Las Vegas – UFC® at this time introduced that former UFC gentle heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua shall 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 Struggle WeekÔ, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Cell Enviornment, and shall be streamed reside solely on UFC FIGHT PASS®.
“Shogun Rua is without doubt one of the best Brazilian athletes in fight sports activities historical past,” stated UFC President & CEO Dana White. “Shogun had an unimaginable run in PRIDE and UFC, and he was fearless contained in the Octagon. His fights in opposition to Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson symbolize a number of the most memorable moments in UFC historical past and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. It will likely be an honor to induct him into the UFC Corridor of Fame this summer time throughout Worldwide Struggle 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 blended martial arts have been adopted), are a minimal age of 35, or who’ve been retired for one 12 months or extra.
A veteran of 42 fights throughout his 21-year skilled MMA profession, Rua registered a report 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 getting into PRIDE FC with a 4-1 report.
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 turned 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 evening as a part of PRIDE FC: Last Battle 2005.
Following his first loss in PRIDE to former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman through harm 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 in opposition to 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 12 months off to get well.
Rua returned in 2009 with two wins over Coleman and Chuck Liddell at UFC 93 and UFC 97, respectively, incomes his first title shot in opposition to 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 report 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 resolution.
Because of the 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 in the course of 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 in opposition to 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 following 11 years, Rua would compete contained in the Octagon 18 instances, dealing with the highest contenders of the sunshine heavyweight division whereas delivering quite a few Struggle of the Night time performances. His fights in opposition to James Te Huna, Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, Tyson Pedro and Dan Henderson earned efficiency honors, together with his UFC 139 conflict in opposition to Henderson getting 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 happened 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 gained a number of awards throughout his profession, receiving Knockout of the 12 months honors in 2010 in the course of the Fighters Solely World MMA Awards for his bout in opposition to Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. In 2005, he obtained Struggle of the 12 months for his bout in opposition to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at PRIDE FC: Important 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 teen. He at the moment lives in Curitiba together with his spouse and kids.
To view Rua’s UFC FIGHT PASS assortment please go to: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20541
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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