Mauricio “Shogun” Rua Joins UFC Hall of Fame: A True Pioneer

Las Vegas – UFC^® in the present day introduced that former UFC gentle heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will probably be inducted into the 2024 Class of the UFC Corridor of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2024 UFC Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony will happen as a part of the 12^th Annual UFC Worldwide Struggle Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Cellular Enviornment, and will probably be streamed stay completely on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Shogun Rua is likely one of the best Brazilian athletes in fight sports activities historical past,” mentioned UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Shogun had an unimaginable run in PRIDE and UFC, and he was fearless contained in the Octagon. His fights towards Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson signify among the most memorable moments in UFC historical past and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. It is going to be an honor to induct him into the UFC Corridor of Fame this summer season throughout Worldwide Struggle Week.”

Rua will enter the UFC Corridor of Fame because the 20^th member of the Pioneer Period Wing. The Pioneers Period class contains athletes who turned skilled earlier than November 17, 2000 (when the unified guidelines of combined martial arts have been adopted), are a minimal age of 35, or who’ve been retired for one yr or extra.

A veteran of 42 fights throughout his 21-year skilled MMA profession, Rua registered a file of 27-14-1 (23-13-1 – UFC / PRIDE), securing notable wins over UFC Corridor of Famers Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Kevin Randleman, and Forrest Griffin, former UFC gentle heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida, and former Strikeforce^® heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Rua made his skilled MMA debut on November 8, 2022, competing as a part of Meca World Vale Tudo 7. Rua would win 4 of his first 5 fights in Meca World Vale Tudo and IFC, earlier than coming into PRIDE FC with a 4-1 file.

Rua made his PRIDE FC debut as a part of PRIDE FC: BUSHIDO 1, which occurred on October 5, 2003, in Saitama, Japan. Rua defeated Akira Shoji through KO within the first spherical and instantly grew to become a fan favourite.

Rua would win his subsequent seven fights in PRIDE, which included successful the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix by defeating Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona through first-round knockouts on the identical night time as a part of PRIDE FC: Ultimate Battle 2005.

Following his first loss in PRIDE to former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman through damage within the co-main occasion of PRIDE 31: UNBREAKABLE in February 2006, he would return in September and win his subsequent 4 fights over six months earlier than becoming a member of UFC.   

Rua made his UFC debut towards Forrest Griffin within the co-main occasion of UFC^® 76: KNOCKOUT, which occurred on September 22, 2007, on the Honda Middle in Anaheim, Calif. Rua would lose his debut to Griffin contained in the Octagon^® through third-round submission and take a yr off to get better.

Rua returned in 2009 with two wins over Coleman and Chuck Liddell at UFC 93 and UFC 97, respectively, incomes his first title shot towards undefeated champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104.

UFC^® 104: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN occurred on October 24, 2009, at Staples Middle in Los Angeles. Machida entered the Octagon with an undefeated 15-0 file which included wins over 5 future UFC Corridor of Famers.

Rua and Machida matched evenly all through the bout, with the champion absorbing extra punches than in any of his 15 earlier fights. The combat would go all 5 rounds, and Machida would retain the title with a controversial unanimous resolution.

As a result of controversy surrounding the choice, Rua was granted a right away rematch for the UFC gentle heavyweight title in the primary occasion of UFC 113.

UFC^® 113: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN 2 occurred on Could 8, 2010, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua took management of the combat on the opening bell, securing extra strikes and kicks throughout the first spherical. With 1:38 remaining within the first, Rua landed an overhand proper that knocked down the champion. Rua instantly mounted Machida and landed a number of strikes to win the combat and decisively develop into the brand new UFC gentle heavyweight champion.

Rua would put his title on the road 10 months later towards top-ranked contender Jon Jones in the primary occasion of UFC^® 128: SHOGUN vs. JONES in March 2011. Rua would lose the title through third-round TKO.

Over the subsequent 11 years, Rua would compete contained in the Octagon 18 instances, going through the highest contenders of the sunshine heavyweight division whereas delivering quite a few Struggle of the Night time performances. His fights towards James Te Huna, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Tyson Pedro and Dan Henderson earned efficiency honors, along with his UFC 139 struggle towards Henderson coming into the UFC Corridor of Fame’s Struggle Wing in 2018.

He retired from competitors following his loss to Ihor Potieria throughout UFC 283, which occurred on January 21, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rua enters the UFC Corridor of Fame with a formidable resume that features:

UFC:

• Most fights in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 24

• Tied for many knockdowns in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 14

• Second-most knockouts in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 8

• Third-most knockouts in Zuffa historical past (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 17

• Fifth-most finishes in Zuffa historical past (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 18

PRIDE:

• Tied for many knockouts by soccer kicks/stomps in PRIDE historical past – 4

Outdoors the Octagon, Rua has received a number of awards throughout his profession, receiving Knockout of the Yr honors in 2010 throughout the Fighters Solely World MMA Awards for his bout towards Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. In 2005, he obtained Struggle of the Yr for his bout towards Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at PRIDE FC: Essential Countdown 2005.

A local of Curitiba, Brazil, Rua started coaching in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a member of the famed Chute Boxe Academy. He additionally skilled in wrestling and boxing as a young person. He at the moment lives in Curitiba along with his spouse and youngsters.

To view Rua’s UFC FIGHT PASS assortment please go to: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20541

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Govt Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.