View Poll Results: Who wins this fight?

j-grif · 10-01-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Light heavyweight contender Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (16-3) will return to the Octagon to rematch Mark Coleman (15-8) at UFC 93 at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on January 17, 2009.

“The Hammer” defeated Rua in controversial fashion at PRIDE 31 back in 2006 when an awkward landing broke the Brazilian’s arm less than a minute into the fight. It was a bitter “fluke” loss for the 2005 Pride FC Grand Prix Champion and one that he has been out to avenge ever since it happened.

Rua made his debut with the promotion with much fanfare and promise late last year, being billed as the top 205-pound fighter in the world. He then lost his first match via third round submission (rear naked choke) in an action-packed fight against Forrest Griffin at UFC 76: “Knockout” in September 2007.

Griffin went on to challenge for and win the light heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, Rua had surgery to repair a knee injury, which he then re-injured several months later while training for a fight against Chuck Liddell at UFC 85: “Bedlam” in June that never happened.

He has not competed since the loss to Griffin. And when he does step inside the Octagon against Coleman he will have been on the sidelines for almost a year and a half.

Coleman — the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion and most recent inductee into the promotion’s hall of fame — will return to the Octagon for the first time since 1999. He had a semi-successful run in the Pride FC organization, with the highlight of his work overseas being the champion of the first-ever open weight grand prix in 2000.

Since that time, however, the 43-year-old has compiled an average record (4-4), taking on some of the best competitors in the division such as Fedor Emelianenko (two losses), Mirko Cro Cop (loss) and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (loss).

Coleman — the “Godfather” of the ground and pound — is a collegiate national wrestling champion for THE Ohio State University and competed in the Olympics in 1992. He was supposed to challenge Brock Lesnar in his return to the promotion in August before his own injury forced him off the card.

UFC 93 features a main event between light heavyweights and former champions Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson. It will air on pay-per-view (PPV) at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.

Do people see this fight as a gimme fight for Rua? I know Coleman has a win over Rua in 06, but Coleman hasn't fought in 2 years and will have a very tough fight coming off a 2 year lay off. Coleman is not getting younger either being that he is soon to be 44 years old. Coleman is good, but his age could be a factor. My prediction is Rua takes this fight after the first round Coleman's age will show and he will slow for a Rua TKO. Rua will avenge the loss Coleman put on his record.

**yorT** · 10-01-2008, 09:24 AM

I got Shogun by breaking both of Coleman's arms. (I hope his kids aren't watching this)

dontazo · 10-01-2008, 09:25 AM

lol shogun needs thIs revenge

raul21 · 10-01-2008, 11:02 AM

im rooting for shogun, on this fight,but this is mma. im never counting out, the possibility of coleman winning in this fight.

**Toxic** · 10-01-2008, 11:19 AM

I see this as a pretty one sided fight at 205, If its true they are fighting at LHW then I see Coleman looking horrible much like Vera did his first time cutting to 205, Coleman is a big guy and at his age cutting that much weight for the first time sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

bbjd7 · 10-01-2008, 11:27 AM

Shogun walks through him. He's a better striker then Coleman and will destroy him if he gets him on the ground even if he's on his back.

This is a great idea for the UFC to sell Shogun to the UFC fan base since he will be able to dominant a former UFC champion as the co main event and it could be a free card.