Hey there, fight fans! 🥊
Big news just dropped on Twitter. Guess who’s stepping into the prestigious #UFCHOF circle? That’s right, @ShogunRua! A round of applause, folks. 👏
Mauricio Rua’s set to join the elite 2024 HOF class. Check out the deets right here: [pic.twitter.com/EyKZnuQMBe](https://t.co/EyKZnuQMBe). Mark your calendars for May 5, 2024!
Oh, and before I forget, there’s this ad popping up. Just scroll past it, okay?
Now, onto the juicy stuff. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is making his grand entrance into the Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame this summer. It’s happening, people!
He’s getting his name etched in the “Pioneer” wing. The big day? June 27, in none other than Las Vegas. Rua’s not just any fighter; he’s a former UFC light heavyweight champ and the 2005 Pride Fighting Championships middleweight grand prix champ. Talk about a legend!
Dana White, the big boss over at UFC, couldn’t stop raving about “Shogun.” He called him one of the greatest Brazilian athletes in combat sports. Ever. “Shogun had an incredible run in Pride and UFC, and he was fearless inside the Octagon,” White said. His battles with Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson? Epic. They’re the stuff of UFC legend, putting Brazilian MMA on the global map. White’s pumped to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame during International Fight Week this summer.
Rua’s MMA career? Stellar. Kicked off in 2002 and racked up a record of 27-14-1. He snagged the Pride middleweight grand prix title with first-round KO/TKO wins over Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona. And it all went down on the same night at Pride “Final Conflict 2005” on Aug. 28, 2005. Talk about a night to remember!
But wait, there’s more. Rua clinched the UFC light heavyweight gold by knocking out Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. Though he later handed the belt over to Jon Jones at UFC 128, his record’s still jaw-dropping. We’re talking the most fights (24), most knockdowns (14), and the second-most KO/TKO (eight) victories in UFC light heavyweight history.
And let’s not forget his victories over Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogeirio Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Forrest Griffin, and Corey Anderson. “Shogun” truly is a living legend.
So, what do you think? Is “Shogun” Rua’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame the highlight of 2024 or what? Let’s chat in the comments!