“Shogun” Rua Remembers Late-Summer Heroics
Gleidson Venga Oct 6, 2005
Quinton Jackson
(Pictures), Rogério “Minotoro”
Noguiera, Alistair
Overeem (Pictures) and Ricardo Arona (Pictures). Maurício “Shogun” Rua had a
spectacular performance in the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix,
ending up the champion of the event and inheriting the title that
belonged to his teammate Wanderlei Silva (Pictures).
Back in Brazil for several weeks now, the young Chute Boxe fighter is still enjoying his deserved vacation, and the champion told us everything that happened during one of the greatest moments of his life.
Sherdog.com: When you were selected to fight in the PRIDE GP, did
you expect such a good performance?
Shogun: Actually I always believed. I believed in my potential and I think anybody felt I could achieve what I got, only my team believed in my potential. I always believed, but didn’t think about the final. I always fought about the next fight. I only started to think about the final when I won against Overeem.
Shogun: I knew that Wanderlei had lost because I saw the fight in the backstage while I was warming up. It was something that influences — his defeat — but I focused well and went relaxed for the fight. I think this is important.
Sherdog.com: In the beginning of the bout Overeem came straight forward at you. How was that moment?
Shogun: He started the fight with a tough rhythm, but I knew that he was going to gas out because he started too speed up. So I knew he was going to gas out and I would have my opportunity. So when I got the top position I couldn’t let that chance pass.
Sherdog.com: He surprised you by starting the fight with that kind of rhythm?
Shogun: No, but I was surprised by his wrestling. He has a very good game, is a tough guy; I think he evolved a lot in MMA. I became impressed with his wrestling.
Sherdog.com: Did Wanderlei’s and Ninja’s defeats to Arona motivate you more for the final match?
Shogun: Actually no. I was motivated by being in the Grand Prix final. After the victory over Overeem I was very proud of myself; I was happy so I thought, “now that I am here, I will have to win this thing.” I concentrated myself the maximum that I could and went very relaxed for the fight, so I could let my game flow.
Sherdog.com: So you went straight at him …
Shogun: That’s right. Arona is a good fighter, but thank God I didn’t let him do his game. I controlled the pace of the fight and did my game.
Sherdog.com: Do you think the fact that he hit his head changed the fight?
Shogun: Telling the truth to you, I don’t know. But if he hit his head, it was at 20 seconds into the fight and our bout lasted three minutes. So I think that, if he is an MMA fighter, and couldn’t recoup from this blow in two minutes, I think he could not even fight. If he really hit his head I don’t know, but let’s assume that it is true, but the fight ended up much later, he had to have recovered. It is so true that he stood up, gave me some knees, and tried to put me down. I think this is not an excuse.
Sherdog.com: And this misunderstanding with Paulo Filho (Pictures), what happened?
Shogun: When the presentation of the match was happening, Paulo keep provoking me, doing a sign with the number two, which means that it was going to be two in one night. I stayed relaxed, but after I won the fight, I told to Paulo: “So Paulo, four times now?” So he kept arguing with my brother. He said he would fight against anyone and bla bla bla. Now he has to maintain what he said, that he will fight against my brother. So now let’s see.
Sherdog.com: How is your situation in PRIDE now? You are the Grand Prix champion and Wanderlei the weight-class champion. Is there any possibility of the organizers pitting both of you to fight?
Shogun: Everything is really well. Both titles are with us, everything is great. About a fight between us, I think it’s not going to happen. We would do this only in the Grand Prix, outside it no. The title is with Wanderlei, is in good hands, so I’m not worried about it. I only worry about winning my bouts and not keep thinking about the middleweight belt.
Sherdog.com: Is there a chance that you would fight in the heavyweight division?
Shogun: No. Actually there is a chance, but not right now. I think it is still early. I want to gain more experience and then go up in weight. Maybe two years from now.
Sherdog.com: And how was the moment when you received your jiu-jitsu black belt?
Shogun: After the Grand Prix fight was over, the guys from my team came to the ring and Nino Schembri started to slap my back. So I said, “Damn Nino, stop hitting me,” then he started to give me another slap. So he turned to me and said, “Damn ‘Shogun,’ you got the black belt, you have to get a beating!” It was sensational, one more happiness. There was so much joy in such a few days, now I have to correspond to all of this.
Sherdog.com: With so many battles in 2005, do you think the rivalry between Chute Boxe and Brazilian Top Team is more sharpened this year?
Shogun: Actually we are professionals. This rivalry environment between us is only inside the ring. These are the two best MMA teams in the world, so our rivalry is only up there. I don’t have anything against anyone outside the ring and I think my team doesn’t have either. The only disagreement that happened was that one with Paulo — he said a lot of bullshit and has to keep his word now.
Sherdog.com: And how is the train with Sakuraba in Chute Boxe?
Shogun: He is still with us. Now he is more relaxed. In the beginning he was a little ashamed; now he is really relaxed, and keeps telling jokes, laughing. The guy is really funny. What a character.
Back in Brazil for several weeks now, the young Chute Boxe fighter is still enjoying his deserved vacation, and the champion told us everything that happened during one of the greatest moments of his life.
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Shogun: Actually I always believed. I believed in my potential and I think anybody felt I could achieve what I got, only my team believed in my potential. I always believed, but didn’t think about the final. I always fought about the next fight. I only started to think about the final when I won against Overeem.
Sherdog.com: When you went to fight Alistair Overeem (Pictures) did you already know about
Wanderlei’s defeat? Did this play an influence at the time of the
fight?
Shogun: I knew that Wanderlei had lost because I saw the fight in the backstage while I was warming up. It was something that influences — his defeat — but I focused well and went relaxed for the fight. I think this is important.
Sherdog.com: In the beginning of the bout Overeem came straight forward at you. How was that moment?
Shogun: He started the fight with a tough rhythm, but I knew that he was going to gas out because he started too speed up. So I knew he was going to gas out and I would have my opportunity. So when I got the top position I couldn’t let that chance pass.
Sherdog.com: He surprised you by starting the fight with that kind of rhythm?
Shogun: No, but I was surprised by his wrestling. He has a very good game, is a tough guy; I think he evolved a lot in MMA. I became impressed with his wrestling.
Sherdog.com: Did Wanderlei’s and Ninja’s defeats to Arona motivate you more for the final match?
Shogun: Actually no. I was motivated by being in the Grand Prix final. After the victory over Overeem I was very proud of myself; I was happy so I thought, “now that I am here, I will have to win this thing.” I concentrated myself the maximum that I could and went very relaxed for the fight, so I could let my game flow.
Sherdog.com: So you went straight at him …
Shogun: That’s right. Arona is a good fighter, but thank God I didn’t let him do his game. I controlled the pace of the fight and did my game.
Sherdog.com: Do you think the fact that he hit his head changed the fight?
Shogun: Telling the truth to you, I don’t know. But if he hit his head, it was at 20 seconds into the fight and our bout lasted three minutes. So I think that, if he is an MMA fighter, and couldn’t recoup from this blow in two minutes, I think he could not even fight. If he really hit his head I don’t know, but let’s assume that it is true, but the fight ended up much later, he had to have recovered. It is so true that he stood up, gave me some knees, and tried to put me down. I think this is not an excuse.
Sherdog.com: And this misunderstanding with Paulo Filho (Pictures), what happened?
Shogun: When the presentation of the match was happening, Paulo keep provoking me, doing a sign with the number two, which means that it was going to be two in one night. I stayed relaxed, but after I won the fight, I told to Paulo: “So Paulo, four times now?” So he kept arguing with my brother. He said he would fight against anyone and bla bla bla. Now he has to maintain what he said, that he will fight against my brother. So now let’s see.
Sherdog.com: How is your situation in PRIDE now? You are the Grand Prix champion and Wanderlei the weight-class champion. Is there any possibility of the organizers pitting both of you to fight?
Shogun: Everything is really well. Both titles are with us, everything is great. About a fight between us, I think it’s not going to happen. We would do this only in the Grand Prix, outside it no. The title is with Wanderlei, is in good hands, so I’m not worried about it. I only worry about winning my bouts and not keep thinking about the middleweight belt.
Sherdog.com: Is there a chance that you would fight in the heavyweight division?
Shogun: No. Actually there is a chance, but not right now. I think it is still early. I want to gain more experience and then go up in weight. Maybe two years from now.
Sherdog.com: And how was the moment when you received your jiu-jitsu black belt?
Shogun: After the Grand Prix fight was over, the guys from my team came to the ring and Nino Schembri started to slap my back. So I said, “Damn Nino, stop hitting me,” then he started to give me another slap. So he turned to me and said, “Damn ‘Shogun,’ you got the black belt, you have to get a beating!” It was sensational, one more happiness. There was so much joy in such a few days, now I have to correspond to all of this.
Sherdog.com: With so many battles in 2005, do you think the rivalry between Chute Boxe and Brazilian Top Team is more sharpened this year?
Shogun: Actually we are professionals. This rivalry environment between us is only inside the ring. These are the two best MMA teams in the world, so our rivalry is only up there. I don’t have anything against anyone outside the ring and I think my team doesn’t have either. The only disagreement that happened was that one with Paulo — he said a lot of bullshit and has to keep his word now.
Sherdog.com: And how is the train with Sakuraba in Chute Boxe?
Shogun: He is still with us. Now he is more relaxed. In the beginning he was a little ashamed; now he is really relaxed, and keeps telling jokes, laughing. The guy is really funny. What a character.
