(W-1 continues to add top-tier talent to its already impressive roster of fighters)

Former PRIDE light heavyweight luminary Murilo "Ninja" Rua’s next fight will not be in the UFC Octagon, contrary to rumors pointing otherwise.

The older brother of UFC 205-pound champion, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has signed with the burgeoning Canada-based Warrior One (W-1) MMA organization and will compete on the promotion’s October 23 show in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

W-1 president, Jack Bateman informed CagePotato.com of the signing Sunday night.

"We’re very excited to add a fighter of Murilo’s caliber to our first show in Nova Scotia. I’m really proud of how this card is shaping up," Bateman says. "Our fans in are in for a treat. Ninja is one of the fighters I’ve always enjoyed watching as a fan and we couldn’t be more excited to have him fight for W-1."

Ninja’s opponent on the October 23 card will be underrated Team Cesar Gracie protegee Roy Boughton who sent shockwaves through the Canadian MMA scene in June when he submitted highly-touted Toronto-based grappling phenom Misha Cirkunov at W-1: Judgement Day. 

Although terms of the 30-year-old Brazilian’s contract were not disclosed, sources close to Rua revealed that the former Chuteboxe fighter is one win away from signing with the UFC, so his stay with W-1 could be short-lived if he can get past Boughton.


Rua (20-10-1) is riding a four-fight winning streak, with the last "W" coming by way of guillotine against Jeremy May in July at Impact FC’s second show in Sydney, Australia. Though he holds wins over notable fighters like Mario Sperry, Mark Weir and Joey Villasenor, he is perhaps best known for his war of attrition decision losses to fellow PRIDE stars Paulo Filho, Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

The Rua-Boughton bout will bolster an already impressive card that features a top-notch cast of fighters that includes Strikeforce vet Brett Rogers, Bellator standouts Will Romero and Sean Pierson and former MFC light heavyweight champion Roger  "The Hulk" Hollett.

Just over a year-and-a-half old, W-1 is rapidly becoming one of the most popular promotions north of the border. The organization has assembled an impressive stable of top-tier fighters including several well-known MMA vets like John Alessio, Denis Kang, Carlos Newton, Shonie Carter, Jason MacDonald, Antonio Carvalho, Pat Healy, Ivan Menjivar and Vernon White.

W1: New Ground will touch down October 23 at 7:00 AT at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, NS.
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W-1: New Ground
Saturday, October 23, 2010
7:00 pm AT 
Halifax Forum
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Brett "The Grim" Rogers (10-2) vs. Ruben "Warpath" Villareal (18-18-3)

Murilo "Ninja" Rua (20-10-1) vs. Roy Boughton (4-1)

Mychal Clark (7-10) vs. Roger "The Hulk" Hollett (10-3)

Tristan Johnson (5-1) vs. Will "Leon" Romero (5-1)

Matt MacGrath (8-4) vs. Ryan Machan (12-5)

Nordine Taleb (2-1) vs. Chad Cox (5-1)

Jason MacKay (9-3) vs. Juan Barrantes (7-5)

Chris Johnson (3-2) vs. Jeremiah Hamilton (6-0)

Ricky Goodall 6-2) vs. Sean "The Pimp" Pierson (9-4)

Adam Pearson (1-1) vs. Jeremy Bernard (2-3)

Pat "Thrilling" Schilling (1-0) vs. Tom "The Bomb" Waters (4-1)

Mike imperato (0-0) vs. Jamie Saunders (1-2)

Travis Axworthy (3-4) vs. Jeremy Josey (1-1)