Shogun Rua not retiring, eyes Octagon return at UFC Fight Night 51 in Japan

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua isn't ready to call it a career just yet.

Rua suffered a broken nose during his third-round knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 38 earlier this year after "Hendo" landed a clean "H-Bomb" to go 2-0 against the Brazilian.

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The loss for Rua was his third in his last four contests, previously losing to Chael Sonnen and Alexander Gustafsson. Despite the setbacks, Eduardo Alonso, Rua's manager, informed UFC Tonight that "Shogun" isn't ready to call it quits and eyes a return to action this September following successful nose surgery.

Furthermore, Mauricio hopes to make his comeback in Japan when UFC returns to "The Land of the Rising Sun" this fall with a UFC Fight Night 51 event that features a heavyweight slugest between Mark Hunt and Roy Nelson.  With a large Japanese fan base acquired during his dominant run with PRIDE FC, it would be a homecoming of sorts.

"Shogun's" most recent victory came at the expense of James Te Huna at UFC Fight Night 33 last December. Rua knocked out the former middleweight in the very first round (video) in what marked the New Zealand native's 205-pound debut.

At the age of 32, Rua -- the No. 8 ranked light heavyweight in the world -- is confident he has plenty left to contend with the best of them.

Anyone think the 2005 PRIDE FC Middleweight Grand Prix winner can turn things around at this stage in his career? And who would you like to see him tango with in his comeback fight?