‘Shogun’ Understanding of Underdog Status Before UFC 128 Defense

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (file photo) is not worried about his 10-month layoff. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Rua did not fall into that category, however.

“I understand if people think he’s the favorite,” said Rua during Wednesday’s UFC 128 media conference call. “He’s been winning all of his fights easily, and I certainly think he is the rightful favorite for this fight. I truly consider myself the underdog.”

“I don’t really care. It serves as motivation for me,” he added.

On March 19, “Shogun” will defend his title against the lanky and dangerous Jones in the main event of UFC 128 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. While Rua has spent about 10 months on the shelf recovering from knee surgery, “Jones” has been actively battering all who stand in his way. In the last 12 months, “Bones” has disposed of Brandon Vera, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ryan Bader.

The Brazilian was originally slated to defend his strap against Jones’ Greg Jackson-trained teammate, Rashad Evans, but “Suga” was cut down by a knee injury and forced to withdraw. Accepting the title shot just minutes after he choked out Bader at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, Jones was suddenly thrust into the biggest fight of his life on just six weeks’ notice.

Despite the late change in opponent, the champion says he is going about his business as usual.

“My approach to training is always the same for any fight, because I know that I have to be well-prepared in all areas and be ready for anything. So, I have to train everything, but I also have to train for what Jon Jones does well. And that’s what I did,” said Rua. “[Jones and Evans] are somewhat similar opponents in many senses, because they are very good strikers and wrestlers. I had to change my sparring partners for the fight, but [other than that], I didn't change that much.”

In Jones, Rua faces a strong Greco-Roman wrestling specialist with effective and unorthodox striking. Known for his active use of elbows from all positions, Jones has yet to be truly tested inside the Octagon. While Rua comes from an extended layoff, Jones jumps right back into the fire of competition, a fact that the champion says is not as important as some would claim.

“I don’t think there are advantages or disadvantages. They are [two] sides of the [same] story. I think he deserves a shot at the belt. He has earned that, and I think we will both be ready to find out who is the best fighter,” explained the champion. “He is certainly a very tall guy with a big reach, and it’s hard to find sparring partners his size. But we did our best and found some big guys who have been imitating Jon Jones [so that I can] adapt my game and, hopefully, do my thing in the Octagon.”

Regarding his time spent on the sideline following his May title win over countryman Lyoto Machida, Rua asserts that he has used the break to adequately prepare for his first defense. According to Rua, the situation is far different from that of his injury-plagued early days with the UFC.

“If you look at it, I’ve been on the sidelines for 10 months, and it was almost the same difference between the first and second Machida fights,” said Rua. “When I had surgery and came back last time, I was transitioning from Pride to the UFC, and I wasn’t used to the Octagon yet. Also, I had two knee surgeries in a row, which sidelined me for, like, a year and eight months. It’s totally different from this time, and I’ve been training already for six months for this fight. So I’m feeling comfortable, and I’m ready.”