• UFC 128

Nogueira 'would bet' on Shogun to beat Jones

ESPN staff
March 8, 2011
Mauricio Shogun Rua possesses lethal Muay Thai skills © UFC
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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is so confident that Mauricio Shogun Rua will beat Jon Jones that he is willing to put money on it.

Jones provides the first challenge of Rua's light-heavyweight championship reign at UFC 128, and the young American is favourite with the bookies to clinch the title. Wins over the likes of Brandon Vera and Ryan Bader have got experts labelling Jones the fighter of the future, and his wrestling is seen as a major advantage against Rua on March 19.

However, Shogun is one of the most lethal strikers ever seen in the UFC. He has destroyed the likes of Lyoto Machida and Rampage Jackson, and Nogueira sees the Brazilian adding another victim to that list.

"Jon Jones is the guy now, people are creating great expectations about him, but I particularly disagree," Nogueira told Tatame. "In my opinion, Shogun has a sharper boxing than Jones, and he has got more game.

"Jon Jones is talented, has a great reach, but he hasn't confronted a guy like Shogun. I believe Shogun will win this one, I'd bet on him, because I believe he has got more game than Jones."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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