EXCLUSIVE Mauricio Milani Interview
Mauricio Milani "Shogun" Rua
Q: How did you get the nickname "Shogun"?
A: I got it after my brother. My brother was already "Ninja", fighting professionally, and he took me to train with him to be a fighter. So since he was "Ninja" it was natural that I needed a nickname somewhat similar, and people nicknamed me "Shogun". I liked it so much that I did a tattoo with a Shogun figure in my arm, and I think it worked on great for me.
Q: Out of all of your most noted victories, Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Quinton Jackson, Alistair Overeem, and Kazuhiro Nakamura which was your favorite?
A: It's tough to say, every win is important at that time, as you focus a lot for each and every fight. I would say that my wins over Quinton Jackson was very important, because I went as an underdog and I feel it was there that people took me more seriously. But my win against Arona was also very special as I won the GP and it felt like the perfect closure for a year of hard work, and my win against Rogerio was special because it was likely the toughest fight in my career.
Q: How did it feel when you walked into the Octogan for the first time? Was it different then the ring?
A: People might not remember, but I had fought in a cage before at the IFC tourney back in 2003. With experience you stay somewhat calm before a fight, and a little nervousness is always natural. I was cool, and it's a little different than a ring, of course, but it's sill more about the fighters and their skills in my opinion. The rules can change more in a fight than the cage or the ring perhaps.
Q:What do you prefer the Octagon or the Ring?
A: I have no preference. Fighting in a ring is something I have done the most, so obviously I like it. But the Octagon is also great and as a fighter I like both.
Q:What is the major difference between Pride and UFC?
A: There are several differences. I think obviously the cage is a difference, but the rules may be the biggest one. Not being able to knee strike and kick the face of an opponent on the ground changes the whole game, and makes takedown attempts less risky if they fail. Having elbows to the face always change the game in the ground a lot, as you have to defend fore more stuff while doing guard. The environment is also a lot different, as fans are wilder in the UFC and more quiet in Pride, that can bring some more adrenaline rush for some fighters who are less experienced.
Q:When you fought Quiton Jackson in Pride was that win extra sweet because you felt like you were avenging your brothers loss? Or was it just another fight for you?
A: Yes, it was nice because back then he had just defeated Murilo, but that only goes so far. After you focus and start fighting you don't think about that, so I think it was more important because he is a great fighter and I was still an up and comer, whereas he was already more famous and established as a fighter back then.
Q:Many people believe that your fight with Mark Coleman should not have counted, and automatically receive a rematch. Do you believe that giving him the victory after your accidental fall was fare?
A: Well, that's a tough subject he is a good fighter, and a fight is a fight, so it's up for the commissions or promoters to decide that. I personally think it was an accident and didn't reflect the real outcome that the fight could have had. I wanted to fight him again, and maybe it can happen one day, who knows?
Q:Now that Mark Coleman has 'come out of retirement' do you see a re-match for the two of you in the future?
A: This is really up for the UFC to decide. I don't know how long he is going to be fighting, and we are in different weight classes. But if the UFC wants me to fight him, I would certainly welcome this opportunity.
Q:Are the rules in UFC (especially he prohibition of kicking, stomping or kneeing to the head of a downed opponent) hard to handle, since so many of your victories came with the aid of kicks and stomps?
A: I wouldn't say it's hard to handle, rules are rules and to be a complete fighter you have to adapt. I think it changes the game to some extent, and my style was suited to those moves. But I have been training hard with the new rules and developing other weapons, such as the elbow strikes.
Q:Your last fight in Pride was In December of 2006, you then had to wait almost ten months to fight in the UFC, do feel like the time out of the ring effected your performance?
A: Not really. This wasn't a main factor. I think what affected my performance the most were personal issues that limited my training. But that's part of life and I don't want to give excuses. All my respect goes to Forrest, and I just have to train more and be ready for next time.
Q:What is your dream fight to watch, (not with you in it)?
A: Good question. I don't know, there are many great fights that could happen. Maybe Fedor against Couture, or Couture against Minotauro, I don't know.
Q:Who has been your greatest influence, inspiration in the sport of MMA?
A: Without a doubt it was my brother, Murilo Ninja. It was him that took me to train and gave me incentive to be a professional fighter, and opened the doors for me. Wanderlei was also an inspiration trough out my career.
Q:When you to wrestle, who catches who more you or your brother?
A: (Laughs) we get that question a lot, that's a good one. I would say we are even, both have their moments (Laughs) after all we are brothers, and you know how brother fights are. We also have a younger brother, Marcos, who's bigger than both of us!
Q:If you can fight any fighter from any MMA era who would it be?
A: That may sound "cliche" but I don't really think about fighting anyone in special. I like to fight those who are at the top and that can mean something to my career, so it's really up for the promoters. Every fighters deserves respect just for stepping in to fight.
Q:Who is the next person you would like face in the Octagon?
A: As I said, it's really up for the UFC to decide it. I had a fight lined up against Chuck Liddell, and unfortunately I got hurt and needed surgery, so he is fighting Evans instead. I hope in the future we have a chance to fight, as I believe the fans would like to see that fight.
Q:In January of this year you and your brother left Chute Boxe, you then opened your own camp, Universidade de Luta in your hometown of Brazil,how does it feel teaching in the place you grew up?
A: I love living in Curitiba, and here it is where I want to raise my family. Establishing our own camp, along with Andre Dida and Mauricio "Veio", who are also brothers and our partners in the team, was a very important step for our careers. However, neither me or my brother are teaching. We just have to focus on training, resting and fighting, as we have great instructors and trainers over there to help us and the other fighters out.
Q:Do you have any pre-fight traditions? Anything you must do,anywhere you must go, anything you must wear?
A: Nothing special. I like to rest and eat well on the day of the fight, warm up well and pray, nothing fancy or no big-time superstitions.
Q:This is a very big dispute in the sports world and please answer only if you want to, give us your opinion on the subject- Do you abstain from sex before a fight? If yes, how long usually?
A: (Laughs) Well, I'm married now, so unless my wife goes along in the trip to fight, I have to abstain anyway for around one week, as usually we stay one week abroad to fight. But that's a personal issue and everyone has their own system. I think if you are feeling good and are with your wife, it shouldn't do any harm to do it close to a fight.
Q:Where you excited to fight Chuck Liddell and do you think this would have been a good re-debut into the UFC? Would you like to fight Lidell in the future, Coleman
A: Yes, I was very motivated. When we got offered this fight I thought it was a great opportunity to redeem myself and get among the top again, as Chuck is a great fighter and a very famous one. I was training hard and I think it would have been a great fight for the fans regardless. As I said, it's up for the UFC to decide whom I fight. If it's Chuck, it's great, I would like to fight him one day, as the fans expected that, same thing for Coleman. But if it's another fighter, it's fine as well, as I just want to fight again!
Q:Since your UFC debut, have you been training any different for the Octagon and the new rules? Have you been developing new game plans, focusing on any specifics in your game?
A: My natural style can't change that much, because it's one of my most important characteristics. However, as I mentioned, we are working on some new weapons such as elbow strikes and other things, plus we are building an octagon in our new gym so we can train and prepare more properly for future bouts.
Q:Do you prefer blonds or brunets?
A: I like women, either blonds or brunets (Laughs) However, I'm married to a brunette now, and she's the love of my life.
Q:Do you prefer to be with a girl that trains Martial Arts or not?
A: It really doesn't matter, I think doing sports it's always great for any girl, whether it's martial arts or not. My wife is not a martial artist, so it really doesn't matter. There are more important things to look out for in a girl.
Q:Ever try to teach a girlfriend Jiujitsu or MMA?
A: Not really (Laughs) I think every guy that trains plays a little bit with their girlfriends for fun at some point, but nothing serious.
Q:What is your favorite part of the JiuJitsuGirls website?
A: I think the entire website is great,and having the fighters doing interviews and sharing the insights also adds a lot for a complete experience.
Q:All of us at JiuJitsuGirls are huge fans of both yours and your brothers. You both have been exciting fighters and great inspirations in the sport. We wish you both the best luck and we will definitely be rooting for you guys in the future. We wish you the best of luck on your surgery, hoping that you have a quick and easy recovery. Please feel free to visit us anytime at JiuJitsuGirls.com where we hope to be writing about your next UFC fight soon!
A: Thank you! It was a pleasure.
Shogun Stats
- MMA Record: 16-3-0
- Wins Wrestling, Boxing
- Fighting out of
- Curitiba, Brazil
Honorary titles and achievements
- Sherdog 2005 Fighter of the year
- Full Contact Fighter #1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World
- MMA Weekly 2007 #1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World