Rua’s manager says Shogun could face Couture

Marcelo Alonso told Sherdog.com’s Andy Cotterill that Randy Couture could be Shogun’s first test as champion, contingent on the fact that he doesn’t get caught by a KO shot by UFC newcomer and former boxing champ James Toney when the pair clash at UFC 118 in August.

If the UFC Hall of Famer comes out of that fight unscathed, he could meet Rua as soon as November or December, unless Couture agrees to take the fight on less than the usual three to four months notice.