Shogun’s Still Got it, KO’s Villante In Vintage PRIDE Fashion

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Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Gian Villante were both looking to turn some heads and make a statement at “UFC Fight Night 106” with their co-main event light heavyweight battle.

Rua stuck to the center of the octagon, prepared to counter whatever Villante fired off. He caught the kick of Villante and tried to drive him to the mat but Villante was able to get right back up. Rua cracked Villante with a right hand that seemed to stun him, but he recovered quickly and simply absorbed the shot.

Rua thought he stunned Villante with an uppercut, but Villante was in the middle of a left hand himself and cracked Rua! Rua backed up to the fence and was able to recover despite Villante’s increased pressure. Most of the stiffest shots landed in the center of the cage where both men just fired off massive shots from a close distance.

A two punch combination from Rua stunned and dropped Villante with just a minute and a half remaining; Rua was landing at will and picked his shots, not wanting to get off guard or blow his gas tank. The first round wrapped up with Rua possessing the momentum.

The output of strikes slowed down greatly from both men, taking big breaths but still throwing big shots. Still, Rua was able to land the overhand right that should have wobbled Villante but he stood tall and kept throwing heavy bombs himself. Villante ate shots to find a better rhythm and started to find his striking distance with two minutes remaining.

Rua kicked off the round with an increased volume of strikes and backed Villante uo against the octagon fence where he teed off until the New Yorker fell to the canvas, forcing the referee to wave off the fight in round three!

Mauricio Rua def. Gian Villante by way of TKO (Strikes) :59 of Round 3