Mauricio Rua – Page 8 – Syndication Server

‘Shogun’ Rua and the last of PRIDE in the UFC

A look at one of the final seven remaining PRIDE veterans on the UFC roster whose run was the stuff of legend.

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MMA legend [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] will return to the octagon on Saturday when he meets Paul Craig in the UFC on ESPN+ 22 co-main event.

“Shogun,” though still only 37, is essentially a relic of the sport these days. He’s among the last of a dissolving generation of fighters who made their fame outside of the UFC. Rua’s pre-octagon stage was with PRIDE Fighting Championships.

The Japan-based promotion, which held its final event in April 2007, was a breeding ground for some of the sport’s biggest stars before it was bought out and had much of its top talent transferred to the UFC. Rua’s run of success with PRIDE was among the best in company history, though, and he will forever be among the prominent names built under the PRIDE banner.

It won’t be long until fighters with PRIDE bouts on their record fall by the wayside for good, though. Rua, a former UFC light heavyweight titleholder, is one of the few still representing in the UFC, and he’s having as much or more success than any of his fellow alumni, with five wins in his past six octagon appearances.

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These are the PRIDE veterans who are still part of the UFC roster, and where they stand today:

Nick Diaz (PRIDE record: 0-0 with one no contest): Diaz only fought once in PRIDE, throwing down a memorable gunslinger with Takanori Gomi at the promotion’s sophomore U.S. event in February 2007. His gogoplata submission win was overturned to a no contest because he failed a post-fight test for marijuana. It’s been nearly four years since Diaz fought, but he just recently pushed for a fight against Jorge Masvidal.
Robbie Lawler (PRIDE record: 1-0): Like Diaz, Lawler only made one PRIDE appearance, but it was memorable. He scored a 22-second flying knee knockout of Joey Villaseñor at PRIDE 32 in October 2006 before bouncing around various promotions for the next several years until returning to the UFC, where he would become welterweight champ. “Ruthless” is currently sitting on three straight losses, though, and is awaiting his next booking in 2020.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE record: 8-2): Although he never achieved championship success in PRIDE like his brother, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Lil’ Nog” had many notable moments in PRIDE, including the 2005 “Fight of the Year” against Rua. Nogueira has been in the UFC for a decade and, at 43, has lost four of his past six. He said he plans to fight once more in 2020 before retiring from MMA.
Alistair Overeem (PRIDE record: 7-7): Overeem was a mainstay in PRIDE in the mid-2000s, fighting many of the biggest names the promotion had to offer with mixed success. It wasn’t until after PRIDE fizzled that Overeem retuned to heavyweight and changed his career trajectory. He went on a run that eventually landed him in the UFC, where he’s already fought once for the title. He’s trying to get back there now, too, and gets a big opportunity when he headlines UFC on ESPN 7 against Jair Rozenstruik on Dec. 7.
Mauricio Rua (PRIDE record: 12-1): Rua’s run through PRIDE was the stuff of magic. It’s one of the great stretches from any fighter in MMA history, and his only blemish in 13 fights with the organization came when he dislocated his arm 49 seconds into a fight with Mark Coleman. “Shogun” was among the faces of PRIDE during its final years, but eventually he would go to the UFC, where he would claim the light heavyweight belt. Injuries have plagued Rua’s octagon tenure, but he’s still won many fights and is on the cusp of a co-main event slot against Craig in his home country.
Anderson Silva (PRIDE record: 3-2): Silva’s PRIDE stint lasted less than three years and included the high of his flying knee knockout against Carlos Newton, as well as the low of his flying scissor heel hook loss to Ryo Chonan. He found his way to the UFC a couple years later and went on the greatest winning streak in company history at 16 fights. Those days seem long removed. “The Spider” is now 44 and has earned just one victory in his past eight fights.
Fabricio Werdum (PRIDE record: 4-2): Werdum’s run in PRIDE was relatively short, all things considered. He fought there six times over 17 months but was still very young in his MMA career. More than eight years would pass before the Brazilian would become UFC heavyweight champion, and it’s been more than three years since he lost it. Werdum is now 42 and in the middle of serving a USADA suspension that doesn’t expire until May 2020.

UFC on ESPN+ 22 pre-event facts: What record will Charles Oliveira set next?

The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 22, which features a Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza main event.

The UFC makes its final Brazil stop of the year on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 22, which takes place at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo with a 12-fight lineup set to stream entirely on ESPN+.

An important light heavyweight matchup headlines the card. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) will look to improve his status as a top contender when he meets [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 9-4 UFC), the former Strikeforce champ who is moving up to 205 pounds for the first time with hopes of a fresh start.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 22.

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Main event

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Blachowicz competes in his second UFC headliner. He’s 0-1 in previous main events.

Blachowicz is 5-1 in his past six UFC appearances dating back to October 2017. The only defeat in that stretch came to Thiago Santos.

Blachowicz is one of two light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 53.

Blachowicz lands 52 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC light-heavyweight competition, the second highest rate in divisional history behind Lyoto Machida (65 percent).

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Souza competes in the light heavyweight division for the first time in his career. He’s never fought above 194 pounds.

Souza has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 8 in April.

Souza has earned 22 of his 26 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his nine UFC wins.

Souza’s 14 victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are tied for third most in combined divisional history behind Michael Bisping (16) and Luke Rockhold (15).

Souza’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC/Strikeforce middleweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Rockhold (13).

Co-main event

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[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (26-11 MMA, 10-9 UFC) competes in his 20th UFC light heavyweight bout, tied with Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans and Ovince Saint Preux for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Jon Jones (21).

Rua’s 22 victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s 18 stoppage victories in UFC/PRIDE/WEC/Strikeforce competition are fourth most in combined organizational history behind Mirko Filipovic (21), Wanderlei Silva (20) and Donald Cerrone (20).

Rua’s 17 knockout victories in UFC/PRIDE light-heavyweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Rua’s eight knockout victories in modern UFC light-heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Chuck Liddell (nine).

Rua is the only light heavyweight in UFC history to earn his first six victories with the organization by knockout.

Rua’s 14 knockdowns landed in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied with Liddell for most in divisional history.

Rua’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC light-heavyweight fights are tied with Jones for most in divisional history.

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[autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 56-day stretch. He won at UFC on ESPN+ 17 on Sept. 21.

Craig has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He won his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.

Craig has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage.

Craig’s victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 is the latest submission in a three-round UFC fight.

Remaining main card

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[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) is 6-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in April 2017. He’s 8-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.

Oliveira’s average fight time of 5:08 in UFC lightweight competition is the second shortest in divisional history behind Manny Gamburyan (4:45).

Oliveira’s five-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Marlon Vera for the longest active streak in the company.

Oliveira’s 14 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort for second most in company history behind Cerrone (16).

Oliveira’s 13 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.

Oliveira’s six submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Oliveira’s four guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are tied with Nate Diaz for most in company history.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple submission victories via anaconda choke. Phil Davis also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with six different techniques. Frank Mir also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a calf-slicer submission victory. Brett Johns also accomplished the feat.

Oliveira has been awarded 14 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the fourth most in company history behind Cerrone (18), Diaz (15) and Joe Lauzon (15).

Oliveira has been awarded eight “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.

Oliveira is the only fighter in UFC history to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses in two separate divisions.

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[autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.

[autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Preliminary card

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[autotag]James Krause[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since August 2018. He hasn’t fought more than once in a calendar year since 2015.

Krause is 3-0 in the UFC when competing at welterweight.

Krause enters the event on a five-fight UFC winning streak. He hasn’t suffered an octagon defeat since February 2016.

[autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) moves up to the featherweight division after spending his previous five UFC appearances at bantamweight.

Ramos is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC 217. Dong Hyun Kim is the other fighter to win with the technique.

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[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC), 41, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Trinaldo, 41, is the oldest active fighter in the UFC lightweight division.

Trinaldo becomes the 12th fighter in UFC history to make 20 or more lightweight appearances.

Trinaldo is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two arm-triangle submission victories from half-guard.

[autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (24-9-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) is 1-4 (with one no contest) in his past six fights dating back to November 2014.

[autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]’ (13-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) three guillotine choke submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind Oliveira (four) and Diaz (four).

[autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) returns to the featherweight division for the first time since his UFC debut in February 2014. He went 4-2 at bantamweight.

Andrade is 3-3 in his past five fights after starting his career on a 23-fight unbeaten streak.

Andrade is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 98.

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[autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]’s (34-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2016.

Barao is 2-7 in his past nine fights after going on a 33-fight unbeaten streak that lasted more than nine years.

Barao returns to the featherweight division for the first time since September 2016. He went 0-4 during his most recent bantamweight stint before moving up.

Barao is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back kick to the head. He accomplished the feat at UFC 165.

Barao defends 92.5 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC competition, the sixth highest rate in company history.

Barao holds the record for most consecutive takedown attempts stopped in UFC history (33).

Barao’s five fight-night bonuses for UFC bantamweight bouts are tied for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).

[autotag]Veronica Macedo[/autotag] (6-3-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC) is 1-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in May 2018.

Macedo’s submission victory at 1:09 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the fastest finish in UFC women’s flyweight history.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

UFC on ESPN+ 22: Make your predictions for Jan Blachowicz vs. Ronaldo Souza

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 22 event in Sao Paulo.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN+ 22 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN+ 22 takes place Saturday at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo. The card streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

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