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Light Heavyweight Division

Not Fighting

"Shogun"

Mauricio Rua

Light Heavyweight Division

27-14-1 (W-L-D)

21

Wins by Knockout

1

Wins by Submission

Mauricio Rua
  • Last fight

    Win
    Ihor Potieria

    Rua vs Potieria

    Jan. 21, 2023

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Mauricio Rua's UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Not Fighting
Place of Birth
Curitiba, Brazil
Trains at
Kings MMA - Huntington Beach, CA
Fighting style
Muay Thai
Age
41
Height
73.00
Weight
205.00
Octagon Debut
Sep. 22, 2007
Reach
76.00
Leg reach
40.50
  • Only fighter to score back-to-back KO wins over UFC Hall of Famers (Coleman and Liddell). Also defeated a third Hall of Famer, Forrest Griffin, in 2011

     
  • Has won five of his last ten bouts (5-4-1)

     
  • 21 wins by KO; one win by submission (kneebar)

     
  • 12-1 in PRIDE, with wins over Quinton Jackson, Akihiro Gono, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem (twice), Ricardo Arona, Kevin Randleman, and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

     
  • Decision win over Nogueira in 2005 (PRIDE) was one of the greatest fights in MMA history

UFC 283 (1/21/23) Rua was stopped by Ihor Potieria via strikes at 4:05 of the first round 

UFC 274 (5/7/22) Rua lost a three round split decision to Ovince Saint Preux

UFC 255 (11/21/20) Rua was stopped by Paul Craig via strikes at 3:36 of the second round

UFC on ESPN (7/26/20) Rua won a three round split decision over Rogerio Nogueira

UFC Fight Night (11/16/19) Rua fought to a three round draw with Paul Craig

UFC Fight Night (12/2/18) Rua stopped Tyson Pedro via strikes at :43 of the third round

UFC Fight Night (7/22/18) Rua was knocked out by Anthony Smith at 1:29 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (3/11/17) Rua stopped Gian Villante via strikes at :59 of the third round

UFC 198 (5/14/16) Rua won a three round split decision over Corey Anderson

UFC 190 (8/1/15) Rua won a three round unanimous decision over Rogerio Nogueira

UFC Fight Night (11/8/14) Rua was stopped by Ovince Saint Preux via strikes at :34 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (3/23/14) Rua was stopped by Dan Henderson via strikes at 1:31 of the third round

UFC Fight Night (12/7/13) Rua knocked out James Te Huna at 1:03 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (8/17/13) Rua was submitted by Chael Sonnen via guillotine choke at 4:47 of the first round

UFC on FOX (12/8/12) Rua lost a three round unanimous decision to Alexander Gustafsson

UFC on FOX (8/4/12) Rua stopped Brandon Vera via strikes at 4:09 of the fourth round

UFC 139 (11/19/11) Rua lost a five round unanimous decision to Dan Henderson

UFC 134 (8/27/11) Rua knocked out Forrest Griffin at 1:53 of the first round

UFC 128 (3/19/11) Rua was stopped by Jon Jones via strikes at 2:37 of the third round, losing his UFC light heavyweight title in the process

UFC 113 (5/8/10) Rua won the UFC light heavyweight title with a first round (3:35) knockout of Lyoto Machida.

UFC 104 (10/24/09) Rua lost a five round unanimous decision to UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

UFC 97 (4/18/09) Rua stopped Chuck Liddell via strikes at 4:28 of the first round.

UFC 93 (1/17/09) Rua got his first UFC victory, stopping Mark Coleman with strikes in their rematch at 4:36 of the third round.

UFC 76 (9/22/07) Rua was submitted via rear naked choke at 4:45 of the third round by Forrest Griffin.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started to train when I was 16 years old (1997), following in the steps of my older brother Murilo Ninja. For sure, I started to train because of him, and I went to the Chute Boxe Academy to watch him train.



What ranks and titles have you held? Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. PRIDE GRAND PRIX title in 2005 - It was a very difficult tournament and I beat some top guys to reach the title like Quinton Jackson, Rogerio Minotoro Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. TUF Brazil 4 coach. UFC Hall of Famer (Fight wing for Henderson I)



Do you have any heroes? My older brother Murilo Ninja is my hero. I'm a fighter today because of him; he was the guy that motivated me to get into the sport, and with my masters Rudimar Fedrigo and Rafael Cordeiro, they helped me to become a professional fighter.



What is your favorite technique? My background is Muay Thai but I like Jiu Jitsu too. 



What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It is a dream coming true. I had the opportunity to fight in PRIDE two times in the USA, and the American fans are incredible. The noise and excitement of the crowd is fantastic, and I'm sure that I have the opportunity of my life in the hands. UFC is the number one event around the world and I'm working hard for the belt, which is my main goal.



Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes, I went to college. Here in Brazil the names are a little different. I finished the second degree.



What was your job before you started fighting? I worked as a model here in Brazil, making some pictures, books and fashion parades for some brands. I enjoyed the experience, but to be honest I'm a fighter since I was 16.