Former PRIDE and UFC champion, Mauricio Rua Shogun missed a golden opportunity to gain Dana White's and match maker Joe Silva's attention for a possible LHW rematch vs Jon Jones. White promised a title opportunity to the LHW who gave the best performance last weekend. Despite having knocked out Brandon Vera, the Curitba native was visibly tired with little time to fight, and the title shot was given to fellow Brazilian Lyoto Machida, who beat Ryan Bader on Saturday- also by knockout.
But besides having lost this chance, the performance of Shogun exposed the rift with his brother and MMA fighter Murilo Ninja. Firstborn of the family, Ninja was responsible for the entry of the younger Rua in the fight world and since then has always been in his corner and training camps.
Immediately following the match, Murillo gave a brief explanation on his Twitter page about the reason for his absence: "Fans, I was not with Mauricio in this fight because I have a problem with Dida. I did not agree with Dida's insistence to allow Mauri to train (against doctor's orders) after sustaining a prohibiting injury a month from fight day."
"The problem goes back from our camp's game against Dan Henderson. We agreed it be best to focus on superior grappling after working in the clinch. Dida insisted on pushing the fighting pace. Mauri and I talk everyday so do not listen if it is not confirmed by us."
"I am training with another gym in hopes of signing a new fight but will seek Mauri to help in preparations."
The partnership between Ninja and Shogun, and family comes from the time of the Chute Boxe Academy team and the Pride Fighting Championships, where Mauricio emerged as the greatest phenom of MMA's early 2000s. After leaving the academy in Curitiba, Mauricio founded his own his team; Universidade da Luta (UDL), in Curitiba, where Murillo is on hiatus until issues are resolved with the academy's coaches.
And not only has the brother questioned the preparation for Brandon Vera but also the fight strategies of Mauricio's last two fights.
Obviously, neither the coaching staff nor Shogun were pleased with the lack of training time in July but the eldest of the Rua's claims Mauricio's best fights are yet to come.
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