UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith remembers sitting in a garage with his friends and talking shop about MMA. With beer flowing, they marveled at how much Mauricio Rua was able to accomplish in the now-defunct PRIDE and UFC. Those same friends are now calling up Smith to express their awe. “Shogun” Rua is no longer an idol, but an upcoming opponent. Smith (28-14 MMA, 5-3 UFC) most recently fought ex-champ Rashad Evans, and after a first-round knockout this past month at UFC 225, he’s now facing Rua (25-10 MMA, 9-8 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 134 on Sunday from Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany
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