'Shogun' Rua vs. Jimi Manuwa being discussed for Nov. 8 in Brazil
Explosive up-and-comer Jimi Manuwa could make his return this fall against an MMA legend.
A light heavyweight bout between Manuwa and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has been discussed for the yet-to-be-officially-announced UFC Fight Night event Nov. 8 in Brazil, but is not a done deal yet, reports UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani.
We have not seen Manuwa (14-1) since he lost to Alexander Gustafsson by knockout in March. That was his first career loss. Previously, the 34-year-old finished the first 14 fights of his pro MMA career, including three straight knockouts in UFC competition. The London resident is ranked No. 11 among light heavyweight contenders.
Rua (22-9) is coming off a knockout loss to Dan Henderson in March. There was talk he could move down to middleweight, but it seems as if "Shogun" will remain at 205 pounds, where he remains ranked No. 9 among contenders. The PRIDE veteran has lost three of four with a knockout win over James Te Huna last December mixed in.
Rua's best days are likely behind him, but a win over Manuwa would give his career a lift. On the other hand, if Manuwa wins, beating a well-known name like "Shogun" would be a significant feather in his cap.
There has been no main event scheduled for the Brazil event Nov. 8. A bout between Ovince Saint Preux and Rafael Cavalcante was announced by the UFC's Brazil Twitter account last week. The card is likely to take place at Ginásio Municipal Tancredo Neves.
