Mauricio Shogun Interview 09/06/2010

Pride’ GP champion on 2005, Maurício Shogun had a great comeback after twoo knee surgeries and conquest UFC’s belt, but the southern guy was forced to take some time off again and went through another knee surgery. Yet on the United States, where he did his last surgery and begun his physiotherapy, Shogun talked to TATAME about his injury, the comeback for the trainings and the possibility of a provisional belt, a proposal presented by Lyoto Machida’s manager. “As far as I’m concerned, it won’t happen… It’s Lyoto’s interest, only because you wish it, it doesn’t mean you’ll have it, but for me, it doesn’t change a thing”.

You went under another knee surgery because of an injury on the fight against Lyoto Machida. How is your recovery going on the United States?

It’s everything fine now. I had the surgery a month ago, and I’m cool, I can walk already. I’m doing a fitness work and physiotherapy and, next month, I’ll be back to my trainings and I’ll strengthen my leg so I can come back next year, probably in January, if everything works out fine.

How are you dealing with it? Playing a lot of videogame?

I’m doing my physiotherapy work once a day and then I go home and play videogame (laughs), but I’m fine, thanks God. I’m very glad and thrilled and I hope I can come back soon. That’s my only goal now. I’ll be 100% prepared for my next fight.

Before people were speculating about a bout between you and Rashad Evans, but due to your knee injury, it had to be postponed. It is possible that UFC makes a provisional belt to be disputed while you are not 100% recovered. What do you think of it?

Man, I don’t know. Last week I had a meeting with them Dana White and (Lorenzo) Fertitta and nobody said anything about an interim title or anything like that, so I’ll fight with my usual belt on my next bout.

Who said it was Lyoto Machida’s manager, who maybe wanted to match a bout between Lyoto and Rashad Evens for a provisional belt so that, in the future, he would dispute the belt with you…

Well, I don’t know any of it. As far as I’m concerned, it won’t happen… I believe he’s trying it on the behalf of his athlete, but for what I know I’ll fight with my belt in hands. That’s the only think I’m positive about. It’s Lyoto’s interest, only because you wish it, it doesn’t mean you’ll have it, but for me, it doesn’t change a thing. My belt is the official, and if they want to fight for an interim belt before, it doesn’t change a thing for me