Injured Shogun Rua will be sidelined until March 2011

Number one Contender Rashad Evans will have to wait to get his chance at new LHW champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Dana White Confirmed today that New champ Shogun Rua wont be back in the Octagon for another eight months, likley returning in March, 2011. Still, White took this as good news saying that his surgically repaired knee is healing well.

“Shogun’s great, his knee’s coming along great,” White said just after the UFC 116 pre-fight press conference. “It’s all good.”

Rua recently Knocked Out then undefeated Lyoro Machida to capture the title. The two had fought way back at UFC 104 where Machida took a very contreversial decision. It took about 7 months for Shogun to get his second chance. Rua came out aggressive and ko’d Lyoto in the first round but got injured in the process. Now that it is clear he will be sidelined for quite some time a fight for an interim belt may be set up.

HT: MMAFighting.com