Shogun is the fastest LHW in the world.

No one in the UFC has his raw athletic ability in this weight class. Machida and Evans would be close, and Wanderlei if he were younger at 203 was close to his equal, but right now there is no one at LHW who could stand with him for very long(besides Spider of course) He seems faster even than when he was in Pride, starting at his Liddell KO. That punch and the Machida KO have to be slowed down to even see them clearly.

The one fighter right now who I think could give Shogun the most problems standing is Gregard Mousasi but I still think he would be at a speed disadvantage. Maybe a wrestler, like Mo or Jones could impose a takedown and GnP game on him, but I wonder if they could hold him down long enough to finish. His scrambles are great. Little Nog in theory would be a good match, but I don't see him lasting two rounds if he tries to box. Technically speaking, Nog may be the better boxer, but Rua is the better over all MT based MMA striker. Few fighters in the world could have hoped to charge on Machida like that and slip punches while landing shots of his own, and there isn't 2 other LHW's in the world fast and athletic enough to use the gameplan Rua used against Machida in the first fight.

Shogun is the best 205'r on the planet and it isn't close anymore. I still feel that Machida is nearly unbeatable by normal fighters, but Shogun is his kryptonite due to his speed and athleticism. The current Shogun would maul the 2005 GP Shogun. His technique is so much better now.

Shogun is fucking back!

Whoops!


War Little Nog vs Shogun for the first title defense!

Lil Nog Shogun agree

Mousasi is as fast

Think so? He didn't look nearly so fast against King Mo.

Shogun will beat either Rashad or Rampage. If Bones Jones keep's improving his game though, that's gonna be a very good fight down the line i think.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Think so? He didn't look nearly so fast against King Mo.

being on your back the whole fight has that effect

I'm hoping to see Shogun vs Rampage then winner take on Lil Nog over the next year. By that time Anderson will have fought Sonnen and Vitor and if he makes it through that unscathed he can go up and fight the winner of the above matchups

Mousasi would fold under the attack of an agressive Shogun. The only question is what round would he fully wilt in

Im taking Shogun over Bones, Brandon Vera, Rampage/Rashad winner and Matsushenko all in the same night

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Think so? He didn't look nearly so fast against King Mo.

He gassed and was too worried about getting taken down (rightfully so) and didn't let his hands go.

I have never seen Mousasi look as fast as Rua. Rua may be faster than the Spider even.

Mousasi looked slower than coleman in his last fight.

well maybe Coleman wasnt a good example to use since he has "beaten" shogun twice.

GolbeZ wrote:

well maybe Coleman wasnt a good example to use since he has "beaten" shogun twice.

just like shogun beat machida twice =D

Um, Shogun knocked Coleman the fuck out the second time they fought.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Um, Shogun knocked Coleman the fuck out the second time they fought.

with 15 seconds left in that third round that he was losing and had already lost the 2nd round. I was quite upset at the stoppage as well, if memory is serving me correct.

Yep, but Shogun has the heart of a champion. You could say it was a piss poor performance as easily as you could say it was a tough fight where he was physically weakened that he pulled out of his ass with a devasting knockout win.

your memory is right golbez it was a controversial fight

I'm willing to throw out this old dream match, especially since it entails another fighter who might be considered to be back and has a speed a ferocity almost to match.

Belfort vs Rua

Shogun avoids early exchanges before timing is established, and wilts Belfort with leg kicks before taking him down and blasting him with thundering ground and pound.