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  - GABE RUEDIGER CONTINUES COMEBACK
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com
After taking time off to recover from neck injury, former UFC lightweight Gabe “Godzilla” Ruediger returned to action earlier this year intent on making his way back up the 155-pound ladder.
Wins in three consecutive fights have him poised on making such a return, but first he has to get past former King of the Cage star Wander Braga first at this weekend’s Call to Arms “Called Out” event at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
“I feel like I’m in phenomenal shape,” Ruediger told MMAWeekly heading into Saturday’s fight. “This is my fourth fight this year, so I’ve just stayed active and it’s kept me in really good shape throughout the year.
“Fight number one was my first fight after neck surgery, and you kind of build confidence back and get rid of ring rust and begin to work things out. So far, this is my fourth fight and I feel I can finally come through to the point that I was prior (to neck injury), but obviously more adapted and better.”
While Ruediger intended to make the most of his return, he admits he didn’t expect to be this busy. But sometimes, busy is a good thing.
“(I hadn’t planned) fighting every couple months, but I recognize a year off is a long time in the fight game, and I need to just get back in there and do it,” he stated. “Sitting around wasn’t going to get me back in shape and to the level I wanted to be at.
“It was just a matter of fighting, and so far it’s been working out really for me. This is obviously a step up, but I’m ready for the next challenge and feel good about it.”
Ruediger’s opponent at Call to Arms is in a similar position to what he was in earlier this year, as Wander Braga is returning to MMA after a prolonged absence.
“He’s been out of the fight game for five years, so he’s going to have the ring rust that I’ve been trying to scoop off for the last year,” observed Ruediger. “I think his ground game is as good, if not better than mine, so that’s probably where he’s going to want to fight.
“I’m going to dictate the pace, dictate the fight and I don’t feel as if there are any holes in my game right now. I’m sure he’s been working on his stand-up and feels that’s going to be a deciding factor, but I work with a phenomenal boxing/kickboxing coach, and when I finally decide to let my hands go, I get nothing but positive results.”
While he’s enjoyed the comeback route he’s taken, Ruediger hopes this fight with Braga could be the springboard towards bigger and better things.
“I like the shows I’m fighting in, they’ve been treating me well and it’s nice to be a main event,” he said. “But I think when everything is said and done, you want to fight the best competition, and they’re in the major promotions.
“Whether it’s UFC, WEC, Strikeforce, Dream or Sengoku, I would love to find a home where they respect me and the things I bring to the table.”
Healthy and with a positive mindset, Ruediger feels it’s just a matter of time before he can make his return to the elite level of MMA and make the sort of impact he had hoped to the first time around.
“I’d like to thank CrossFit by Overload, Dr. Toy Chiropractic, Combat Clothing, Fairtex, Toe-2-Toe, Forty Thieves Clothing and all the sponsors I’m missing,” he commented. “Those people that are in the area, I highly recommend coming out. It’s a great fight card in a really nice venue.
“Those that aren’t able to see it, there will be an online pay-per-view for like five bucks. It’s going to be a good night of fights; not just mine, but the entire card.”
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