Tag: Mauricio Rua

Mauricio Rua ‘retiring from all sport’ at UFC 283, won’t return to combat

Mauricio Rua isn’t going to be one of those fighters who flip-flops on retirement, and vows his UFC 283 swan song will stick.

RIO DE JANEIRO – [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] isn’t going to be one of those fighters who flip-flops on retirement. UFC 283 will be his final foray into combat sports competition.

Rua (27-13-1 MMA, 11-11-1 UFC), a former UFC light heavyweight champion and PRIDE grand prix winner, will bring his legendary career to an end Saturday when he meets Ihor Potieria (19-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in the featured prelim of the card, which airs on ABC following early prelims on ESPN+ and prior to the pay-per-view main card at Jeunesse Arena.

Although retirement has been on his mind for some time, it was important for “Shogun” to have his swan song in his native Brazil. The COVID-19 pandemic dragged things out longer than expected, but with the octagon touching down in his home country for the first time since March 2020, the stars aligned for Rua.

“I wanted to have my last fight in Brazil,” Rua told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC 283 media day. “It’s going to be tough. Every fight is a lot of emotions, a lot of adrenaline and nervousness, but being the last fight and everything, I’m going to have to be focused and get through that.”

At 41, Rua is among the oldest fighters on the UFC roster. He’s been in the fight game for more than 20 years and fought more than 40 times.

Critics could say Rua has stuck around the sport too long, but he said he disagrees and thinks the timing is perfect, especially because he has no intention of ever coming back in MMA, boxing or any other avenue of fighting.

“I’m going to really stop,” Rua said. “There’s a lot of people that retire and come back a year later, but I don’t like that. I’m retiring from all sport. … I could’ve stopped a few years ago, but I really didn’t want to regret stopping at the wrong time. So it’s something very personal. My wife wanted me to stop ever since we got married. But I think I’m making this choice at the right time.”

Despite his many contributions to the sport and already being a UFC Hall of Famer in the fight wing for his epic encounter with Dan Henderson at UFC 139 in November 2011, the UFC did not give Rua a layup for his retirement fight.

He takes on Potieria, who is 15 years younger than Rua and has fought just once under the UFC banner. The opponent didn’t matter for Rua, however, and he said it’s “inevitable” the contest will play out largely on the feet.

Rua has left no stone unturned during the course of his career and said he has no regrets. He’s got everything he wanted out of his MMA career, and now he’s just focused on getting his hand raised one last time.

“I’m very thankful for my career, very honored,” Rua said. “(I’m) thankful to God. When I finish fighting, which is going to be this Saturday, I can say I’m very honored and very happy with my career. I’m a very fulfilled and accomplished guy.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.

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UFC 283 pre-event facts: Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno make history with fourth fight

Deiveson Figueiredo will become the first in history to face the same man four straight times when he meets Brandon Moreno at UFC 283.

The UFC returns to Brazil for the first time since March 2020 on Saturday with UFC 283, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC and ESPN+.

A championship doubleheader will close out the promotion’s first numbered event of the year. In the main event, [autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] (33-8 MMA, 16-6 UFC) and [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will attempt to decide a new light heavyweight champion when they meet for vacant gold.

The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (21-2-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC) and interim titleholder [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (20-5-2 MMA, 8-2-2 UFC) meet once again in a historic contest. They will unify 125-pound gold in the fourth octagon meeting between them, which has never happened before in company history.

For more on the numbers behind both title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC 283.

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Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill

Mauricio Rua declares UFC 283 as MMA swan song: ‘Definitely my last fight’

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is finally ready to walk away from the sport that’s consumed the majority of his life.

[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] is finally ready to walk away from the sport that’s consumed the majority of his life.

After being pestered with retirement questions for years, the 41-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion will make his final walk to the cage next month.

Rua (27-13-1 MMA, 11-11-1 UFC), better known to most MMA fans simply as “Shogun,” has announced he will retire after his UFC 283 fight with Ihor Potieria, which takes place Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC and ESPN+.

“It’s definitely my last fight,” Rua told Brazilian news outlet Combate. “And I don’t put pressure on me anymore. My obligation is to give my best, and that’s what I think about.”

Rua made his MMA debut in November 2002 and only needed a few years to rise to the top of the sport. He accrued plenty of fanfare during his time under the now-defunct PRIDE FC banner in Japan, becoming the youngest grand prix champion in company history when, at 23, he ran through the likes of Quinton Jackson, Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arena and more.

After the UFC purchased PRIDE FC in 2007, Rua moved over to compete in the octagon, and within five fights become light heavyweight champion courtesy a first-round knockout of Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in May 2020. His reign was short-lived as he passed the torch to Jon Jones, and the decade since has been filled with ups and down.

Rua went on a run from August 2015-July 2020 where he lost just one of seven fights, but it was clear that after countless injuries – specifically to the knees – he’d slowed down and lost his edge as an elite fighter. He’s lost his past two fights against Ovince Saint Preux and Paul Craig, but was keen to keep pushing and complete the final fights on his UFC contract.

UFC president Dana White said he would oblige Rua in giving him the remaining fights on his deal, and Rua said he will do everything in his power to ensure he goes out on a high note.

“I’m happy with this fight – it will be my farewell bout, and I’m happy it’s in my country, at home,” Rua said. “I’m happy. I’m grateful to the UFC for being one of the pioneers in the UFC. I’m there for 15 years – there’s no one else for that long in the UFC. I’m grateful for everything.

“I’ve been fighting for 20 years, started really early, and have been fighting for many years at the highest level – since 2005 against the best. So I’m a fulfilled man and grateful to God for everything I’ve accomplished in my career. Being that way, that makes me stop at the right time.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Oct. 3-9)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Oct. 3-9.

Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua returns against Ihor Potieria at UFC 283 in Brazil

Mauricio Rua will return in his home country in what could be his final fight.

[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] will return in his home country in what could be his final fight.

“Shogun” (27-12-1 MMA, 11-10-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC 283, which takes place on Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Mania was first to report the news.

Rua, 40, will look to rebound from back-to-back losses to Paul Craig and Ovince Saint Preux. Prior to that, the former PRIDE and UFC light heavyweight champion defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira for a third time. Heading into his fight with Saint Preux in May, Rua hinted at two final fights before retirement. If that’s the case, UFC 283 could mark the last fight of his career.

Meanwhile, Contender Series graduate Potieria will be in search of his first UFC win. The 26-year-old Ukrainian fighter dropped his octagon debut to Nicolae Negumereanu by knockout at UFC 277 in July.

With the addition, the current UFC 283 lineup includes:

  • Champion Deiveson Figueiredo vs. interim champion Brandon Moreno – for flyweight title
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Josiane Nunes
  • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
  • Ihor Potieria vs. Mauricio Rua

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Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua returns against Ihor Potieria at UFC 283 in Brazil

Mauricio Rua will return in his home country in what could be his final fight.

[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] will return in his home country in what could be his final fight.

“Shogun” (27-12-1 MMA, 11-10-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC 283, which takes place on Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Mania was first to report the news.

Rua, 40, will look to rebound from back-to-back losses to Paul Craig and Ovince Saint Preux. Prior to that, the former PRIDE and UFC light heavyweight champion defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira for a third time. Heading into his fight with Saint Preux in May, Rua hinted at two final fights before retirement. If that’s the case, UFC 283 could mark the last fight of his career.

Meanwhile, Contender Series graduate Potieria will be in search of his first UFC win. The 26-year-old Ukrainian fighter dropped his octagon debut to Nicolae Negumereanu by knockout at UFC 277 in July.

With the addition, the current UFC 283 lineup includes:

  • Champion Deiveson Figueiredo vs. interim champion Brandon Moreno – for flyweight title
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Josiane Nunes
  • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
  • Ihor Potieria vs. Mauricio Rua

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UFC 274 results: Ovince Saint Preux gets split call over ‘Shogun’ in dull rematch

It wasn’t particularly thrilling, but Ovince Saint Preux once again defeated Mauricio Rua in their UFC 274 rematch.

PHOENIX – It wasn’t particularly thrilling, but [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] once again defeated [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] in their UFC 274 rematch.

After scoring a 34-second knockout in their first meeting in November 2014, Saint Preux (26-16 MMA, 14-11 UFC) outpointed Rua (27-13-1 MMA, 11-11-1 UFC) over the course of three rounds to take a split decision by scores of 28-29, 29-28 and 30-27.

“Shogun,” a former UFC and PRIDE grand prix champion, said prior to the event that he only had two fights left in his career, and Saint Preux ensured he would not have the chance to go out on a winning streak.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the UFC 274 main card at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Both men started the bout by gauging the distance. Rua used his traditional high muay-Thai guard, while Saint Preux attempted to throw kicks underneath the elbows to the body. Rua pressed forward but was also looking to counter punch. Saint Preux didn’t give him many opportunities, however, because of his kick-heavy approach. The crowd got restless and began to boo late in the opening round, which was quite slow-paced.

There wasn’t much of a change in the second round. Saint Preux stayed disciplined with his kicking attack, mixing up shots to Rua’s body and occasionally going to the head. Rua stayed patient and kicked the legs and body of his opponent, while mixing in bursts of punches. Nothing major landed for either side, however, and the crowd kept expressing frustration in the low-action affair through 10 relatively uneventful minutes.

The start of the third round saw Saint Preux shoot for the first takedown of the fight. He was denied, and was unable to hold Rua against the fence. The fight went back to open space and continued to see both men have difficulty finding the big shot they wanted to close the shot. Saint Preux and Rua traded punches and kicks, but did not take any massive risks as an upset crowd waved their cell phone lights as the clock listlessly wound down to a final bell.

Ultimately the judges valued Saint Preux’s minimal work more, and he got his hand raised. However, he did not receive a post-fight interview in the octagon.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC 274 include:

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Ovince Saint Preux def. ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 274: Best photos

Check out these photos from Ovince Saint Preux vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Check out these photos from Ovince Saint Preux’s split decision win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. (Photos courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

 

UFC 274: Quick picks and prognostications

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom gives quick breakdowns and his predictions for the main card of UFC 274.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main card for UFC 274.

UFC 274 takes place Saturday at Footprint Center in Phoenix. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Last event’s results: 3-3

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2022: 41-17

Welcome to MMA Junkie’s quick picks and prognostications, where I’ll be giving brief, fight-day breakdowns for UFC main cards.

With that in mind, I hope these write-ups don’t come off as curt or dismissive, as my goal here is to offer quick picks and analysis in a digestible format. All odds listed are provided by Tipico Sportsbook.

If you’d like more detailed analysis from me, then feel free to check out my weekly show, The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.

So, without further ado…

Ovince Saint Preux plans rough MMA exit for ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 274: ‘It sucks for him’

If MMA legend Mauricio Rua retires from competition at UFC 274, Ovince Saint Preux plans to send him out in devastating.

PHOENIX – If MMA legend [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] retires from competition at UFC 274, then [autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag] plans to send him out in devastating fashion once again.

Saint Preux (25-16 MMA, 13-11 UFC) and Rua (27-12-1 MMA, 11-10-1 UFC) are set to rematch on Saturday’s card at Footprint Center in a light heavyweight bout that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

After OSP won the first fight by 34-second knockout in November 2014, the pair will finally run it back. Saint Preux has the goal of upstaging his previous performance and is paying no mind to the fact this could be the final time “Shogun” steps into the octagon.

“I fought him one time and beat him. If I do it again, it will probably be a staple,” Saint Preux told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 274 media day on Wednesday. “It sucks for him. At the end of the day, I’m trying to make a statement.”

Although he wants to do better than his last fight with Rua, Saint Preux said he’s not leaning on the past matchup to lead him to victory.

“It’s pretty much pointless (to watch the first fight),” Saint Preux said. “People change, fighters change and styles change over time.”

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