Photos: Josh Hedges
It won’t be long now before Maurício Shogun faces off with Lyoto Machida. This Saturday, at UFC 113 in Canada, the two will do battle for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 113. In statements reported in Brazil’s NOCAUTE magazine, and reproduced on GRACIEMAG.com (see here), Lyoto remarked that nothing has changed for him in the lead-up to this rematch. Now it’s time to see what Shogun is thinking:
“The truth is that I see no difference. What I see is that I’ll have another shot and I’m going to hold on to it tooth and nail. Surely, that’s a big difference. I’ll go in there with more desire,” says the Curitiba native.
The fact that he has faced Lyoto once before and learned more about his opponent’s game shouldn’t make much difference. Both now know each other very well.
“In the same way it favors me, it favors him. Just as I know more about his game, he knows a bit more about mine now. The truth is that neither of us gains an advantage,” he explains.
It’s not Shogun’s first rematch either. But, in regards to the others, the Pride FC champion points out some positives.
“The good side of this one with Lyoto is that it was confirmed right after the first. So I was ready for him, I’d already been training for his style. Thus I could stick to similar training, without changing much. Of course I’ll be keen to some things to surprise him and for him not to surprise me. In this respect, it’s easier,” he said, with his eyes on Machida.
“The evolution of MMA these days makes it so you can focus on your opponent. That’s what I do. I watch the fight with Lyoto and review what he does well,” he says in finishing.
Check out the card:
UFC 113
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 8, 2010
Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Paul Daley vs Josh Koscheck
Jeremy Stephens vs Sam Stout
Alan Belcher vs Patrick Cote
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson vs Matt Mitrione
Tim Credeur vs Tom Lawlor
Marcus Davis vs Jonathan Goulet
Mike Guymon vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Joey Beltran vs Chad Corvin
T.J. Grant vs Johny Hendricks
Nick Catone vs John Salter
