'Shogun' Rua robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua was robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro while visiting the city on business, Brazilian website Portal Vale Tudo reported on Friday.
Rua had just left dinner with UFC middleweight Demian Maia when a car filled with four armed men forced his car to stop and then held him at gunpoint while stripping him of his shirt, shoes and money, according to Eduardo Alonso, who manages both fighters.
One of the robbers reportedly recognized Rua and told him not to try anything and then made off with his car, which had been borrowed from a friend, PVT reported.
Rua was uninjured, but was forced to walk one mile on a dangerous expressway to the nearest police station. It’s unclear whether authorities are investigating; MMAjunkie wasn’t immediately able to reach Alonso for comment.
Security remains a pressing concern as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup. Police plan to deploy 200,000 troops to 12 major cities to guard against crime and drug trafficking after violent protests broke out in cities such as Rio de Janeiro. Street crime reportedly is surging in the coastal town, which expects 400,000 for the tournament.
Rua (22-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC), 32, recently underwent surgery for a broken nose suffered in a rematch with Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 38. Henderson earned a third-round TKO after knocking Rua down with the punch that flattened his nose. The Brazilian is not yet medically cleared to fight, according to Alonso.
Despite rumors of a potential drop to middleweight, Rua announced this past December that he will stay at 205 pounds, where he is 1-3 in his past four outings.
