMag.com, which recently interviewed the fighter about the launch of his new fight team. Rua recently severed ties with Chute Boxe, his longtime home.

There’s no word on Rua’s opponent for the April 19 event, which is expected to take place at Montreal’s Bell Centre. The event — the first ever to take place in Canada — will likely feature a title-unification bout between UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and interim champ (and French Canadian) Georges St. Pierre.

The 26-year-old Rua made his much-anticipated octagon debut at UFC 76 but suffered an upset submission loss (via rear-naked choke) to Griffin. Prior to the bout, Rua had won 12 of 13 fights. Rua reportedly had a knee injury prior to the fight, but the Brazilian made no mention of it before the fight. In a series of interviews after the event, he said he didn’t want people to think he was using the injury as an excuse.

He originally planned on a February or March return, but the UFC apparently wanted him ready for the Canadian show.

“I’m injury free and with none of the pains in my knee that bothered me, so, I’ll devote my entire day to fighting, and I’ll be 100 percent,” Rua told GracieMag.com.

As it stands, Rua has won 12 of his past 14 fights — nine of which came via knockout or technical knockout. PRIDE’s 2005 Grand Prix Tournament winner had fought for the Japanese-based fight organization since October 2003 and racked up victories over such notables as current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Source

mitchpmma · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:07 PM

THANK YOU! Shaping up nice...Cant wait.

Any names that you would think as his opponent???

jlruthven84 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:10 PM

Fantastic news. I smell Houston, Soko, or Thiago Silva.

whitey64 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:10 PM

This is great can wait to see this live.

Warchief · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchpmma

THANK YOU! Shaping up nice...Cant wait.

Any names that you would think as his opponent???

To be Announce, but i hope it's either Evans or Liddell.

mitchpmma · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:12 PM

I dont want to see him with Soko or Houston until they've stepped up there ground game. Silva would be a great fight..although unlikely both coming from Chute Box.

Chuck would be great...

ArMnHC · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:13 PM

why do they want him on the Canadian card so badly i wonder? he should fight Machida.

jlruthven84 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchpmma

I dont want to see him with Soko or Houston until they've stepped up there ground game. Silva would be a great fight..although unlikely both coming from Chute Box.

Chuck would be great...

Rua just left Chute Boxe, but they may still have a problem with it. As someone said above, Evans would make sense.

mitchpmma · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:18 PM

They probably keep Chuck for a Las Vegas show or California. Something along those lines. Since there is no need in Chuck to sell out the Montreal show considering GSP and fellow Canadian fighters. Machida would be interesting and would turn out to be a great fight.

But i'ld put my money on Evans.

MYboyBISPING · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:20 PM

I think he should have a tune up fight with some Japanese guy like in Pride to see if he's ready because I don't want to see Shogun go down again. I think his transition now should be well thought out just because hes young and has the time to become the champ that he will be. Or throw him into the fire and have it be Machida or Chuck.