With the announcement that Thiago Silva has had to withdraw from his UFC 149 battle with Shogun Rua, the UFC needs to act quick in order to find a high level opponent and give him enough time for a proper training camp.
Shogun is a dangerous striker who also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. With knockout wins over Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson, Rua is undoubtedly one of the best light-heavyweights in the world. Finding an opponent won’t be easy.
Here is a look at some potential opponents for Shogun, ranked based on how big of a matchup they would create.
Author’s Note: This list originally contained three names and was edited after considering a fourth candidate.