Personal Information
Full Name | Mauricio Milani Rua |
Date of Birth | November 25, 1981 |
Nationality | Brazilian |
Nickname | Shogun |
Maurício Rua: A Brief Biography
The Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division. Mauricio Rua is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix champion.
Latest News Update for Mauricio Rua
Mauricio Rua is set to face Ihor Potieria at UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill on January 21, 2023, at Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mauricio Rua Facts
Birth Place | Curitiba, Brazil |
Father’s Name | Antonio Rua |
Mother’s Name | Clementina Rua |
Star Sign | Sagittarius |
Net Worth (2023) | $6.5 million |
Last Fight Earnings | $220,000 |
Age | 41 |
Education | N/A |
MMA Debut | 2002 |
MMA Record | 27-13-1 |
Achievements | Former UFC light heavyweight champion/ 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix champion |
Partner | Rinata Ribeiro |
Early Life and Career
Mauricio Milani Rua’s was born on November 25, 1981, in Curitiba, Brazil. His mother was a former track athlete, and his father was a businessman. Rua and his brothers are known to take 10-kilometre runs with their mother.
Mauricio Rua started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at six and Muay Thai when he was 7.
‘Shogun’ made his professional mixed martial art debut at Meca World Vale Tudo 7 against Rafael Freitas on November 8, 2002, in Curitiba, Brazil. He won the fight via knockout kick in the first round.
Rua made his PRIDE Bushido 1 debut on October 5, 2003, against Akira Shoji in Japan and won the fight via knockout punches.
Mauricio Rua won the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix championship on August 28, 2005, against Ricardo Arona in Japan.
Mauricio Rua’s Career in UFC
Mauricio Rua made his octagon debut on September 22, 2007, at UFC 76 against Forest Griffin. Rua lost the fight via submission in the third round.
‘Shogun ‘ faced Lyoto Machida for the UFC light heavyweight title on October 24, 2009, at UFC 104 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rua won the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 113 against Lyoto Machida on May 8 2010, via knockout.
On March 19, 2011, Mauricio Rua lost his UFC light heavyweight title to Jon Jones at UFC 128. Jones won the bout via technical knockout.
Mauricio Rua had his last fight with Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 274 on May 7, 2022. Rua lost the fight via decision.
Mauricio Rua Record
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
Loss | 27–13–1 | Ovince Saint Preux | Decision (split) | UFC 274 | May 7, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Loss | 27–12–1 | Paul Craig | TKO (submission to punches) | UFC 255 | November 21, 2020 | 2 | 3:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 27–11–1 | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | July 26, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Draw | 26–11–1 | Paul Craig | Draw (split) | UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré | November 16, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
Win | 26–11 | Tyson Pedro | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | December 2, 2018 | 3 | 0:43 | Adelaide, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 25–11 | Anthony Smith | KO (elbow) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith | July 22, 2018 | 1 | 1:29 | Hamburg, Germany | |
Win | 25–10 | Gian Villante | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum | March 11, 2017 | 3 | 0:59 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
Win | 24–10 | Corey Anderson | Decision (split) | UFC 198 | May 14, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
Win | 23–10 | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 190 | August 1, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Fight of the Night. |
Loss | 22–10 | Ovince Saint Preux | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux | November 8, 2014 | 1 | 0:34 | Uberlândia, Brazil | |
Loss | 22–9 | Dan Henderson | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 | March 23, 2014 | 3 | 1:31 | Natal, Brazil | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 22–8 | James Te Huna | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot | December 7, 2013 | 1 | 1:03 | Brisbane, Australia | Knockout of the Night. |
Loss | 21–8 | Chael Sonnen | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen | August 17, 2013 | 1 | 4:47 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
Loss | 21–7 | Alexander Gustafsson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz | December 8, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
Win | 21–6 | Brandon Vera | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera | August 4, 2012 | 4 | 4:09 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
Loss | 20–6 | Dan Henderson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 139 | November 19, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 20–5 | Forrest Griffin | KO (punches) | UFC 134 | August 27, 2011 | 1 | 1:53 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
Loss | 19–5 | Jon Jones | TKO (punches and knees) | UFC 128 | March 19, 2011 | 3 | 2:37 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
Win | 19–4 | Lyoto Machida | KO (punches) | UFC 113 | May 8, 2010 | 1 | 3:35 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Knockout of the Night. |
Loss | 18–4 | Lyoto Machida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 104 | October 24, 2009 | 5 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
Win | 18–3 | Chuck Liddell | TKO (punches) | UFC 97 | April 18, 2009 | 1 | 4:28 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Knockout of the Night. |
Win | 17–3 | Mark Coleman | TKO (punches) | UFC 93 | January 17, 2009 | 3 | 4:36 | Dublin, Ireland | Fight of the Night. |
Loss | 16–3 | Forrest Griffin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 76 | September 22, 2007 | 3 | 4:45 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
Win | 16–2 | Alistair Overeem | KO (punches) | PRIDE 33 | February 24, 2007 | 1 | 3:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 15–2 | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Shockwave 2006 | December 31, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
Win | 14–2 | Kevin Randleman | Submission (kneebar) | PRIDE 32 | October 21, 2006 | 1 | 2:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Heavyweight bout. |
Win | 13–2 | Cyrille Diabaté | TKO (stomps) | PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute | September 10, 2006 | 1 | 5:29 | Saitama, Japan | Return to Middleweight (205 lb). |
Loss | 12–2 | Mark Coleman | TKO (broken arm) | PRIDE 31 | February 26 2006 | 1 | 0:49 | Saitama, Japan | Heavyweight debut. |
Win | 12–1 | Ricardo Arona | KO (punches) | PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 | August 28 2005 | 1 | 2:54 | Saitama, Japan | Won the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix. |
Win | 11–1 | Alistair Overeem | TKO (punches) | 1 | 6:42 | 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal. | |||
Win | 10–1 | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 | June 26 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
Win | 9–1 | Quinton Jackson | TKO (soccer kicks) | PRIDE Total Elimination 2005 | April 23 2005 | 1 | 4:47 | Osaka, Japan | 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round. |
Win | 8–1 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | TKO (stomp) | PRIDE 29 | February 20 2005 | 1 | 1:40 | Saitama, Japan | |
Win | 7–1 | Yasuhito Namekawa | TKO (punches) | PRIDE Bushido 5 | October 14 2004 | 1 | 6:02 | Osaka, Japan | |
Win | 6–1 | Akihiro Gono | TKO (soccer kicks) | PRIDE Bushido 2 | February 15 2004 | 1 | 9:04 | Kanagawa, Japan | |
Win | 5–1 | Akira Shoji | KO (punches) | PRIDE Bushido 1 | October 5 2003 | 1 | 3:47 | Saitama, Japan | |
Loss | 4–1 | Renato Sobral | Submission (guillotine choke) | IFC: Global Domination | September 6 2003 | 3 | 3:07 | Denver, Colorado, United States | IFC Light heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
Win | 4–0 | Erik Wanderley | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:54 | IFC Light heavyweight Tournament Opening Round. | |||
Win | 3–0 | Evangelista Santos | TKO (punches) | Meca World Vale Tudo 9 | August 1 2003 | 1 | 9:22 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
Win | 2–0 | Angelo de Oliveira | TKO (soccer kicks) | Meca World Vale Tudo 8 | May 16 2003 | 1 | 0:55 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
Win | 1–0 | Rafael Freitas | KO (kick) | Meca World Vale Tudo 7 | November 8 2002 | 1 | 4:00 | Curitiba, Brazil |
Mauricio Rua’s Most Popular Fights
Mauricio Rua vs. Lyoto Machida 2
‘Shogun’ faced Lyoto Machida for the second time on May 8, 2010, at UFC 113 for the UFC light heavyweight title.
Mauricio Rua won the fight via knockout punches in the first round.
Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones
At UFC 128, Mauricio Rua had his first title defense against Jone Jones on March 19, 2011.
Jon Jones won the fight via technical knockout punches.
FAQs on Mauricio Rua
Q1. When did Mauricio Rua become the UFC champion?
Mauricio Rua became the UFC light heavyweight champion on May 8, 2010, at UFC113.
Q2. Who is Mauricio Rua fighting next?
Mauricio Rua is set to fight Ihor Potieria for his next outing at UFC 283.
*Last updated on January 21, 2023.