One week after a controversial loss at UFC 104, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua said during a promotional stop in Vancouver that he’s eager for a rematch.
“I’m already thinking of the next fight against him,” Rua said, referring to UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. “I hope it happens as soon as possible, in February or March.”
However, Rua may have to wait a little longer, as Machida had surgery on his left hand on Friday and won’t start full training until at least mid-January.
The undefeated Machida (16-0) had never lost a round in the UFC until facing Rua (18-4) on Oct. 24. While the judges scored the match three rounds to two in Machida’s favour, Rua said he and “everyone else he talks to disagree.”
“I reviewed the fight and I won four rounds,” the former Pride champion said at Popeye’s Supplements in Burnaby. “Even (UFC president) Dana White and (UFC co-owner) Lorenzo Fertitta think I won. Only the three judges didn’t think so.”
Rua, speaking in Portuguese, said he’s put the Machida fight behind him but not the strategy he used against the elusive karate-based fighter.
“I’m sticking to the same fundamentals,” he said.
When asked if he expected the UFC to land in Canada in 2010, Rua said he keeps hearing “rumblings” about the UFC working hard to legalize MMA in Ontario to clear the way for a card in Toronto.
