“Ninja” can replace L’il Nog at Bitetti Combat

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Andrey Klagenberg

With Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira recovering from a foot injury – an reportedly signing with the UFC –, Bitetti Combat’s promoters are running against the time to sign with another big name to replace the fighter, and Murilo “Ninja” Rua will probably enter the event. “I heard that, they already called me. If we get to an agreement, I’ll love to fight”, said Ninja, promising a great show: “I’ll do my best”.

Without fighting in Brazil since MECA, in 2000, Ninja is excited to fight in his homeland again. “It’s great for our sport. I never fought in Rio de Janeiro, it’s gonna be a real pleasure”, guarantee. To replace Little Nogueira, Murilo would go up to light heavyweight division again, where he didn’t fight since the loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in 2005, at Pride.

‘They didn’t say anything about an opponent, but they said I’d face Minotouro’s opponent. In this case, I’d go up to 205, but only for this fight”, explains the fighter, who were already training hard for a possible fight at Dream, besides helping his brother’s, Maurício Shogun Rua, preparation to fight Lyoto Machida for the UFC light heavyweight title.