UFC
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua targeting March return from shoulder surgery, wants fight with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Oct 5, 2015 - 2:30:20 PM Mauricio "Shogun" Rua targeting March return from shoulder surgery, wants fight with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"My shoulder is getting better. The doctor said I'll probably be ready to train hard again in December, so I believe I will be fighting again around March or April. As soon as they clear me, I'll go to the United States to train with Rafael Cordeiro... I respect Rampage a lot, we always talk when we meet, but this is a fight that we both want. The UFC wants it, fans want it as well. It's inevitable. I just hope he's free of his issues with Bellator. It would be nice to fight him again.. It's been more than 10 years since that fight. His boxing is really great, as it already was in the past, so it's going to be a tough fight. Boxing is Rampage's best weapon. He has a great boxing, with good uppercuts and hooks. He said multiple times he was hurt going into that fight, so he will have the chance to prove otherwise."

-Mauricio "Shogun" Rua talks to Guilherme Cruz at MMAFighting.com about his recovery from shoulder surgery and wanting a rematch with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in his return.

Penick's Analysis: I'm sure a "Shogun" vs. "Rampage" fight could be an easy sell for the UFC on whatever event they could get it on, but I'm not sure if or when we'll see Jackson fighting in the Octagon again. The contract issues with Bellator don't seem to be coming any closer to a resolution, so until such time as that happens, he's on the sidelines. Whether Rampage returns or not, Shogun's plan for a March return likely puts him on the Brazil card expected for Curitiba with Fabricio Werdum-Cain Velasquez II. He's bought himself more fights in the UFC with his win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in August, but it wasn't the most thrilling performance, and I'm not sure how many are extremely interested in seeing him continue regardless of whom he faces. Still, as long as he wants to fight and the UFC is willing to book him, we'll be seeing him in the cage anyway.

[Mauricio "Shogun" Rua art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]