Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Shogun’s Return to the Octagon at UFC 93
Shogun a rank in the Japanese military broken into two words: sho meaning commander or general and gun meaning warrior of troops.
Mauricio Shogun Rua, younger brother of Murilo “Ninja” Rua and former member of the infamous Chute Boxe Academy, first ripped into MMA mainstream in 2003 at Pride Fighting Championships Bushido against Akira Shoji. Shogun quickly KOed the Japanese fighter in just 3:47 of the first round. Shogun made his way through Pride FC, dominating fighters such as Akiro Gono and Hiromitsu Kanehara.
In 2005 at the PrideFC Grand Prix Shogun captured the Grand Prix title, beating out Quinton Jackson, Allistar Overeem, Antonio “Rogerio” Nogueira, twin brother of current UFC heavyweight Antonio “Rodrigo” Nogueira. In the finals Shogun meet Ricardo Arona and in 2:54 of the first round Shogun TKO the Top Team fighter to become the youngest PrideFC Grand Prix Champion at just 24 years of age.
At Pride31 – Dreamers, Mauricio Shogun Rua experienced only his 2nd loss of his MMA career, suffering from a broken arm after landing badly on a take down defense in a match up against Mark Coleman. Mayhem erupted in the Pride Fighting Championship ring after the match up between Chute Boxe and Team Hammer House, after Mark Coleman continued to strike on an injured Rua. At: 49 into the first round Mark Coleman was awarded victory over Rua by Technical Knock Out.
Rua returned to the ring at PrideFC - Final Conflict Absolute, where he took on French man Cyrille Diabate and proved to be too much for the French fighter making his Pride debut; he succumbed to stomps at 5:29 of the first round. Shogun proved to be back on track, on a four fight winning streak against, Kevin Randleman, Kazuhiro Nakamura, and Allistar Overeem for the second time.
In 2007 Pride FC crumbled and fell into the hands of the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Like many Pride fighters, Shogun was offered a contract to fight in the UFC which he accepted and was given his first fight against former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. Shogun’s arrival was highly anticipated as he was held the #1 Light Heavyweight ranking at the time by Sherdog and MMAweekly. Rua went 2 rounds with Griffin, breaking his nose due to heavy elbow blows to the face, but was over powered by Griffin in the 3rd round and tapped out to a rear naked choke at 4:45.
Since then Mauricio had corrective surgery on his knee and fully recovered, he and his brother Murilo “Ninja” Rua left the famed Chute Boxe Academy in 2008 to open there own school in Curitiba, Brazil, Universidade Da Luta. Shogun next graces the UFC octagon at UFC 93 where he has a chance to avenge his loss to Mark Coleman. The two meet for the second time, this time in the octagon. With new fresh training partners, and some time off, this Light Heavyweight is ready – in a November 2008, interview with Tatame Magazine. Murilo Ninja Rua was confident in his brother’s skills and training saying, “he (shogun) will tear Coleman up”. Coming off of a loss in his UFC debut, this young Brazilian will definitely want to show the UFC fans why he carries the name “Shogun”
