UFC introduced on Saturday that former UFC gentle heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua might 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 twelfth Annual UFC Worldwide Battle Week, on June 27, at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.“Shogun Rua is likely one of the biggest Brazilian athletes in fight sports activities historical past,” stated UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Shogun had an unbelievable 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 characterize a number of the most memorable moments in UFC historical past and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. Will probably be an honor to induct him into the UFC Corridor of Fame this summer time throughout Worldwide Battle Week.”
Rua will enter the UFC Corridor of Fame because the twentieth 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 document 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 document.Rua made his PRIDE FC debut as a part of PRIDE FC: BUSHIDO 1, which happened 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: Closing 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 happened 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 recuperate. 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 happened on October 24, 2009, at Staples Middle in Los Angeles. Machida entered the Octagon with an undefeated 15-0 document 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 battle would go all 5 rounds, and Machida would retain the title with a controversial unanimous determination.
As a result of controversy surrounding the choice, Rua was granted an instantaneous rematch for the UFC gentle heavyweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 113.UFC® 113: MACHIDA vs. SHOGUN 2 happened on Could 8, 2010, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua took management of the battle on the opening bell, securing extra strikes and kicks through 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 battle and decisively turn out to be 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 principle 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 occasions, dealing with the highest contenders of the sunshine heavyweight division whereas delivering quite a few Battle of the Evening performances. His fights towards James Te Huna, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Tyson Pedro and Dan Henderson earned efficiency honors, along with his UFC 139 battle towards Henderson coming into the UFC Corridor of Fame’s Battle Wing in 2018. He retired from competitors following his loss to Ihor Potieria throughout UFC 283, which happened on January 21, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rua enters the UFC Corridor of Fame with a powerful resume that features:
UFC:
Most fights in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 24Tied for many knockdowns in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 14Second-most knockouts in UFC gentle heavyweight historical past – 8Third-most knockouts in Zuffa historical past (UFC / PRIDE / WEC / SF) – 17Fifth-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 12 months honors in 2010 through the Fighters Solely World MMA Awards for his bout towards Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. In 2005, he acquired Battle of the 12 months 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 present lives in Curitiba along with his spouse and youngsters.To see an entire listing of UFC athletes and fights enshrined within the UFC Corridor of Fame, in addition to particulars relating to the UFC Corridor of Fame format, please go to UFCHOF. For extra data, please go to UFC.com.
