If this is the Shogun who shows up at UFC 104…

by Barrett Hooper

It’s an oldie but a goody, from the opening round of the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix. I like it because Mauricio “Shogun” Rua wins in decisive fashion. Love the flying head stomps, soccer kicks, punch passes and knees and more knees. I also like it because Quinton “Rampage” Jackson gets knocked silly, and I think a lot of us would like to see that happen given his Ultimate Fighter idiocy and retirement from MMA to play Mr. T.

I’m posting the clip below for a few reasons. First, ouch. That is one hell of an arm break Shogun suffers 49 seconds into his ironically titled PRIDE 31: Unbreakable fight with Mark Coleman. Second, the ‘roid rage Coleman exhibits after the referee pushes him off Shogun. He even takes a couple of swings at the ref before acting like King fucking Kong. Third, Wanderlei Silva jumping into the ring to go after the big ape. Fourth, the backstage confrontation between Silva and Coleman. Fifth and last, but not least, the hilarious/bizarre moment that Silva and Coleman then share. Only in Japan.