UFC Legend Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua Got Absolutely Smashed by Rising Light-Heavyweight Starlet Anthony Smith… Now Fans Are Calling For His Retirement…
Let’s make this very clear: Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua is an absolute UFC legend. The Brazilian fighter is one of the few old-school legends left on the roster. The likes of Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson have all walked away in the last couple of years. Now maybe it’s time for Rua to think about his future.
This wasn’t comfortable to watch. He’s a former UFC light-heavyweight champion for crying out loud, and a PRIDE Grand Prix champion to boot. Now he can kiss goodbye to any hope of getting near a UFC title again. After getting smashed into another dimension by exciting contender Anthony Smith, fans are calling for him to step away for his own health.
Smith came into this one as an exciting rising challenger in the light-heavyweight division. After beating Rashad Evans last time out, this was his biggest opportunity to make a statement. And boy he did.
Impressive
This was short, sweet and vicious. The first thing that was noticeable to everyone was just how big Smith was compared to Shogun. He was huge, standing taller than the Brazilian and looking filled out and muscular compared to the aged veteran, who has clearly seen better days.
It’s insane that Smith has mostly competed at middleweight throughout his career. He genuinely wouldn’t look out of place if he moved up a division. The man from Corpus Christi, Texas, is 6ft 4. That’s huge for his weight classes. He’s got one loss in the UFC so far, to Thiago Santos at 185. You’ve got to think that cut must have drained him.
Violent KO
There’s really not much to say except that it was a vicious first-round finish. And let’s be real – the fans were owed that after one of the drabbest fight cards of the year. It broke the record twice for most consecutive decisions, with 9 and then 10 in a row respectively.
Rua did land a kick early on, but couldn’t sustain any pressure on his younger, stronger, sharper opponent. He was quickly closed down and obliterated, with referee Marc Goddard quick to intervene after Shogun was basically rendered unconscious on his feet. Look up brutal in the dictionary and it will send you a link to that video. A nasty finish.
Viewers beware, a mauling just took place!
Anthony Smith dominates Shogun Rua in one. pic.twitter.com/SDQ2kEQdMj
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 22, 2018
Mauler Time?
While many fans want Shogun to retire – or at least move to Bellator – there was a widespread call for another potentially exciting move for Smith. Top contender Alexander Gustafsson was meant to fight Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 227, in LA, on August 4. However, Oezdemir broke his nose, leaving ‘The Mauler’ without an opponent.
Sensing his opportunity to continue his dramatic rise, Smith called out Gustafsson after the fight. Fans lept on the bandwagon. Let’s face it, that’s one of the most exciting striking match-ups in any division right now. Now though, the Swede’s camp has stated that Gustafsson is also injured.
Yeah, I’d be injured too if I had to fight a dangerous contender on two weeks notice if I had everything to lose. The injury has not been disclosed.
