However, this coming weekend presents a different situation, as both Saturday and Sunday will feature very important national-level MMA shows on each day, giving hardcore fans with a chance to follow both.

      Being such a unique happening, and maybe the only time this will happen this year, this reporter had to come back to FCF with the much-awaited news of the Brazilian scene.

• Chute Boxe prodigy Mauricio "Shogun" Rua’s recovery process continues to go better than expected, following the severe elbow injury suffered he suffered in February’s PRIDE bout against Mark Coleman. The 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion has already been running and swimming for two weeks, and will most likely resume light fight training, mainly techniques at first, next week. Rua told FCF that he is not been feeling any pain whatsoever in his elbow during swimming and running, and has had complete movement with the arm of the injured elbow, showing signs of a great recovery. Shogun is expected to fight again in September, and Full Contact Fighter will keep following his recovery.
• Speaking of the Shogun, his brother Murilo "Ninja" Rua has been training extremely hard, awaiting his June 4’s PRIDE Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix bout against MMA sensation Denis Kang. Rua just found out about his opponent one day before the official announcement, and has been weighing in around 88 kg, getting ready to cut the extra weight in the coming weeks. Ninja told FCF he is feeling much more comfortable and stronger at his current lighter weight now, and he hopes to have a much better performance at his new weight class this time around. Both Rua brothers, Ninja and Shogun, went to the city of Brasilia, capital of Brasil this past Wednesday to attend a ceremony devoted to a peace campaign in Brazil spearheaded fight community and one Brazilian fight magazine. Both got back to Curitiba this past Thursday, where Ninja resumed his training immediately. Saturday, May 20 will be a special day in the Rua family, as they will celebrate Murilo Ninja’s 26th birthday with a barbecue party at their parent’s house. Murilo’s birthday is, in fact, on the 22nd, however, for obvious reasons the celebration will take place this weekend.
• MMA legend Royce Gracie is in the final stages of his preparation for his much-awaited clash against Matt Hughes. His brother Royler Gracie is currently in the USA helping him out in training, along with Rolker and Rodrigo Gracie, as well as his kickboxing coach Nono, making sure everything will be set by fight time. The bout is not only just eagerly awaited by the fans, but for the three-time UFC champion Gracie as well, as he told FCF that his return to the UFC for this special match gives him many good memories of where it all started, and stated he is truly ready for the task, and now it’s just a matter of delivering on fight night. One interesting aspect is that, due to UFC rules, Royce Gracie won’t be wearing a gi into this bout, as he confirmed to FCF.