UBERLANDIA, Brazil – When UFC officials announced Mauricio Rua (22-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC) and Anderson Silva (33-6 MMA, 16-2 UFC) will serve as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4,” many fans were disappointed to learn the two wouldn’t fight at season’s conclusion. Rua, though, said there’s only one reason they aren’t: Nobody asked him.

“I never even thought about fighting him,” Rua told MMAjunkie said through an interpreter. “He’s a guy that I started out training with, and the UFC didn’t consider it, so I didn’t think about it.”

But when pressed on whether he would consider it if UFC officials decided it was a good idea, former UFC light heavyweight champ Rua gave a surprisingly simple answer – and he gave it in both his native Portuguese, as well as English.

“Sim,” Rua said. “Yes.”

Both Rua (22-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC) and former UFC middleweight champ Silva (33-6 MMA, 16-2 UFC) currently have other opponents on their plate. Rua meets Ovince Saint Preux at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 56 event, which takes place in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and airs on FOX Sports 1 (10:30 p.m. ET).

It’s a big change in stylistic matchup for Rua, who was originally expected to face striking specialist Jimi Manuwa. Rua accepted a late change of opponent when Manuwa suffered a fractured foot, and the bout could be a tough one for the Brazilian, who’s sometimes struggled to defend takedowns.

Still, Rua said he never considered declining the matchup.

“My team and I, my manager, we never thought twice about accepting the fight,” Rua said. “The event has no fault. The fans have no fault in it. It happens. It’s a combat sport, so people get hurt. But we’re here, and we changed the gameplan a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Silva is scheduled to face Nick Diaz on Jan. 31 at UFC 183 in Las Vegas.

Filming for “TUF: Brazil 4” begins shortly after in Sin City.

While opposing coaches on the long-running “TUF” series generally face each other at the conclusion of the season, Rua and Silva were selected for the show based on their drawing power in their native Brazil, where the show still garners strong TV ratings. The two have a shared lineage in the sport; they’re both former members of the famed Chute Boxe Academy that also produced Wanderlei Silva, among others.

But Rua said he’s not opposed to facing Silva if it makes sense to both fans and UFC officials. He’s not trying to pick a fight, mind you, but he’s certainly willing to put his name on a bout agreement.

“I never said I wouldn’t fight him,” Rua said. “It’s something I’m not looking forward to. I’m not making an effort. But if the UFC suggested that, then I would.”

Whether this hypothetical bout would take place in Silva’s preferred weight class of 185 pounds or Rua’s longtime home at 205 pounds isn’t certain. Rua’s manager, Eduardo Alonso, suggested a catchweight could be a prudent option.

In the end, it could all amount to nothing. But UFC President Dana White has always said his job is to put on the fight fans want to see. If this is one enough people rumble about, Rua is ready to deliver.

In the meantime, he expects a respectful rivalry between his team and Silva’s once filming begins.

“I’m very happy to be coaching ‘TUF’ with Anderson,” Rua said. “He’s an icon in the sport, so it’s a dream come true.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 56 and UFC 183, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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