Shogun Rua explains why he’s glad to fight Glover Teixeira outside the UFC: ‘It worked out for the best’
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Former UFC champions Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Glover Teixeira will face off in a boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 3 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 29, marking a long-awaited encounter outside the UFC.
- The fight, nearly 14 years after a potential UFC bout was declined, is an eight-round heavyweight pro-hybrid contest allowing knockouts, with both fighters around 45 years old and recently retired from MMA.
- Rua views this match as a farewell fight and an opportunity to introduce martial arts to a broader audience through Spaten Fight Night, which offers greater exposure via Brazilian TV Globo and backing from a major beverage company.
- Both fighters are evenly matched in boxing skills, with Rua noting their similar ages, fighting styles, and simultaneous UFC retirements, making the bout highly anticipated by fans familiar with their MMA legacies.
- Rua has been training in boxing since his UFC retirement, aiming for a knockout victory, and sees this event as a chance to build a lasting legacy beyond temporary wins and losses.
