Shogun: "I'm a better fighter now than I was in the PRIDE grand prix"
Posted on May 2, 2010, 01:20 PM by Daniel CassidyWith the most anticipated rematch in UFC history now less than a week away, Challenger Mauricio Rua spoke out about finding his feet inside the cage, as well as talking about the rematch to his questionable loss to Lyoto Machida back at UFC 104 on October of 2009.
Speaking via MMAJunkie.com, “Shogun” Rua said:
“Well actually, I hope that I’m a better fighter now than I was in the PRIDE grand prix because I train everyday for that to get better. When I fought Mark Coleman, I actually was in good shape. I was well-trained. But, some things were lacking.”
“I didn’t really have a good notion of space inside the octagon because I had never trained in a cage before. I was training in a ring. And I think that was the biggest difference that affected my performance in the fight because it was a totally different ballgame.”
“I have an octagon with the UFC size in my academy, and I think that changes a lot of my training and my preparation. I think that was likely the biggest mistake I did when I first came into the UFC, to not have an actual fighting space to train at that was much like the one I would use … in the UFC.”
On the upcoming Light heavyweight rematch with Lyoto Machida, Shogun also added:
“I think it was really a controversial fight where some people thought that I won the fight and some people thought that I lost the fight. The biggest proof that it was a controversial fight was the fact that a rematch was set up immediately. But this is all in the past for me right now. And what gives me comfort is the fact that I’m having another shot at a title and I’ll fight for the world championship again.”
UFC 113 will feature two other slugfests, a welterweight war between Paul Daley and Josh Koscheck, as well as a heavyweight brawl between Matt Mitrione and Kimbo Slice.
Comments
awesome card
i hope machida cries after he loses the belt....
because his daddy is gonna spank him
I'd hate to see ANY grown man cry. That's just me.
They better have my internet setup at the new place by then or I'll be bouncing off the walls!
Oh and...............WAR SHOGUN!!!!! WAR KOS!.....and WHATEVER Kimbo!
lol
Come on Hype.... Give it up for Kimbo.... Haha ok nevermind. But seriously the first two are going to be great fights.
I can't really see Machida finishing Shogun or Shogun finishing Machida...there r just certain fighters that you can't imagine being finished....so it will be interesting to see wat happens...WAR SHOGUN
I agree ninja, be prepared for a close fight again and a decision but lets hope a clearer decision this time.
Shogun was finished by RNC via Forrest Griffin.
yea but shogun wasnt 100 percent actualy he wasnt even 50 percent on that fight,If he and grifin fight again shogun would destroi hm for sure
I think Shogun would win a rematch too, but less than 50%.lol.
exactly! I just cant see any of these two being finished either
me too i think it will go again to decision. BOth are too good
machida, machida machida machida!!!!!!!!!
They are both great fighters, but I'm taking Machida on the rematch. Nothing against Shogun.
They are both great fighters, but I'm taking Shogun on the rematch. Nothing against Machida.
If I had to fight each of them then for Shogun I would be most afraid of his leg kicks and if Machida I then would be most afraid of him not swallowing all the pee he drank before the fight and it getting on me. He must have breath that can put Shogun to sleep.
On a serious note, I am taking Shogan as the new champ because I feel he wants it more because of how close he was and now has a once in a life time immediate second chance. This will be a hearts war.
Why is lowkick deleting posts?
I hope Shogun knocks the piss out Machida's mouth.
lmfao, that was funny
next champion, he will crush machida
I think anyone that feel they is an easy fight to pick is an idiot, how do you pick this fight? Personally I feel like its 50/50 and I can't for the life of me get a feeling for how this is going to go. That is probably what makes this such a great fight to watch.