Shogun Rua will be walking away for good after UFC 283.
Rua is set to headline the prelims against Ihor Potieria on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When the fight was announced, it was reported that it would be Rua’s retirement fight as the 41-year-old Brazilian wanted his last fight to be at home.
Shogun Rua on His Last Fight
“I wanted to have my last fight in Brazil. It’s going to be tough,” Rua said at media day. “Every fight is a lot of emotions, a lot of adrenaline and nervousness, but being the last fight and everything, I’m going to have to be focused and get through that.”
Although Shogun Rua has been adamant this is his last fight, combat sports retirements often don’t last long as the itch to compete comes back. Or, perhaps MMA fighters go into boxing or different sports but Rua says this truly is the last time he will compete in combat sports.
“I’m going to really stop,” Rua said. “There’s a lot of people that retire and come back a year later, but I don’t like that. I’m retiring from all sport. I could’ve stopped a few years ago, but I really didn’t want to regret stopping at the wrong time. So it’s something very personal. My wife wanted me to stop ever since we got married. But I think I’m making this choice at the right time…”
“I’m very thankful for my career, very honored,” Rua later added. “(I’m) thankful to God. When I finish fighting, which is going to be this Saturday, I can say I’m very honored and very happy with my career. I’m a very fulfilled and accomplished guy.”
Shogun Rua (27-13-1) is on a two-fight losing skid having lost a close decision to Ovince Saint Preux last time out and prior to that, he suffered a TKO loss to Paul Craig. The former UFC champion and MMA legend is 11-11-1 in the UFC and in his career, has notable wins over Corey Anderson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Forrest Griffin, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, Alistair Overeem, and Rampage Jackson among countless others.
