The fallout from the UFC 151 debacle continues as reports now indicate that former champion Mauricio Rua turned down an opportunity to face Jon Jones at UFC 152 after his former rival and countryman Lyoto Machida declined the bout.
Lorenzo Fertitta reportedly confirmed the rumor to LA Times writer Lance Pugmire, who announced it via his twitter feed:
Lorenzo Fertitta tells me Shogun Rua also turned down a shot at Jones to set up Belfort as Sept. 22 opponent.
While “Shogun” has yet to comment on his reasons for declining the bout, it should be noted that the Brazilian would still be serving his 45-day medical suspension, which he was handed for his grueling victory over Brandon Vera on August 8, at the time of the bout.
Rua is currently slated to face Alexander Gustafsson at UFC on Fox 5 on December 9th.
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Hope no punishment is served to him for this as he had a genuine reason to turn this fight down. Machida had an easy last fight and this would have been an easier turnaround for him
Agreed shogun had a reason but machida should have done it. But jones should have fought Chael also.
Machida made the right choice not to take the fight. Why does he have to get punished and take a shorter training camp. He did nothing wrong. UFC put the lhw fight on the Toronto card without really thinking of the whole picture.
the reason that machida and shogun turned down this fight is because it wasn’t just because it was so short notice, it’s because it is for the title and you don’t get that chance every day you want to train and prepare as much as possible not to mention the fact that if they lose to jones again it is unlikely they will ever get another chance. smart move for both fighters.
If Shogun is on medical suspension, why was he even part of this conversation?
Thats what I was thinking.
I didn’t get it either. Chris told me last night and my response was, “He’s suspended until the 23rd, he can’t even legally take that fight.”
Would there be any way possible of trying to get around that or do you have to serve that suspension no matter what? For me, nothing comes to mind except for serving the suspension.
The only other thing that comes to mind is with everything that was going on, maybe the UFC forgot about the suspension Shogun was serving and that’s why they asked him.
If chael was in the question why dont they give him jones at 152 like they have with Belfort? Dana is just full of shit he slags jones off for not fighting hes thought the best an beat them then he wants to give some gob shite who just bullys on twitter and give him a shot!! they should give chael to jones with no title shot because he doesnt deserve one in 205lb if you ask me!!
This is whats wrong with the sport now you casual fans talk about deserving a title shot Chael stepped up to fight not because he deserved but because its a fight and the show must go on
Now this is a rematch I WOULDN’T want to see.
Shogun is on medical suspension for the punishment he took in the Vera fight. There is no way around not serving that suspension. If the doctors say you can’t fight, then you can’t fight. He isn’t being punished for wrongdoing, it’s just for his own safety. He should not have been asked to fight. Machida is the one who should have taken the fight. He barely broke a sweat against Bader!