UFC Fight Night Natal: Event Results

Main Card:

Dan Henderson def. Shogun Rua via third-round TKO
C.B. Dolloway def. Cezar Ferreira via first-round TKO
Leonardo Santos vs. Norman Parke ruled a majority draw
Fabio Maldonado def. Gian Villante via unanimous decision
Michel Prazeres def. Mairbek Taisumov via unanimous decision
Rony Jason def. Steven Siler via first-round TKO

Preliminary Card:

Thiago Santos def. Ronny Markes via first-round TKO
Jussier Formiga def. Scott Jorgensen via submission (rear-naked choke)
Kenny Robertson def. Thiago Perpetuo via submission (rear-naked choke)
Hans Stringer def. Francimar Barroso via split decision
Godofredo Castro def. Noad Lahat via first-round KO

The Rumor is True

According to FoxSorts.com, Dana White has confirmed that the rumored rematch between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Dan Henderson is indeed happening in Brazil on March 23rd

Rumor: Shogun and Hendo Throwing Down Again?

Where were you at on November 19, 2011? If you were a UFC fan and ordered UFC 139, it is a night that you will never forget.  It was a night that put together two of PRIDE FC's greatest and most popular brawlers to meet for the first time in their careers.  It was a match up that should have happened in Pride, but eventually played out in the UFC's 205 lb weight class.  Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua went to complete war for 25 of the best minutes in UFC and MMA history on that night.  Below is a highlight video with only a mere few minutes of the action from that night:

For the full video be sure to order the DVD or subscribe to UFC Fight Pass when the full library is released.  It is a must-see for any fan of the two of these MMA legends or anyone who wants to see a beautiful slugfest.  It is being rumored now according to Tatame.com, that the two men will be squaring off against each other for a second time. Nothing has been confirmed by the UFC so far.

The first fight was an awesome fight, but I don't know if a second fight would happen considering Dan Henderson is having contract issues with the UFC right now.  A part of me would be interested to see this fight just to see if the Mauricio "Shogun" Rua that beat James Te Huna would be able to beat Henderson this time around.  I can't believe I would even say this, but I believe that if Shogun vs Hendo II occurred that Shogun would take the rematch. Not because Rua is better than Henderson or more elite than Henderson, but based on the fact that I think that Henderson's time as top dog are over.  Henderson is on his way out the door in his career. No matter how much respect and admiration I have for Henderson, I think that is time for him to call it quits.  He is (1-3) since he left Strikeforce to return to the UFC.

Would you watch a rematch between Henderson and Rua

Yes

No

Maybe

Only if it's a free fight

Poll Maker

UFC Fight Night 33 Results

Main Card:

Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva majority draw
Mauricio Rua def. James Te Huna via first-round KO
Ryan Bader def. Anthony Perosh via unanimous decision
Soa Palelei def. Pat Barry via first-round KO
Clint Hester def. Dylan Andrews via  TKO (doctor's stoppage)
Bethe Correia def. Julie Kedzie via split decision

Preliminary Card:

Takeya Mizugaki def. Nam Phan via unanimous decision
Caio Magalhaes def. Nick Ring via unanimous decision
Justin Scoggins def. Richie Vaculik via first-round TKO
Krzysztof Jotko def. Bruno Santos via unanimous decision
Alex Garcia def. Ben Wall via first-round KO

UFC Fight Night 33 Weigh-in Results. Predictions and Poll

Main Card:

Antonio Silva (264) VS Mark Hunt (262)
James Te Huna (205) VS Mauricio Rua (205)
Anthony Perosh (204) VS Ryan Bader (205)
Soa Palelei (264) VS Pat Barry (237)
Clint Hester (186) VS Dylan Andrews (185)
Bethe Correia (135) VS Julie Kedzie (135)

Preliminary Card:

Nam Phan (135) VS Takeya Mizugaki (135)
Caio Magalhaes (186) VS Nick Ring (185)
Justin Scoggins (125) VS Richie Vaculik (126)
Krzysztof Jotko (185) VS Bruno Santos (185)
Alex Garcia (170) VS Ben Wall (168)

Should Mauricio Shogun Rua make the move to Middleweight?--Tough Spar MMA

Yes, it would be a smart move

No, he belongs at Light Heavyweight

He needs to be cut from the UFC if he loses two Te Huna

Other

Please Specify:

Poll Maker

Shogun at Middleweight

Maurico Rua is considering a future in the UFC's Middleweight Division if he were to lose his match at UFC Fight Night 33 this Saturday against James Te Huna in Australia.  Former UFC Light Heavyweight and Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Champion, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua thinks that a loss at UFC Fight Night would be what would push him to go to 185 lbs after many have felt that he already needed to be there.

Shogun Rua is 5-6 in the UFC and hasn't completely lived up the hype that he built as he was coming over from Pride FC.  He came into the Octagon with notable wins over men such as Alistair Overeem, Akihiro Gono, Cyrille Diabate, Quinton Rampage Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ricardo Arona and Kevin Randleman.  He was a man on a path of destruction who had a bright future in the UFC.  Shogun eventually went on to take the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship belt from Lyoto Machida by way of knockout.  Rua was unable to defend his belt as his first title defense was against a man named Jon Jones who would take the title from Rua and set a new record for the most UFC Light Heavyweight title defenses.

After losing the title to Jon Jones, Rua was never able to truly bounce back from the defeat. He went on to TKO Forrest Griffin in his next match, but would go 1-3 after the Griffin fight.  Shogun has looked terrible in his last two fights which he lost to Jon Jones' last two title challengers, Chael Sonnen and Alexander Gustafsson.  I feel that a move to Middleweight would be very beneficial to the former champ.  I think that Rua has the ability to make 185 lbs considering that he doesn't carry around a lot of muscle like some of the other guys who compete at 205.  We will just have to see what happens at UFC Fight Night 33 to see what Rua's fate will be.  I think he should make the cut down to Middleweight no matter the outcome.

Should Mauricio Shogun Rua make the move to Middleweight?--Tough Spar MMA

Yes, it would be a smart move

No, he belongs at Light Heavyweight

He needs to be cut from the UFC if he loses two Te Huna

Other

Please Specify:

poll creator

Kennedy to Meet Natal in November

After Lyoto Machida was removed from the UFC Fight for the Troops card to face mark Munoz in November, Tim Kennedy was left without an opponent.  Desperate to keep a fight in November and eager for a new opponent, Kennedy went to Twitter to call out some opponents to try to secure an opponent.  He call out Rich Franklin, Chris Camozzi, Wandelei Silva, Nick Diaz, Costa Philippou, Mauricio Rua and Rafael Natal.  Of all of the men that were called out, the one that came into fruition was Rafael Natal.

Rafael Natal is coming off of a three fight win streak coming off his fight of the night victory over Tor Treong in his last fight on Fox Sports 1in September.  Rafael Natal is  5-2-1 in the UFC and presents a real challenge for Kennedy in their bout in Kentucky. I think that this will be a pretty even fight in which both men will look to bring the fight to each other.

Nam Phan vs. Takeya Mizugaki

It has been announced that Takeya Mizugaki will be facing Nam Phan at UFC Fight Night 33 in Australia. Also James Te Huna will be facing Mauricio Shogun Rua on the same card. This card will be held in Australia and headlined by a heavyweight collision between Mark Hunt and Antonio "Big Foot" Silva.

UFC Fight Night 26 Weigh-in Results

UFC Weigh-in Results

Main Card:
Chael Sonnen (205) vs. Shogun Rua (205)
Travis Browne (236) vs. Alistair Overeem (255.5)
Iuri Alcantara (136) vs. Urijah Faber (135.5)
Mike Pyle (170) vs. Matt Brown (171)
John Howard (185) vs. Uriah Hall (184)
Michael Johnson (156) vs. Joe Lauzon (155)

Preliminary Card:
Michael McDonald (135.5) vs. Brad Pickett (135.5)
Max Holloway (145) vs. Conor McGregor (146)
Steven Siler (145.5) vs. Mike Brown (145.5)
Daniel Pineda (144.5) vs. Diego Brandao (146)
Cole Miller (146) vs. Manny Gamburyan (145.5)
Cody Donovan (204) vs. Ovince St. Preux (205.5)
Ramsey Nijem (155) vs. James Vick (155)