Mauricio Rua’s title aspirations might have came to a definitive end on Sunday, when the Brazilian legend suffered a brutal knockout by the hands of Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC Hamburg in Germany.
“Shogun,” stopped by Smith in 89 seconds with a flurry of punches and a vicious elbow that left him unconscious while still standing, had a three-fight winning streak snapped by “Lionheart.”
A few hours after the defeat, the former UFC and PRIDE champion released a short statement on social media, congratulating his opponent for the victory.
”Unfortunately we don’t always get the result we want, and to understand that fact is part of life,” Rua wrote. “Congratulations to Anthony Smith. For so many times I was celebrating at this moment and I can’t take his merits from him. I dedicated myself, trained hard, and did all that was within my reach for this fight, but he was better yesterday. Life continues, thank you all for the support.”
Smith, who lost to middleweight Thiago Santos by knockout less than six months ago at UFC Belem, improved to 2-0 since moving up to 205 pounds, knocking out Rashad Evans and Rua.
More News
Quiñonero fights Verdadero in Resbak 2
Resbak 2 at Malungon, Sarangani Province on July 12
Garde stops Baliente in 1st round in “Resbak”