Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua is soon to become the latest iconic mixed martial arts fighter to be enshrined in the organisation’s Hall of Fame.
Shogun, 42, formally entered the UFC in September 2007 on the back of a legendary run in Japanese promotion PRIDE where he won the 2005 middleweight grand prix, defeating Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona en route to claiming the prize.
However, his debut with the UFC prompted one of the year’s biggest upsets as he was submitted late in the third round by the future 205-pound champion Forrest Griffin.
Soon though, Shogun found himself at the top of the mountain. In May 2010, he became the first fighter to defeat Lyoto Machida in professional competition, claiming the light heavyweight title and avenging a controversial decision defeat about seven months prior. However, Shogun would surrender the 205-pound crown to Jon Jones less than a year later in a defeat that represented the start of a downturn in his career.
He formally retired from active competition following a January 2023 TKO loss to Ihor Potieria — but even after hanging up his 4oz gloves, Shogun’s influence on the sport is beyond doubt.
Check out the video to announce his addition to the UFC Hall of Fame, which was announced at last Saturday’s UFC 301 event in Rio de Janeiro, in the embedded player below.
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