Shogun Rua eyeing title shot, admits he isn’t there

MMA legend Mauricio Shogun Rua has continued to continue his winning ways despite the fact that at 35 years old, and with fifteen professional fights, Rua is one of the most seasoned MMA veterans on the active UFC roster.

Despite that, and several 2-fight skids in recent memories, Rua is currently on a 3-fight win streak that has seen him pick up back to back decision wins, before recently picking up a 3rd round TKO win over Gian Villante this past weekend in Fortaleza, Brazil.

With the light heavyweight division currently lacking in the top contender department, many wondered if the #5 ranked light heavyweight would potentially get a title fight with the winner of Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson. While Rua is eyeing a light heavyweight title fight, he admits that he knows he is rather far away from a light heavyweight title shot.

He spoke to MMAFighting:

“I always try to evolve as an athlete, the cardio and technique, and I ask God a lot before the fight to be patient,” Rua told MMA Fighting at the post-fight press conference. “The calmer I am, the better I fight. Sometimes you’re too nervous you use your strength more than you need.”

“We want to win as soon as possible to guarantee the victory and I saw that he felt my hand a few times, but he recovered fast, so I didn’t open myself. The last knockdown, I felt he was hurt and knew if I went forward the referee would stop it because he was worse than before.”

In regards to his place in the division, Rua admitted he knows there’s another contender in line before him:

on 3/15/2017.