Shogun ready and confident to fight Machida
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:44 am
UDL prospect Mauricio Rua is anxious for fighting on October 24th versus light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at the main event of UFC 104, a very expected contention between two of the best fighters of the category.
“I’m ready, actually I wanted the fight was tomorrow” said Shogun to Gazeta do Povo. “Because of the training the sooner the fight comes, the better is for me. I feel ready and confident. It’s going to be the biggest challenge for sure and I always take the next fight so”.
Shogun has been considered the underdog for the match like in 2005 when he won PRIDE grand prix, one of the most striking events that has taken place in the history of the mixed martial arts.
While Machida doesn’t breath a single word about his strategy Shogun has already a game plan set in his mind. Mauricio will try to do what the other past fifteen contenders didn’t get versus the karate master.
“The key to beat him is work the question of the space in the octagon. Lyoto is very good on it, and besides that, I tryed to take in account all the possibilities that may happen in the fight. I have even trained with karatecas to understand their game. Lyoto plays in the distance and counter attack also in the short distance. So I’m very confident to find the right timing and win” finished Mauricio.
Props for the translation:
http://www.brasilcombate.com.br/shogun- ... ht-machida
*Gazeta do Povo is a respected newspaper that provides excellents scoops from fighters from Brazil, overall Curitiba.