from tatame.com:
The best light heavyweight fighter in the world at 2007, Maurício “Shogun” Rua had complicated moments since the end of the Pride. Facing two surgeries, the fighter debuted in the UFC with a loss to Forrest Griffin, but came back and defeated Mark Coleman by knockout, at UFC 93. Despite the performance below expectations, Shogun knows that he’ll have to prepare even stronger for Chuck Liddell, former champion, at UFC 97. In an exclusive interview to TATAME.com, the fighter spoke about the preparation, the fight against Coleman and the training with Wanderlei Silva.
How is the preparation for Chuck Liddell?
I’m training hard and very focused, thank God. I have to be well trained and focused to face him, and that is what I’m doing. I’m doing much Boxing, Wrestling, my complete training, everything that involves the MMA. Fight is fight, of course I’m making my plan of fight, but we’re still building the strategy.
Wanderlei Silva has invited you to train with him for this fight… You’ve been to Las Vegas?
Wanderlei is a great friend. I was in Las Vegas for a week and we spoke a lot, and I just won’t go there before the fight because it is in Montreal. If (the fight) were in Las Vegas, I would stay with his team, so we could train and help each other.
He made a great fight with Liddell at the end of 2007. He gave you some tips for this fight?
We talked about this and he said that Liddell is a good fighter, hits hard, but said that, if I go there focused and with gas, I win this fight.
What did you think of your fight against Mark Coleman?
Of course I was happy with the victory, but I wasn’t happy with my performance. I can be better than I was in this fight. I wasn’t happy with my performance and I will turn this around, give the best of me in the next (against Liddell). I know my potential and I know where I can go, I wasn’t happy.
Do you think a victory against Liddell can take you closer to the belt?
I don’t think about the belt now, I only think in Liddell, he deserves respect. I just think in this fight. Surely this is a fight that will put me forward, but I don’t believe in belt yet.
Wanderlei dropped from class and will face Rich Franklin… How do you think it will be this fight?
They are two good strikers and I think Wandeco will be nice in this category. He will lose few weights to fight at 195lbs and will do great in this category. I think it will be a tough fight. Rich is a good striker, also Wanderlei… It will be a tough fight, but I think that Wanderlei wins.
