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24/08/09 - Shogun: "I may go to heavyweight"
Once considered the best light-heavyweight fighter on the planet, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is currently in Curitiba, Brazil preparing for his upcoming fight against Lyoto Machida in October for the UFC light-heavyweight title.
But back in the PRIDE FC days he was once going to be Chute Boxe’s entry in the Open Weight Grand Prix, before the team eventually opted to field Wanderlei Silva (he went on to face a prime Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic.) Rua still does not rule out a move to heavyweight.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Machida beats Brock. I think a light-heavyweight fighter can go up the weight class and take on a heavier guy like Lesnar. Lyoto would have real chances,” said Rua to Terra.com.br.
“Depending on the money I would fight at heavyweight division. If I receive a good proposal and my moment is good and it is great for my personal marketing, I would have to give it consideration.”
And in a separate interview with Tatame magazine today, Rua also discussed the recent mixed fortunes of Wanderlei.
“Wanderlei trains every day in the octagon and [now again] with Rafael [Cordeiro], who knows his style. He will come out on top. He is a showman, likes to fight to knock people out and is still a young guy, he's only 32 years old,” Rua said.
“Take Rich Franklin, for example, he has 36 years. Wand now has to focus more on the technical side of it and keep fighting, because as I said, he is still very young. I intend to fight until 35 years, but Wanderlei should fight until 40 (laughs). He loves to fight!”
Now that Cordeiro has left Chute Boxe and is once again training with Wanderlei in the USA, fans have been interested to see if Shogun will return to train under him. But he says he will not.
“Master Rafael made me a black belt and I'm very proud of it. Unfortunately the split happened in the team and I never spoke with Rafael, but if we meet I will talk to him, certainly,” he explained. “But I love my city and my country and do not intend to go train elsewhere.”
The Brazilian Ninja
FO Staff Brasil
“Curitiba Commando”
Thebrazilianninja@gmail.com
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