Gymdb Blog

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was the reason I got into MMA - he represented everything great and fun about MMA: Explosive, young, new, exciting etc… He captured the hearts of every single MMA fan back in 2005 when he blitzed through Overeem, Little Noguiera, Rampage and Arona, and all at the ripe young age of 23 to win the middle weight grand prix.

Well I am afraid that Shogun is gone. After two knee surgeries, a marriage and the apparent intense resource cost of starting and managing his own gym (Universidade da luta) things have taken their toll.

Is there any chance he will come back? Unlikely. He has been given two opportunities in the UFC, both times he has done nothing with them. The core issues are:
1. Lack of conditioning.
2. Lack of wrestling abilities.
3. Poor overall training regime. (Perpetually injuring himself).

Against his fight last night vs Mark Coleman he looked absolutely mauled, both physically and mentally . A fight which he should’ve won with absolute ease.

Even if he comes into his next fight with conditioning and the right mind-set, I just don’t see things going his way. Slated for UFC 97 against Chuck Liddell, I forsee Shoguns first KO loss, or more likely a decision loss. It absolutely breaks my heart to say it - but the dominant Shogun we saw winning the Middleweight GP is long gone.

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