Breaking Down the Shogun Rua-Mark Coleman Fight

In a rematch two years in the making former UFC heavyweight champ Mark The Hammer Coleman returns to the octagon after a decade to take on 2005 Pride Grand Prix winner Mauricio Shogun Rua.

The last time this duo fought ended in a lot of controversy. As the opening bell rang Shogun threw a high kick, then Coleman shot in a got Rua's back and took him down. Shogun then attempted a knee bar, Coleman stood up, grabbed a single leg and as Rua fell he landed on his elbow which resulted in a dislocated elbow. Coleman not realizing continued the attack until the referee jumped in. After the fight a brawl broke out in the ring between the Hammer House team and The Chute Boxe Academy.

Shogun trains out of his own camp UDL in Curtiba Brazil. He was once the No. 1 light heavyweight in the world until losing to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 via rear naked choke. Mauricio is an amazing striker and very well rounded, having a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Nino Schembri. 

Coleman was the first ever UFC heavyweight champ but after losing three consecutive fights in the UFC he left for Pride. Coleman is an outstanding wrestler placing seventh in the 1992 Olympics, however he along with a lot of fighters from Hammer House never expanded their game. He is coming off a brutal lost to Fedor Emelianenko.

This fight is interesting due to Coleman's strength. Rua clearly wants to keep this fight standing and potentially knock Mark out. But in the last fight, both of Coleman's takedown attempt were successful, and as soon as that fight went to ground Rua attempted a knee bar. Coleman is also 44 years old.

I see Coleman taking him down in the first round and avoiding submissions and doing a little ground and pound, winning the first round. In the second round I see Coleman starting to gas and Rua taking advantage knocking him out.