Shogun: I want my title back, Jones easier to study now

[Kickass32]

Shogun: I want my title back, Jones easier to study now

source: sports.yahoo.com




Former PRIDE 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix champion and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua recently participated in a Kevin Iole hosted live chat at Yahoo! Sports, and said his sights are set squarely on Jon Jones.
Jones took the title from Shogun 18 months ago at UFC 128, and since then kayoed Forrest Griffin at UFC 134, and narrowly lost to Dan Henderson at UFC 139 in what may be the best MMA fight of all time.
He fights Brandon Vera this Saturday at UFC on FOX 4. A definitive win there could earn him a title shot, and this time he says there is more time and tape to study.

Kevin Iole: I am going to ask a question for Shogun. How long did it take for you to recover from your injuries in the Dan Henderson fight.
Shogun Rua: That was a very tough fight but after a week or two of resting I was okay. Some people said I have some broken bones but I didn't, that wasn't true. It was a brutal fight and it took more time to recover mentally than any injury.

KI: What skills do you have that Brandon Vera doesnt have?
SR: It is difficult to look at opponents now and look at one skill over another because everyone is well rounded. I think, skill wise, maybe I have better BJJ than Vera.

KI: How do you think a rematch with Jon Jones would play out?
SR: That's the fight I want. I want my title back. I think he is much easier to study Jon Jones now... last time the guy was a brand new style in the UFC. Now we've seen him fight other guys and have more information what he's going to do in the Octagon. I am working towards beating him in a rematch.

KI: Who's hit you the hardest in your career?
SR: Jon Jones for aggression and Dan Henderson has the heavier hands.

KI: Why did Dana say you would rather be cut than fight Glover? Where did the disconnect between your camp and the UFC come from to mix the story up that badly?
SR: I don't know where the information came from. Right now, Glover isn't well known or ranked and has a long road ahead of him. With all respect, a win over him wouldn't have got me closer to the belt and getting the belt back is my only focus.

KI: Dana said if you look impressive, you get the next title shot. What is your response to that?
SR: I was very excited to hear that from Dana. From what I understand I have to be impressive and that is very motivating for me to put on a huge victory and beat Brandon Vera.

KI: Do you expect a muay thai battle with Vera or do you think he'll try to take you down?
SR: It will be a great Maut Thai war!

KI: What keeps you motivated after tough losses to Jones and Henderson??
SR: I think the fight with Henderson should have been a draw but, that's okay. It was close. But I really want a rematch with Jones because I can do so much better than i did the first fight.

KI: what is your opinion on Alistair Overeem and his evolution since you fought him 5 years ago?
(Ed note: Shogun knocked Overeem out, twice, both in the first round)
SR: He always has good kickboxing and wrestling. The biggest difference is the size of his body...

KI: At this point in your career, what are you most afraid of?
SR: No. I'm not afraid of anything or anyone.

KI: How much longer do you see yourself continuing to fight?
SR: Another six, seven years I think.

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news...-to-study-now/

[Brunow]

Just train this time around please. If you gas in 90 seconds, I totally give up on you.

[Rich Davie]

I don't why, but this title reminded me of this tune !

[jbleedin]

Just train this time around please. If you gas in 90 seconds, I totally give up on you.

You're suggesting he didn't train for a title fight??? That's ridiculous...

[Brunow]

You're suggesting he didn't train for a title fight??? That's ridiculous...

It's an expression, you should understand that. But gassing in 90 seconds, obviously he didn't train enough IMHO.

[Brunow]

Well to back up my argument on Shogun's poor performance against Jones. I'll use some normal logic. Let's start comparing fights that Jones and Shogun had against the same guys.

1. Rampage
Jones: Jones looked like the better fighter using pretty much his reach advantage, staying in the outside and picking his shots. Eventually he got a take down and took Rampage down. Rampage turtled off to his back as he normally does and Jones loss not time to sub him.

Shogun absolutely brutalized Rampage standing.

Interesting enough, Jones absolutely brutalized Shogun standing. Where Rampage (a inferior striker all around than Shogun) held himself together for 4 rounds until he was taken down. And you can`t say Shogun does not have a good chin, whoever watched the Hendo fight knows that.

2. Machida.
Jones: Jones couldn't find Lyoto standing, I don't think he landed a single shot in the first down. Well, this is MMA and not kickboxing so take downs are allowed. Jones found his way in taking Lyoto down. Landed a brazing elbow that caused a huge cut on Machida's forehead. That changed the fight completely and Jones subbed Machida standing. Kudos to Jones.

Shogun: Shogun was actually superior to Machida standing, arguably in both fights. Or at least in many rounds of their 6 round history.

Yet, again, Jones almost played a Anderson Silva Vs Forrest Griffin on Shogun.

3. Evans.

Shogun never faced Rashad, but I personally can't see Shogun not being superior standing than Rashad. Actually I have Shoguns stand up fairly ahead of Evans.

Jones couldn't finish him and really barely hurt him standing. He stood on the outside, again using his reach all 5 rounds.


Please, this is not MMAMath, I'm just using facts that somehow back up my feelings towards Shogun's performance against Jones being, not the norm for a great Shogun we've come to know.


To add little more value to my argument, I'll throw in a bit of history around Shogun.

...., Has his motivation ever been questioned? ; Has his shape and conditioning ever been questioned? Yes, hell yes!

Shogun x Forrest. Long term Pride superstar Shogun was expected to demolish upcoming TUF winner Forrest. Well, he was supposedly super motivated to join the UFC and run for the title! Right? Apparently not...., he came in fat and gassed nearly at the end of the first round. He was submitted by Forrest who not only out struck him and beat him everywhere the fight went.


Well, now Shogun is having the chance to revenge a garbage loss to Mark Coleman and prove he's the better man and that had his shoulder not broken he would have surely beatin Mark The Hammer Coleman! Right? I think 2 drunk guys can put up a better performance than what Shogun provided in the biggest MMA stage of the world.


Final thoughts. Kudos to Jones for beating Shogun the way he did, best performance I've ever seen from him. About Shogun? Far, but far from the best of Shogun I've seen. Is Jones that superior to him? Standing?

Personally, I think Jones would have beaten him anyway, but Shogun was not in good shape or focused, and paid for it big time.

I'd also question his heart..., but that's a discussion for another topic.

[Brunow]

Oh, and I know styles make fights..., however don't forget Jones and Shogun have Muay Thai based styles.

[jbleedin]

It's an expression, you should understand that. But gassing in 90 seconds, obviously he didn't train enough IMHO.

You're confusing being hurt with getting tired. If I remember correctly, they were on the ground most of rd 1 and Shogun was trying for subs. Tired fighters usually are too gassed to try for subs. On the way up, Jones connected to the head and body and that's what hurt Shogun. he was hurt, not gassed... No professional is going to gas in 90 seconds...

[Brunow]

You're confusing being hurt with getting tired. If I remember correctly, they were on the ground most of rd 1 and Shogun was trying for subs. Tired fighters usually are too gassed to try for subs. On the way up, Jones connected to the head and body and that's what hurt Shogun. he was hurt, not gassed... No professional is going to gas in 90 seconds...

Did he come out sharp for the 2nd ?

[Brunow]

He was outclassed standing...

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