Andre “Dida” Amado has been an integral part of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s success in MMA. At UFC 113, the two longtime training partners will attempt to take the belt away from current light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida. Acting as both Rua’s Muay Thai coach and the leader of their fight team, Universidade de Luta, Amado has had to shoulder the responsibility of formulating the perfect game plan.

“I’ve worked with Shogun for a long time, and we started to train together at Chute Boxe. I always worked with Shogun imitating the posture and movement of his opponents. I try to do an imitation of Lyoto during sparring and by watching what Shogun is doing in relation to handling, kicking and output — everything that has to do with the fight standing. I came from a good school and I can make sure Shogun has no doubt about the fight standing. In relation to imitating Lyoto, it is not a difficult job. I just watch his fights, copy the style and do the work on it.”

After extensively studying Machida’s previous bouts, Amado realized that Rua could find success by focusing on his Muay Thai skills, particularly leg kicks. That scouting report proved correct as Rua seemingly frustrated Machida throughout their first fight. Unfortunately for them, the judges saw differently.

“The antidote to punching is the good leg kick. The other athletes who Lyoto faced, they kicked but with their hands low, and Lyoto works on the body movements of his opponent. He studies and works on it. Machida works more with his hands and Shogun works with legs. Sometimes this exchange will be weighted because he will not find any (openings) and will only see Shogun’s legs working. On the third or fourth punch, Lyoto will realize that he is hitting Shogun’s defense and Shogun is always picking up (points). Shogun has a very strong game of legs. He can explore that part too, and this time it will come with much more desire to win. He will not wait to get started. He will apply this tactic and will come with everything to win the UFC belt. In that fight, we used a strategy for Shogun to kill Machida’s game and our tactics worked. We just had not counted on the judges. Shogun is hungry for this fight, and we are already feeling the taste of the belt. Shogun shows in each training session the desire to beat Machida. I do not want to be in Machida’s shoes because Shogun will take this belt with his kicks.”

Despite their plan to continue to utilize kicks, Amado believes that Saturday’s rematch will likely hit the ground. After being picked apart the first time, “Dida” thinks the champ will want to test Rua’s jiu jitsu skills.

“For Lyoto it is not very good to stay standing. He knows that his karate is not going to defeat muay Thai. In my coach’s opinion, he will want to work his jiu-jitsu with Shogun. I think he will not fight muay Thai because he saw that in the last fight he was badly hurt and was not effective. So I think he will want to work his jiu-jitsu. We already have the strategy to beat Machida.”

No matter where the fight goes, Amado is confident that Rua will walk away the new light heavyweight champion on Saturday night.

(Source: Sherdog)