After enduring one of the most memorable bouts in mixed martial arts history, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua came up short to Dan Henderson in a tight decision at UFC 139.
Both competitors went back and forth throughout the bout, both gaining their fair share of momentum, but ultimately Henderson was awarded the victory.
Rua’s performance was nothing short of inspiring, and although he still showed that he remains a competitive force in the light heavyweight division, his consistency is still questionable.
Perhaps it would not be a bad idea for the Brazilian to move down to the middleweight division, where he can immediately emerge as a contender.
It’s evident that Rua is undersized for a light heavyweight, and he has had a history of poor cardio, partially due to the recurring knee injuries.
Should he consider a potential move down to 185 pounds, Rua would have less of an issue suffering with his cardio and would be able to compete on a more consistent basis.
Nothing against his performance at UFC 139, while he survived a five-round bout with no visible signs of gassing, but his days as a title contender at 205 pounds may be over, considering other options might serve more importance at this point in his career.
It isn’t unlikely he remains competing as a light heavyweight in the near future, but if “Shogun” is still realistic about reclaiming a UFC championship, he should contemplate on making a transition to the middleweight division.
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