Coach: Shogun Rua ready to fight injured, but UFC pulled the plug on Rashad Evans fight

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua was all set to take on Rashad Evans at the UFC on FOX 19 event on April 16, 2016 inside Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida.

That was until "Shogun" suffered an untimely knee injury that forced the cancellation of the bout (details here).

But, according to Rafael Cordeiro's comments to MMA Fighting, his pupil would've continued on with the fight had it not been for UFC's decision to pull the bout.

"Shogun had a knee injury for a while, and felt it again training jiu-jitsu. He went to the UFC doctor to check and continued training, but the UFC contacted him and cancelled the fight. Shogun said he would still fight despite the injury, but the UFC called and decided to cancel. That came directly from Lorenzo [Fertitta]. Lorenzo saw the exams, saw it was an old injury, and the UFC decided to remove him from the fight. He's out of this one."

This is now the second time a scheduled fight between Rua and Evans has been cancelled, as the two were initially set to square off at UFC 128 in 2011 for "Shogun's" 205-pound strap.

As far as a return date for the Brazilian, Rafael says a doctor's approval will determine all that.

"We're waiting for the UFC doctors to hear what they want to do with Shogun next, the timetable for his recovery. That answer depends on the UFC. The UFC will determine Shogun's return. But he's motivated to fight. He's physically prepared for a fight, excluding this old knee injury."

As a result of Rua's injury, Glover Teixeira has stepped in to face "Suga" on a little over a month's notice.

Glover is currently riding a two-fight win streak, while Rashad is fresh off a loss to Ryan Bader at UFC 192 last October.

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