Tag: Mauricio Rua

Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua Pulled from UFC 161, Show Moves Forward with 11 Fights

UFC 161 took another major hit Monday as the promotion announced that following the injury to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the co-main event for the card has been scrapped with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua also being yanked from the upcoming show in Winnipeg. Ea…

UFC 161 took another major hit Monday as the promotion announced that following the injury to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the co-main event for the card has been scrapped with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua also being yanked from the upcoming show in Winnipeg.

Earlier Monday, reports began to surface out of Brazil that Rua was going to face former middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen on short notice, but the deal to secure the “American Gangster” apparently fell through at the 11th hour.

UFC officials confirmed via Twitter late Monday night that Rua was indeed off the card, and the show would proceed with 11 total bouts instead of 12.

Prior to the UFC’s official confirmation of the change to UFC 161, Rua also headed to Twitter to confirm similar news.  Originally written in Portuguese, Rua stated that the deal to secure Sonnen as an opponent fell through, but he expected to be back in action on the upcoming UFC on Fox Sports 1-1 card on Aug. 17 in Boston.

UFC 161 has suffered numerous changes over the last few weeks, including the main event between interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland being removed from the card after the Brazilian suffered a foot injury in training.

With the main event gone, the UFC opted to call on heavyweight contender Roy Nelson to step in and fill an open main card slot against Stipe Miocic, who was already expected to compete on the show.

Then over the weekend, Nogueira fell out of his scheduled bout against Rua, and as of Monday, the entire fight including the former UFC light heavyweight champion was pulled from the show.

This is the second time in less than a year that a card has been scheduled for the western part of Canada only to see it ravaged by injuries.

UFC 149 in 2012 started out as star-studded event, including featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his belt in the main event. By the time the show actually took place, almost the entire main card had changed from when it was first announced, including the headline fight, which ended up Barao against Urijah Faber in an interim bantamweight title fight.

UFC officials gave no other word on Rua‘s next fight or update on why the fight with Sonnen did not come together.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 161 Has Little Left to Justify Pay-Per-View Cost

With Antonio Rogerio Nogueira bowing out of the co-main event being only the latest loss to the show, the UFC 161: Henderson vs. Evans event is lacking in true intrigue for casual fans. A last-ditch effort to add Chael Sonnen could do some good in keep…

With Antonio Rogerio Nogueira bowing out of the co-main event being only the latest loss to the show, the UFC 161: Henderson vs. Evans event is lacking in true intrigue for casual fans. A last-ditch effort to add Chael Sonnen could do some good in keeping the show respectable, but it is likely not enough.

If Sonnen officially comes to the rescue to take on Mauricio Rua in the co-main event, it might marginally assist in the sales totals, but not enough. So far, the fight has not been made official, with Sonnen issuing a challenge via his Twitter account, according to BloodyElbow.com.

Sonnen would add much-needed name recognition to the co-main event; however, he and Rua have a combined 2-4 record in their last six bouts. That record will dictate the way the two come into the fight. Both will be interested in not losing, rather than making a brutal statement.

What is more, Sonnen will undoubtedly want the fight on the ground, and unless Shogun has rededicated himself to amazing takedown defense, a three-round struggle underneath the Oregonian is most likely the outcome of the bout.

The headliner itself has a large question mark over it, which may turn away would-be buyers. Both Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans are inconsistently exciting. Henderson is capable of being one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. At the same time, his most recent fight with Lyoto Machida brought back memories of the ‘Decision Dan’ all Pride FC fans can recall vividly.

A five-round fight could mean Henderson opts to circle for 25 minutes with his right hand cocked, while defending takedowns.

Evans has already said he is not interested in a stand-up war with Hendo, according to MMAMania.com. A takedown-heavy effort could be the likely outcome of the main event. It is possible that if the two do not engage in a striking war, the fight will gather a torrent of boos by the ending bell.

Beyond the main events, the card holds interesting matchups for the most dedicated fans, while providing almost nothing to spur casual fans into shelling out hard-earned cash.

Roy Nelson is prepared to prove he deserves consideration in the heavyweight division as he looks for a fourth-straight win. Unfortunately for Nelson, Stipe Miocic only provides a chance to prove he can win two fights in short order. Miocic, as good as he is, is not considered an elite fighter by most.

The Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan bout would usually be considered a surefire barnburner, except that Barry has been keen on proving he has a new-found ground game, while Jordan will be looking to simply not lose.

Finally, while the women of the UFC consistently prove that they can put on the most exciting fights on each card, casual fans simply have not shown interest. A strong showing in the Sexton vs. Davis bout will only serve as a pleasant surprise. However, the pairing will not add pay-per-view buys.

All told, the card simply has lost its worth as a must-see showcase, and the pay-per-view buys will likely reflect that fact. The UFC can only hope the late addition of Sonnen can trick some fans into assuming the card is worth the price of viewing.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 161: Shogun Rua on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira’s Injury Removal

On Sunday, Globo.com (h/t MMAJunkie.com) reported that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was forced to withdraw from his summer showdown with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.Any time a high-profile competitor suffers an injury, speculation over their replacement ensues.I…

On Sunday, Globo.com (h/t MMAJunkie.com) reported that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was forced to withdraw from his summer showdown with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Any time a high-profile competitor suffers an injury, speculation over their replacement ensues.

If Chael Sonnen gets his way, he would be Nogueira’s replacement—and Shogun’s new opponent. Sonnen tweeted shortly after the news broke of Nogueira’s injury that he would volunteer his services to as a fill-in at UFC 161. 

Whether Sonnen‘s efforts will prevail is yet to be learned, but discussions are underway and Rua vs. Sonnen is at the very least a possibility at this point.

On Monday, Fighters Only spoke with Shogun about the shakeup, questioning him on Nogueira’s injury.

“I think everybody wanted to watch this bout again, since we had a great duel at Pride [Critical Countdown 2005],” he explained. “I am sorry for Minotouro not to fight, it would be a very good fight, I am sure.”

The first time the two squared off, a young Rua used a mixture of effective strikes and takedowns to earn himself a unanimous decision win.

However, Nogueira proved to be one of the stiffest tests Shogun had faced to that point in his career and the experience of the bout left him with nothing but respect for his fellow countryman.

“I respect Lil Nog so much, I have absolutely nothing against him,” he said. “He’s a very nice guy. We’re opponents inside the Octagon, just it. I wish him a good recovery for him to return soon to do his good job.”

It will be interesting to hear the tune that the always-classy Rua sings should Sonnen end up as his UFC 161 foe. The American is notorious for getting under his opponent’s skin, something he has been particularly diligent about when matched up with Brazilian fighters.

Shogun neglected to comment about a potential scrap with Sonnen, but if the pairing is booked, you can bet noise will follow.

Not necessarily from Rua, but there will certainly be noise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Why Chael Sonnen vs. “Shogun” Rua for UFC 161 Makes Sense

The rumored matchup between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva might not have come to fruition, but that doesn’t mean the gangster from West Linn, Oregon isn’t willing to call out another Brazilian.News broke over the weekend that Antonio Rog…

The rumored matchup between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva might not have come to fruition, but that doesn’t mean the gangster from West Linn, Oregon isn’t willing to call out another Brazilian.

News broke over the weekend that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was off the UFC 161 card vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, due to injury.  Sonnen offered up his services as a replacement, via Twitter early on Monday Morning:

 

Obviously, this is not the first time Sonnen has asked for a fight on short notice. He offered to face Jon Jones last September on eight-days notice, before UFC 151 was eventually cancelled. At that time Jones backed out, giving Sonnen months to talk trash until the fight was eventually made.

Sonnen was the recipient of high praise from UFC president Dana White, for being the only one willing to step up to fight Jones at that time. Not to say he has carte blanche here, but it seems logical that if he’s willing to step up to face “Shogun” on short notice, the UFC would give him the fight.

UFC 161 has already lost the main event between Eddie Wineland and Renen Barao due to an injury to the latter. The co-main event between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans has since been moved up to main-event status. The card is slotted for June 15, in Winnipeg, Canada, giving Sonnen two weeks to get in shape—if he isn’t already—since his one-sided loss to Jon Jones at UFC 159, at the end of April.  

Shogun is also coming off a loss, falling to Alexander Gustafsson by unanimous decision back in December on the UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Diaz card. He is currently ranked No. 7 in the UFC light-heavyweight rankings.

Even with only a two-week time span, Sonnen’s promotional skills would instantly make more fans gravitate toward watching UFC 161 and generate more pay-per-view buys. There are other light heavyweight’s available, but Sonnen makes the most sense as a replacement for the card, as opposed to scrapping the fight altogether.

Stylistically, it is a solid matchup between the two. Both fighters are known for their willingness to engage, so it could make for some excellent action throughout the fight. Sonnen will most likely look to close distance and work his wrestling for a takedown. Rua is the better striker, and is still a very dangerous muay thai fighter; his knees from the clinch, and leg kicks can be lethal.  

Rua also likes to take things to the ground at times, and has excellent leg trips. Should it get to the ground, the battle between a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the best wrestlers in MMA for top position is an intriguing one as well.

This matchup is certainly one that the fans and media can get behind. We shall see if the fight does in fact get made in the coming days. We will probably, almost certainly see more tweets from Mr. Sonnen.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chael Sonnen Issues Challenge to Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua

Chael Sonnen never relents. After Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pulled out of his UFC 161 matchup against Maurcio “Shogun” Rua, via Ariel Helwani, h/t Bloody Elbow, fight fans and critics alike channeled their inner Joe Silva and attempted to pred…

Chael Sonnen never relents. 

After Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pulled out of his UFC 161 matchup against Maurcio “Shogun” Rua, via Ariel Helwani, h/t Bloody Elbow, fight fans and critics alike channeled their inner Joe Silva and attempted to predict possible replacement opponents to save the fight. 

Wanderlei Silva makes sense, but he is a close friend (not the picture you expected, eh?) of Shogun’s. 

Ryan Jimmo, who is set to fight on the UFC 161 preliminary card on FX, also seems like a decent replacement and should be well-tuned for battle, but he boasts a meager 1-1 record inside the Octagon and his name does not carry the heft of Nogueira. 

Who, oh who could save the day? 

Can you hear the rockets ignite as the Star Spangled Banner begins? What beautiful music. 

Chael Sonnen has arrived, and he has something to say. 

Taking to his favorite trash-talking, deal-drafting forum, Twitter, Sonnen penned this gem, aimed directly at Mr. Shogun. 

It seems clear Sonnen is prepared to fill in for Nogueira and save the co-main event of the evening, and the UFC would undoubtedly agree to the bout should Shogun accept. 

Sonnen is guaranteed to plant butts in seats—live and at home—and the promotion cannot afford to argue logistics at this point (not that they ever do when it comes to Sonnen, but I digress).

Should Shogun accept, this fight is all kinds of intriguing. Each man badly needs a win, and each has a distinct advantage in a major facet of the sport. 

For Sonnen, the advantage (as usual) lies in his stellar wrestling and top control. Shogun has shown exceptional ground skills throughout his career, but there is little doubt that Sonnen possesses the upper hand should the fight turn into a grappling match. 

Shogun, however, can deliver Sonnen his third straight loss by utilizing his exceptional Muay Thai attack. As is well documented, Shogun hits hard—very hard—and Sonnen does not particularly enjoy getting smashed in the face (see: Silva, Anderson or Jones, Jon). 

While Sonnen‘s tweet does not confirm anything at this point, this is a raging blip on every MMA fan’s radar, and the UFC needs to make a decision with UFC 161 rapidly approaching on June 15. 

What do you think, Bleacher Report faithful? Will Sonnen talk his way into a high-profile matchup again, or has he exhausted his “gimmes?” 

 

For fans of MMA, heavy metal or general absurdity, 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 161: Antonio Nogueira Injured, Fight vs. Shogun Rua Officially Canceled

Update: According to MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, the UFC has confirmed that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua is canceled.Currently, the promotion is looking a replacement before pulling “Shogun” of…

Update: According to MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, the UFC has confirmed that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua is canceled.

Currently, the promotion is looking a replacement before pulling “Shogun” off the card.

Another UFC event, another injury.

It appears that the much-anticipated UFC 161 fight between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Shogun Rua is in jeopardy, with reports claiming that “Little Nog” has an injured back.

Bloody Elbow relays the latest news, straight from Globo:

On his 37th birthday, the light-heavyweight Brazilian Rogerio Nogueira had to deal with an unpleasant situation: he will be forced to give up his rematch against Mauricio Rua at UFC 161 on June 15 in Winnipeg, Canada. A back problem again bothered the fighter.

Nogueira had been preparing well for the fight, but felt back pain because of a herniated disc in training last Monday. The problem is not serious, but it was enough to get him out of the fight, due to the proximity of it.

Naturally, the injury is extremely poor timing, but if it does in fact keep Nogueira from competing on June 15 on the Canada-bound card, there’s replacements available.

In fact, over a dozen fighters could get the call.

Should the UFC desire someone coming off a win, some likely names could include Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, Wanderlei Silva, Matt Hamill or Jimi Manuwa.

Lyoto Machida and Alexander Gustafsson are also awaiting Octagon returns, but both of them are on the short list of current contenders to Jon Jones’ UFC title.

This would also be Nogueira’s third injury since August 2011.

Previously, the Brazilian had actually been set up for bouts against former champion Rich Franklin (at UFC 133) and Gustafsson (at UFC on Fuel TV 2), but both a shoulder injury and a late knee injury derailed both matchups, respectively.

 

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com