Shogun not dropping to 185, wants Lil Nog rematch

At the beginning of this month, UFC president Dana White said that if Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua were to lose to James Te Huna at UFN 33, he would probably have a talk with him about retirement, and might also consider a drop to 185 appropriate. Shogun was coming off a decision loss to Alexander Gustafsson and a submission loss to Chael Sonnen. He has not had a win streak since 2009, when he knocked out Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell in compelling fashion.

However, Shogun shone vs. Te Huna, earning a tremendous knockout. And now the Brazilian has announced he plans to stay not just in the game, but at 205.

“I’ll stay at 205,” Rua said to MMAFighting.com. “There’s no way (I can drop to 185). I spoke with my team after the fight and they said I shouldn’t, so I won’t. I’ll stay at 205.”

“The light-heavyweight division is the toughest division. I won two world titles in this division, so I’m adapted to it. My dream is to win the title again, but I’m only thinking about my next fight. I’m not thinking about the title now.”

“I don’t fight waiting for the knockout, but that’s something that can happen because of the small gloves you can knock anybody out with one punch. Thanks God I had some first-round knockouts in my career and that’s what I always go for, and I got the win.”

Shogun beat Antonio Nogueira at Pride: Critical Countdown back in 2005, and was open to a rematch.

“(My next fight) could be ‘Minotouro.’ He’s done great recently so this fight could happen (next).”