Manuwa training in Sweden with former foe Gustafsson ahead of 'Shogun' bout

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? It's something like that for Jimi Manuwa.

Manuwa and Alexander Gustafsson had talked before about training together at some point. But then the two were booked to fight back in March and those plans were put on hold.

Gustafsson ended up knocking Manuwa out in the second round, but there are clearly no hard feelings. Last week, Manuwa left his hometown of London for Sweden to do part of his training camp at Gustafsson's Allstars Training Center in Stockholm. Manuwa meets Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the main event of UFC Fight Night on FOX Sports 1 on Nov. 8 in Uberlandia, Brazil.

"We'd always been planning to work together to help each other out," Manuwa told FOX Sports. … "The fight was business. We got the business done and now we train together."

The two working with each other seems like a natural fit. Both are tall, long, athletic and explosive strikers. Manuwa (14-1), who has been only training in MMA for six years, said he has already benefited from being at Allstars for a short time.

"I'm learning new things," he said. "I'm used to training in the same places with the same people. I'm picking up new tricks and new tips from the coaches. I've learned so much being here so far."

Manuwa, 34, had not lost a fight before falling to Gustafsson and he called the experience "difficult." But looking back, it has only given him more confidence. Gustafsson is ranked No. 1 among UFC light heavyweight contenders and took champion Jon Jones to the brink last year. The way Manuwa sees it, he has already been in the Octagon -- and is now training with -- the elite.

"It gives me a lot of confidence, because I can hold my own against the best in the world," Manuwa said.

The UFC targeted this "Shogun" matchup for Manuwa specifically and the Brit has been waiting for Rua to get healthy after his war with Dan Henderson in March. "Shogun" is a legend of the sport and currently ranked No. 9 among light heavyweight contenders. Manuwa is No. 11 and this bout represents a massive opportunity for him against one of the bigger names in MMA.

The bout being in Brazil will represent a huge change for Manuwa, who has never fought outside of England. He does plan on going to Uberlandia early to finish out his training camp and get acclimated. Manuwa doesn't anticipate the boos getting to him.

Alexander Gustafsson (left) and Jimi Manuwa fought each other in March.

"I don’t understand Portuguese," he said with a laugh. "It'll go over my head and I won't know what they're saying. I've got tough skin. It doesn’t matter. It's just going to be me and 'Shogun' in a cage."

Manuwa has finished all 14 of his career victories, but has been somewhat of a forgotten man in the division since losing to Gustafsson seven months ago. With contenders at light heavyweight running thin after Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier (compounded by Anthony Johnson's suspension), Manuwa has the ability to emerge quickly with an impressive victory over Rua.

"I don’t mind about all that, about being popular," Manuwa said. "I'm cool with just being in the background. People forget about me and I'll be explosive. That's how my fights are. They'll remember me after I fight."

Manuwa is still a baby in the sport. He took his first pro fight in 2008 just weeks after he put on gloves for the first time in his life. Manuwa believes that he has merely scratched the surface of his potential.

"That's real scary, because I'm in the top [11] already," Manuwa said. "I'm still learning. I haven't reached where I'm going to be yet. It's going to be hell for everyone else, because my game just continues to go up."

Working with Gustafsson should only help it reach the next level.