"Shogun" Rua

By FCF Staff

Currently “Shogun” Rua isn’t in the title shot mix, but the former light-heavyweight champ believes he can change all that at UFC 224.

Recently it was announced that Rua will take on fellow contender, Volkan Oezdemir at the event, which will take place on May 19th. While speaking to MMA Fighting recently, Rua had this to say, while discussing the upcoming fight:

”This is a tough fight, but I know that, if I win, I will be one step closer to having another chance to fight for the belt,” Rua said. “I face every fight as a dream, and defeating Volkan is my dream now. That might earn me a chance for the belt. My focus is 100 percent on him, and I know that I will be closer to the belt with a win.

”Everybody knows my career, knows that I was a champion in PRIDE and in the UFC. I’ve been fighting the world’s best fighters since 2005, so if I win this fight I will deserve to fight for the belt — for my history, being a former champion, and for fighting someone like Oezdemir, the No. 2 in the ranking.”

Rua (25-10) is coming off a stoppage win over Gian Villante last March, and has won three straight. Oezdemir (15-2) had his five fight winning streak ended by champion Daniel Cormier in January, who stopped the rising fighter at UFC 220.