Shogun: I deserve a shot at DC after beating Smith

Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua is arguably the final Pride star with legitimate title aspirations in the UFC. He was scheduled to fight the #2 ranked light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 134 on July 22, in Hamburg, Germany. However, Oezdemir faced visa issues, so unranked Anthony Smith stepped up on less than a month’s notice. Despite the lack of Smith’s credentials, Shogun is adamant that with a win, he deserves a title shot.

I think Cormier is a great athlete, a complete fighter, said Rua to Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting. Winning this fight I absolutely deserve this chance because of my history and my career in MMA.

Many fans feel DC is a contender for the G.O.A.T. but Shogun argues he’s not #1.

He’s under Anderson, Wanderlei, Fedor, some guys that have done more than him so far, said Rua. But I think he’s not that old and can still do a lot more.

Still, Shogun wants the fight.

“It’s tough because he’s well-rounded, is good standing and on the ground, has one of the best wrestling in the UFC, said Rua. It’s tough because you have to train everything for him. It’s a big challenge, but you become a target when you have the belt because that’s what everyone dreams with.

But I’m actually not thinking about the belt now because I have a good opponent ahead of me and I can’t think about it. The belt is my dream, of course, but I have to go step by step. I know that I will be closer if I win this fight.

We have to always be ready for any situation. The styles match up well because I was training for a striker for five months and Anthony is a striker as well, so it wasn’t a terrible change.

I’m working hard on my Muay Thai so I’m not surprised by him because he’s good on the feet, but I also know that his ground game is not that efficient. It’s an MMA fight. If he gives me an opening I will take him down and work there.”