Considered to be on the the biggest MMA stars to ever come from
Brazil, Mauricio Rua
will write the final chapter of his storied career at UFC
283.
Advertisement
“Shogun’s” swan song will come against Ihor Potieira, a man 15
years his junior who is coming off a second-round technical
knockout loss to Nicolae
Negumereanu in his Octagon debut at UFC 277.
“I’m studying a lot his fights,” Rua told Sherdog.com. “He is a
southpaw and very aggressive. Of course I have to be cautious, but
my nature will always push me to try to win via knockout.”
According to Rua, he will be 100% retired after UFC 283, no matter
what the result of his 42nd professional fight may be.
“That’s guaranteed. I’m not going to look for boxing matches or
superfights. I´m totally satisfied with my 20-year career. My goal
now is dedicate time to my family and also give more attention to
my Shogun Team academies.”
Rua claims that there will be 80 franchises with the Shogun Academy
name throughout Brazil.
“Our goal is not to make MMA champions but to use martial arts to
improve the quality of life in an atmosphere where we have space
for all ages,” he said.
The former UFC and Pride Grand Prix champion isn’t planning on
making a farewell speech in the Octagon following his final
bout.
“My only plan is try to give a great last fight to the fans,” he
said. “I’m a shy person. I don’t like tributes or anything like
that.”
In a career filled with bouts against some of the most important
fighters of the light heavyweight divison, “Shogun” is able to
select the most significant moment of his tenure without
hesitation.
“Without a doubt it was Aug. 28, 2005, the day I won the Pride
Grand Prix. I entered as underdog and finished as champion in a
tournament with 16 fighters, which was considered by many as the
toughest Grand Prix ever.”
There’s one fight that Rua wishes came to fruition, and that’s
against fellow Pride legend Fedor
Emelianenko.
“After I won the light heavyweight [grand prix] and he won the
heavyweight grand prix, the promoters started to talk about a
superfight, but it never happened,” Rua said. “Coincidentally I was
probably closer to fighting my idol Wanderlei [Silva before he lost
to Ricardo
Arona in the seminfinals]. But It would have been an honor to
fight Fedor when we both were in our primes. In my opinion, Fedor
is among the three best pound-for-pound fighters ever.”