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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will face off against Chael Sonnen this summer at UFC on Fox Sports 1, and he's fully prepared to hear whatever comments are sent his way by the "American Gangster."
In an interview with Tatame.com, Shogun made it clear that regardless of anything Sonnen may say, he's not going to be shaken into their Aug. 17 bout.
"The motivation is great. He disrespected Nogueira, Wanderlei," Shogun said. "About me ... he still said nothing. But only [disrespecting] Wanderlei is enough. He is a controversial guy, really likes to talk a lot, but I'm cool. Sonnen will surely want to say something to me, but it does not affect me at all. My motivation is Brazil, which is to say, "break the guy." This is worth [enough] (laughs)."
Shogun isn't worried about Sonnen being on testosterone replacement therapy, either, saying it doesn't bother him as long as it's legal. He joked that he doesn't need it, but if it's allowed by the commission he's ok with it.
Penick's Analysis: As Shogun pointed out, Sonnen hasn't really made any comments towards him yet, but knowing Sonnen's history it's only a matter of time. He's remained relatively quiet into fights against opponents like Michael Bisping and Brian Stann, but there's not yet been a Brazilian who has gotten that same silent treatment from him. Regardless, there's no point in Shogun getting worked up over anything that might be said, and Sonnen himself has even less incentive to trash talk given the results he had against Anderson Silva and Jon Jones in his last two fights.
[Shogun Rua art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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