Mauricio Rua 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.
