Truth & Rumors > MMA

Why Rua passed on Teixeira bout

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09:30 AM ET 06.17 | Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua caught a lot of flack when it was reported that he said he would rather be cut than fight Glover Teixeira. UFC president Dana White talked about trying to make the fight happen, but instead, Rua signed on to face Brandon Vera in the main event of UFC on Fox 4. Well, Rua has finally come out with his reason for turning down Teixeira in a recent interview with Portal do Vale Tudo. An injury to Thiago Silva caused Rua to need a new opponent. "They offered Glover to us. I talked with my team and we decided that Glover would not be interesting now," Rua said. "He just got into the UFC, he needs to get more fights. I had nothing to gain with the fight." Rua admitted that he never threatened to leave the UFC or be cut by the promotion, adding, "I've never picked my opponents. I've fought against the best and I wanna keep doing it and to get my chance for the title."

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Mauricio Rua, Icon SMI Mauricio Rua, Icon SMI
June 17, 2012  10:03 AM ET

I'm not buying it. Glover has 16 straight wins - in or out of the UFC is of no consequence, he dismantled Kingsbury with ease. I respect Shogun tremendously, but I have a hard time accepting that this was a matter of experience verses concern that he could very well lose to Texeira badly.

June 19, 2012  09:23 AM ET

in other words, Rua didn't want to lose to someone he considered a "nobody"....but a loss it would have been....

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