On March 19 UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (19-4) will defend his title for the first time against rising mma star Jon “Bones” Jones (12-1). The champ had been scheduled to meet former champ Rashad Evans, but an injury forced Evans off the card and prompted the UFC to offer his spot to Jones after his submission victory over Ryan Bader at UFC 126.
In an interview with Tatame.com Murilo “Ninja” Rua (20-11-1), brother to the UFC champ, Rua talked to the Brazilian magazine about “Shogun’s” upcoming title fight and had a message for his brothers challenger.
“Jon Jones ain’t Mauricio’s greatest challenge.”
Despite the fact that odds makers have given the edge to Jones as the victor, “Ninja” Rua feels that the edge lies with his brother and the he will be the one raising his hand in victory on March 19. Murilo knows Jones is a dangerous opponent but feels that his brother has overcome tougher opponents in the past and will do so again.
“Jon Jones is a respectful athlete, he’s young, but my brother is the favorite for the experience he has, he’s fought tougher guys than Jones. My brother has proven it, and he’ll win. The guy wants it bad, he has nothing to lose, but the experience can be the differential”, bets Murilo, who doesn’t consider Jones to be the greatest challenge on his brother’s career. “He’s one of the toughest fighters on MMA currently, he’s tall and has a great conditioning, he’s rising, so it must be a hell of a good fight. But he’ll get hurt when my brother’s punches finds his face. Jon Jones ain’t Mauricio’s greatest challenge. My brother had had great ones, and it’ll be another fight on his career”.
UFC 128 takes pace on March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Murilo Rua has been working hard at trying to earn a spot in the UFC but suffered a set back after a four fight win streak was stopped last October. “Ninja” wound up losing a unanimous decision to Roy Boughton at a W-1 event in Canada.