Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has quickly re-emerged as a contender in the always competitive 205-pound division.
The Brazilian dynamo is coming off of a huge first-round knockout victory over another former world champion in Forrest Griffin just a couple of weeks ago. The win allowed “Shogun” to exact revenge from their initial encounter in 2007, where The Ultimate Fighter season one winner was able to submit the PRIDE superstar with a last-minute rear-naked choke.
Rua is riding on a wave of confidence and now that he has synced back up with his self professed Master in Rafael Cordeiro, he will be looking to climb the ladder once again in order to claim back what was once his not too long ago, his status as the best fighter in his weight class.
“Shogun’s” manager in Eduardo Alonso, who spoke with TATAME.com, has expressed interest in his fighter returning to the big stage this December for the organization’s year-end banger, possibly against former champion Tito Ortiz, though the potential for Rua’s next bout is virtually limitless.