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Shogun Rua Keeps PRIDE Alive At UFC Adelaide, Mark Hunt Not So Much

MMA
Sean Ross Sapp Dec 2, 2018 1:36AM

PRIDE never die? As long as Mauricio Rua is around, it appears.

Mark Hunt and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua were supporting players on Saturday night's UFC Adelaide card, and for Hunt, he went into the bout claiming it was his last with the company after eight years and a volatile relationship. 

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Hunt's last walk was nothing short of special. The fight itself, not quite. An incredibly inactive fight between Hunt and opponent Justin Willis never left the feet, and saw Hunt's leg busted open early on. Justin Willis was able to manage a 29-28 unanimous decision win, but turned the mic over to Mark Hunt, who said we'd "see him somewhere else."

The 31-year old Willis moved to 4-0 in the UFC, while Hunt lost his third straight fight. He has only one victory in his last six bouts. 

Rua met a much more violent fate at the hands of the somewhat local Tyson Pedro. The two fighters met in the center of the cage and exchanged strikes, which Pedro repeatedly got the better of. Rua withstood a violent flurry late in the first, where the fight became a different story. 

Shogun Rua took down Tyson Pedro at the beginning of round 2, where he'd control the round for the duration. In round 3, Rua returned to work, putting Pedro on his back and punishing him with ground and pound until the ref stepped in.

Rua is on a bit of a hot streak despite his July loss to Anthony Smith. He's won four of his last five fights in the UFC.

While not former PRIDE stars, #8 Flyweight Wilson Reis picked up a unanimous decision win in a dying division over #10 Ben Nguyen in what amounted to the only top-15 fight on the prelim card on Saturday ngiht.

You can see our full coverage of UFC Adelaide at this link, and check out our weekend MMA wrap up at this link.

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