Mauricio "Shogun" Rua set to fight Thiago Silva at UFC 149 in Canada
Posted on April 29, 2012, 07:36 PM by Mike Drahota
The question of who will be Mauricio “Shogun” Rua's next opponent in the Octagon has been answered by UFC President Dana White. According to a report found by mmajunkie.com, Rua will be facing another heavy-handed Brazilian in the form of Thiago Silva. Rumored to be taking place at UFC 149 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the fight will be on the same card as the aforementioned Jose Aldo/Erik Koch Featherweight title fight. With the potential for fireworks high here, UFC 149 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting night for the UFC.
Shogun has had an up-and-down UFC career, having obtained the Light Heavyweight championship with a knockout of former champion Lyoto Machida in 2010. However, after suffering a debilitating knee injury in that win, he was on the shelf for some time before coming back to a buzz-saw in Jon Jones, who took the belt from Rua in brutal fashion. He rebounded well with a knockout of Forest Griffin in Brazil, and then lost a razor-thin decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 139 last November. While his UFC record is nothing spectacular on paper, Mauricio Rua puts on exciting matches win or lose, evident by the disucssion that his battle with Henderson was the best fight of 2011, if not one of the best fights ever.
Silva will step into the cage with a tall task in front of him. After losing a decision recently to young star Alexander Gustafsson at UFC on Fuel TV 2, Silva has several questions to answer. While still sporting an impressive record, he looked a bit slow and one-dimensional against Gustafsson's quick movement. Much of this can be attributed to the ring rust of a year-long layoff due to suspension, but the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC is astronomically skilled at this point in time. His Muay Thai can hang with the best on any given day, can it topple Shogun? Dana White's announcement makes UFC 149 a must-see event this summer and should provide an action-packed bout between two fellow Brazilians never afraid to bring it all to the Octagon.
Further Reading: Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch to headline UFC 149 in Calrgary, not UFC 147
Comments
Both guys are very tough and aggressive and have great stand up. I give Silva a slight edge in power, and Shogun a slight edge in speed. Shogun probably also has a better chin. I think both guys are going to eat some big shots in this fight, and I like Shogun's chances of surviving them better, so I'm picking him by KO.
I think it wont be a war , I think Shogun will beat Thiago easily.
He has a lot more tools in his stand up and as you said ,he is faster.
Look what lyoto did to thiago. THe same will happen in this fight
I feel that Silva is quite a few steps below Shogun in every category except wrestling and G&P, this might sound disrespectful but I think the UFC knows Silva's limitations and how much of a star Shogun is.
IMO this looks like a tune up fight for Shogun.
Machida is a karate based fighter who likes to counter. Thiago Silva's style was a perfect matchup for him - an aggressive guy who likes to come forward.
Shogun is much more similar to Silva stylistically. It's a different matchup this time - to guys with muay thai based striking. Thiago Silva is too good to lose "easily" and with his power and striking skills, he can win any fight at any time. I would not be surprised at all if he wins.
I will be surprised if he wins. He almost only throw punches . Shogun has a lot more weapons. And i think thiago's chin isnt that good. he was dropped quickly by Machida and Gustafsson
He took a huge shot for Gus and survive, the guy has only been finished once by Machida when Machida seemed invincible. I'd say he has a decent chin, not the best but not bad by any means.
Agreed. That punch from Gustafsson would have KO'd a lot of guys. He's called the Mauler for a reason. The Machida KO looked bad, but that's what a 100% accurate strike thrown with great technique will do. I don't think there's many guys who would have survived that one either. But, like you said, Thiago doesn't have a great chin, and Shogun's fight with Hendo proves that he does.
Seems like a step down for Shogun. Interesting matchmaking here by Joe Silva...
I would put Shogun against Gustaffson. See right now if this kid has it.
He's coming off a loss, even if it was a great performance and a very close fight. A step down is to be expected. Silva is a top 10 guy, or close to it, so it's not that big a step down anyway.
I think it's great matchmaking by Joe Silva. This could be both fight of the night and KO of the night.
Seems weird that Silva loses to Gus and then gets to fight a guy higher in the rankings.
A win would do a crazy amount of good for Silva and not really say much for Shogun even if he dominates him (which wouldn't be surprising).
A loss for Shogun would be terrible for his career, he would be 2-4 in his last 6 fights and this would be his biggest loss since Forrest. Even a close/sloppy win would be bad for his career as it would be a while ago that he looked impressive.
Silva is cool but here's hoping Shogun by KO.
Its a pretty big step down. But I agree that there will be bonuses paid. Whether is ko or fight of the night.
Munoz and Wiedeman winner fights winner of Hendo/Jones, Winner of Shogun/ Gus fights the champ. This being Joe Silva thing is cake.
Not sure if you're mistake was meant or not but giving it a funny because it is funny either way lol
I like a possible Bader vs Gus matchup. See how Gus deals with an elite wrestler. Either way if Gus wins his next fight the Brass will have no choice to put him against Jones (assuming he takes care of Hendo).
i dont know who to pick, just know its gonna be a war on the feet and some good grappling on the ground. Shogun has to avoid the bottom position and silva's gotta check the vicious leg kicks of rua. So, Shogun's speed and leg kicks vs Thiago's power punches and superior top ground game.....result....Thiago wins by ko via ground and pound...
oh yeah, 3rd rd. ko via gnp. by silva
Thank You! if there is a god he'll be kickin back sippin on a 40 ta this one
something tells me that is God does drink, his beverage of choice is not a 40oz of anything.
gotta go with shogun!
might even put some money on it.
A kick in the balls to Shogun if you ask me......
DISCLAIMER: i am a huge shogun fan, hes probably my favorite fighter so no one go crazy on me BUT
you guys have to realize, shogun is 3 and 3 in the ufc. thats not good. he came in and lost to forrest griffin, then got a title shot by beating mark coleman and chuck lidde. lost the first fight to machida, was very nicely given an immediate rematch and won. then loses to jones in what was the biggest beating jones has given in any title defense. then comes and beats forrest griffin, then loses to dan henderson. if youre the ufc, you dont really view him as that great.
i am also assuming that rashad vs gustafson and davis vs machida in in the works so silva is the best option for shogun. and what a fight this will be
Great match up with both guys coming off loses.