Herbert Burns (white trunks), Alexander Gustafsson (in red) and team in Stockholm preparing for UFC on Fox 5 / Publicity photo
The one sending the warning is Brazilian national Jiu-Jitsu champion Herbert Burns.
Of course, Burns, after reading about it on GRACIEMAG.com, is aware of how Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is well-trained on the ground, thanks to the help he’s getting from Team Alliance aces Leo Nogueira, Antonio Peinado and Sergio Moraes.
But Burns bets the house on Shogun’s rival, Alexander Gustafsson, a purple belt in jiu-jitsu, for their showdown at UFC on FOX 5 on Dec. 8.
“I taught Gustafsson for two weeks in Stockholm,” Burns told the GRACIEMAG.com reporter Vitor Freitas. “I can assure you he’s really tough on the ground. If it goes to the ground, he can surprise Shogun with his jiu-jitsu,
Curiously, the only loss on Gustafsson’s ledger came by way of submission — choked out by Phil Davis in 2010. Gustafsson, however, has three tapout wins to his name.
Shogun has only won by tapout once, against Kevin Randleman in Pride FC, and he himself has been tapped out twice.
The brother of Gilbert “Durinho” only took part in the early part of the training of the Swede, who is now going through his final stretch in preparation in the U.S. at Alliance MMA, home to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
“I participated in the early stage of Gustafsson’s training for Shogun. What impressed me was his takedown defense,” remarked the black belt featherweight.
“He’s really awesome in the standup, with powerful boxing and kickboxing. He has excellent octagon presence and is stoked about the fight. He’s the way the fans see him. The guy has a bunch of knockouts in the UFC, and that explains his style. Gustafsson will have a strategy and will go for it. He’s really strong and has great endurance, so it’ll be a great fight. Despite Shogun being Brazilian, I’m betting on Gustafsson for this one,” Burns said, before praising the Swede as a student.
“He paid a lot of attention to the jiu-jitsu techniques I taught him. He’d repeat them until I’d tell him it was enough. He’s really tough on the ground.”
The one saying so is a Brazilian national champion.
Do you think Gustafsson can beat Shogun, GRACIEMAG.com reader? How does this fight end? Comment below.
UFC on Fox 5
KeyArena, Seattle, Washington
December 8, 2012
Main Card
- Benson Henderson vs Nathan Diaz
- Mauricio Shogun vs Alexander Gustafsson
- BJ Penn vs Rory MacDonald
- Mike Swick vs Matt Brown
Preliminary Card (FX)
- Michael Chiesa vs Marcus LeVesseur
- Raphael Assunção vs Mike Easton
- Dennis Siver vs Nam Phan
- Ramsey Nijem vs Joe Proctor
- Yves Edwards vs Jeremy Stephens
- Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson (canceled due to Johnson injury)
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
- Daron Cruickshank vs Henry Martinez
- Scott Jorgensen vs John Albert
- Tim Means vs Abel Trujillo