UFC’s ‘Shogun’ Rua seeks another title shot

The last time Mauricio “Shogun” Rua fought at Staples Center, he was -- for lack of a better word -- robbed.

Despite hammering then-light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida with leg kicks and being more active, Rua suffered a dubious unanimous-decision loss that so outraged Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White that an immediate rematch was ordered.

Rua won that by first-round knockout.

Saturday, Rua (20-6) returns as the favorite to regain another title shot when he fights San Diego’s Brandon Vera (12-5) in the main event of a UFC on Fox card. The four-fight Fox show begins at 5 p.m., although preliminary fights start at 2 p.m.

White has said that the most impressive light heavyweight in the Rua-Vera and Machida-Ryan Bader matches Saturday will fight the winner of the Sept. 1 title fight between champion Jon Jones and Dan Henderson.

Rua lost his belt to Jones in March 2011, then was defeated by Henderson in a compelling five-round bout in November.

“I use it as motivation,” the Brazilian Rua said through an interpreter of the losses. “It’s important after a loss to analyze it, to look ahead and improve. It’s a complete sport. You must improve and prove yourself every day.”

Rua said he did not ponder retirement after the Henderson loss, admitting “the mental recovery” took longer than healing his body.

“It’s OK, I’m sure I’m going to fight Dan Henderson again,” Rua said.

One lesson Rua took from the Machida loss: “The best way is to not wait for the result to come from the judges.”

NEXT TIME: Fox officials said Thursday the fifth UFC on Fox show will be Dec. 8 at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, although UFC Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta said he has yet to finalize opponents for the card.

BADER SAYS HE’S MORE THAN A WRESTLER: Former Arizona State wrestler Ryan Bader lost to UFC legend Tito Ortiz and light-heavyweight champion Jones in 2011, but he rallied by defeating Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in February and now gets the challenge of karate-skilled Machida.

“I’m a different fighter,” said Bader, who explained his hiring of a boxing coach and dedication to the study of his opponent’s film has paid great dividends to be displayed Saturday. “Now I have synergy.

“My plan for a stand-up fight used to be to punch the guy in the face. Now I know you have to work more on footwork, head movement, to set traps. It’s helped me out tremendously.”

Bader said if foes “feel threatened by my hands, it’s easier to get a takedown. They have to now solve a different puzzle with me.”

With Machida, Bader said the plan is to avoid falling into the former champion’s ability to “lull” opponents “into a false sense of security, and then he’s on you. You have to stay sharp. That’s in your mind the whole time.”

SILVA VS. ST-PIERRE BUZZ: White said he’s likely to follow the wishes of middleweight champion Anderson Silva and keep him out of the octagon until next year, after welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre fights Carlos Condit on Nov. 17.

If St-Pierre wins, White said, a catch-weight bout between the two champions could be staged.

“That’s what we’re thinking, we’ll see if it happens,” White said Thursday at a UFC on Fox news conference at the J.W. Marriott Hotel at L.A. Live. “It’s all theoretical. GSP still has to beat Condit.”

St-Pierre is rehabilitating torn knee ligaments, but he lost only once since 2006. Silva has been middleweight champion since 2006.

Fertitta and Silva manager Ed Soares told The Times on Wednesday that they want the champions to fight.

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