Liddell is a good fighter, hits hard, but [Wanderlei] said that if I go there focused and with gas, I win this fight. Of course I was happy with the victory [over Mark Coleman], but I wasn’t happy with my performance. I can be better than I was in that fight. I wasn’t happy with my performance and I will turn this around, give the best of me in the next (against Liddell). I know my potential and I know where I can go, I wasn’t happy. I don’t think about the belt now, I only think in Liddell, he deserves respect. I just think in this fight. Surely this is a fight that will put me forward, but I don’t believe in belt yet.
-Former PRIDE light heavyweight standout Mauricio Rua talks to Tatame.com about his long-anticipated match against former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell at UFC 97 on Saturday, April 18, from The Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Shogun" -- who was at one time a consensus top 5 light heavyweight and winner of the 2005 Pride FC Grand Prix -- hasn't been able to live up to his potential in the UFC since his debut back at UFC 76, a loss to Forrest Griffin. Perhaps a convincing victory over "The Iceman" will be the catalyst for a 2009 title run. What say you?
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