Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to be Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is entering a special hall…

The 42-year-old Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist, one of the most lethal knockout artists of all time,will be inducted by the UFC into the its Hall of Fame later this year.

Mauricio "Shogun" RuaRua holds a special place in combat history, having won titles in the UFC and Pride Fighting Championship.

He rose to prominence as a member of the famed Chute Boxe Academy and won the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix over Quinton “Rampage” JacksonAntonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona.

Rua (27-14-1) moved to the UFC when it acquired Pride in 2007. A knockout win over Chuck Liddell in 2009 earned him a light heavyweight title shot against a seemingly invincible champion in Lyoto Machida. Rua ended up losing to Machida in a highly controversial decision at UFC 104. The UFC booked an immediate rematch and Rua knocked out Machida in the first round.

Rua continued to fight until January 2023, when he retired in the Octagon in Rio de Janeiro after a loss to Ihor Potieria.

He’s already in the UFC Hall of Fame‘s fight wing, thanks to his classic bout against Dan Henderson at UFC 139 in 2011.

He will now enter the modern wing in 2024 along with Wanderlei SilvaFrankie Edgar and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

UFC Legend Anderson Silva to be Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

Anderson Silva is headed to the hall…

The 47-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and boxer, a former UFC Middleweight Champion who holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer, the promotion announced during the UFC 286 broadcast.

Anderson SilvaConsidered one of the greatest MMA fighters to ever live will enter the Hall as part of the pioneer wing.

The Spider, as he’s nicknamed, has dominated the sport. He held the UFC middleweight title from 2006 to 2013 and compiled 16 straight victories in the UFC, the longest winning streak in promotion history.

Silva had 10 middleweight title defenses, second all-time after Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson (11).

“Anderson Silva is one of the greatest athletes of all time,” UFC president Dana White said in a statement. “Anderson’s 16-fight winning streak in the UFC, 10 successful title defenses and almost seven years as middleweight champion were one of the most remarkable things we’ve ever seen in professional sports. He was an absolute artist inside the Octagon, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

It wasn’t just that Silva would win, either. He put opponents away with a flourish, sometimes making foes look foolish in the process. His nine UFC title finishes are the most in promotion history, and he’s tied for the most KO/TKOs in UFC middleweight history.

Silva asked for his UFC release in 2020 and went on to win boxing matches against former world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and fellow UFC luminary Tito OrtizJake Paul defeated Silva in a boxing match, Silva’s most recent fight, last October.

In the UFC, Silva owns victories over the likes of Rich FranklinDan HendersonVitor BelfortChael Sonnen (twice) and Forrest Griffin.

Mauricio Rua Defeats Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in UFC Fight Night to Complete Clean Sweep Against His Compatriot

It’s a clean sweep for Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

The 38-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist defeated his compatriot Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, completing a clean sweep in their trilogy of fights.

Mauricio Shogun Rua

Rua had previously defeated Nogueira in 2005 on his way to winning a Pride Middleweight Grand Prix. Ten years later, Rua him again once both had made it to the UFC — and after Rua had reigned as light heavyweight champion. 

For Nogueira, the split decision defeat in the United Arab Emirates was a final disappointment, as he indicated beforehand it would be the last fight of a professional career that began in 2001.

Asked after the fight, Nogueira addressed the thought that this could be the end.

“I think so. I know I can fight very well,” he said, “but I think it’s time for the new generation to come.”

Nogueira ends his career having scored victories over some elite competition, including Dan HendersonRashad EvansTito Ortiz and Kazushi Sakuraba. He had wins over Alistair Overeem.

Just not Rua.

Saturday’s bout started out much like the first two meetings — except in slow motion. Nogueira, who came in having lost four of his previous six fights, circled Rua and measured him for left hands. Nogueira finally landed one midway through the first round, and Rua, showing some facial damage, went for a takedown and took the fight to the canvas.

Rua tried to repeat that in the second round but failed on two takedown attempts, but he did get the fight back to the canvas late in Round 3. Along the way, he also punished Nogueira with calf kicks, softening up the lead leg.

Rua did enough to earn 29-28 scores from two judges, while the third had the same score for Nogueira.

Rua, a former UFC light heavyweight champ, has lost only one of his past seven fights.