‘I’m prioritizing my health’ - Shogun will retire after one or two fights

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Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
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Mauricio Rua may be close to calling it a career.



After almost 20 years of professional fighting, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua could be close to calling it a career. Although ‘Shogun’ does not want to pinpoint when exactly he will hang up the gloves, he does admit the end might be closer than it seems.

In an interview with Combate, Mauricio explained how he has been thinking about retiring lately. While he does not want to say he will have his farewell after his next outing, the Brazilian makes it clear that it could be a real possibility and eyes a challenge in August or September of this year.

“My head is at ease. I’ve accomplished a lot in my career. When I stop, I’ll be grateful for all the blessings I got. I want to have one or two more fights. I’m not sure yet. I want to be relaxed and calm to make this decision on my own. I’ll fight my next fight like it’s my last, but it may not be. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. I want to fight with no added pressure and might be my last or my second to last fight.”

After fighting at the highest level for the better part of his career, Shogun is finally ready to admit that all the years are starting to take their toll. At 39 years of age, Mauricio does not consider himself old for the sport, but admits that the added injuries and the possibility of suffering even more serious ones might jeopardize his health after he retires.

“I don’t consider myself an old guy. I have good training sessions and am able to spar with everyone. Some athletes are over 40 and doing well, like Demian Maia and Fabricio Werdum. The biggest hardship I’ve had in my career is injuries. I’m prioritizing my health post-retirement so that’s why I’m only considering fighting twice more, tops.”

In his last outing, Rua (27-12-1) got TKO’d by Paul Craig after submitting to strikes, in back in November 2020. The loss came after a split decision victory over longtime rival Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in a trilogy bout that ended the career of “Lil Nog.”

Overall, Shogun’s record in the UFC is an almost even 11-10-1, with his debut dating all the way back to September 2007. Prior to joining the UFC and eventually winning the belt, he was a superstar in PRIDE, most notably winning the iconic 2005 middleweight grand prix where he beat Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, “Lil Nog,” Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona.


‘I’m prioritizing my health’ - Shogun Rua says he’ll retire after one or two more fights
 
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Sheepdog

Protecting America from excessive stool loitering
Dec 1, 2015
8,912
14,237
There's actually a nice picture of Shogun in that link where he talks about prioritizing his health.

 

Tuc Ouiner

Posting Machine
May 19, 2016
1,816
1,467
20 years in baseball and he'd almost be in the billionaire club. Comparatively speaking, MMA guys should be making more. They train more and they get punched in the face more than baseball players.
 

Jesus X

4 drink minimum.
Sep 7, 2015
28,766
31,291
20 years in baseball and he'd almost be in the billionaire club. Comparatively speaking, MMA guys should be making more. They train more and they get punched in the face more than baseball players.
mma fighters should be having 450 million dollars 10 years into their careers like a bryce harper or a mike trout. baseball even has some of the same sponsors as mma.

baseball no longer relies on network tv money so I dont see why mma doesn't have their kind of money on the net or on cable.
 

Enock-O-Lypse Now!

Underneath Denver International Airport
Jun 19, 2016
11,737
19,619
Should have hung it up after the Hendo War.

Shogun was loved by everyone just a warrior, always wondered how the fight with Rashad would have went before Shad got injured and Bones stepped in.
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
20 years in baseball and he'd almost be in the billionaire club.
Which MLB players have earned the most money?

Alex Rodriguez
is the highest-paid MLB player ever, having earned $399m in salary over the course of his career.

Known mostly for his time with the Yankees, Rodriguez also played for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers during his 22-year MLB stint.
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
baseball no longer relies on network tv money so I dont see why mma doesn't have their kind of money on the net or on cable.
I can't go a day without seeing a Red Sox, Yankees, or Dodgers hat. I've never once seen a single piece of UFC merch in the wild. I'd guess that has something to do with it.

There's also that MLB has like 1000 televised events per year. UFC has about 30.
 

Thuglife13

✝👦🍕🍦🍩
Dec 15, 2018
20,385
27,213
I can't go a day without seeing a Red Sox, Yankees, or Dodgers hat. I've never once seen a single piece of UFC merch in the wild. I'd guess that has something to do with it.

There's also that MLB has like 1000 televised events per year. UFC has about 30.
It should be open season (on sight) on anyone wearing a Red Sox hat homie...

Yankees (Yee) Los Doyers (I'll allow it)

 

tang

top korean roofer
Oct 21, 2015
9,398
12,402
"i'm prioritizing my health" is probably little too late considering all the wars he had
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
mma fighters should be having 450 million dollars 10 years into their careers like a bryce harper or a mike trout. baseball even has some of the same sponsors as mma.

baseball no longer relies on network tv money so I dont see why mma doesn't have their kind of money on the net or on cable.
Baseball players have a union.
 

Nemo?

Too weird to live, too rare to die.
Dec 2, 2015
4,714
7,898

John Lee Pettimore

Further south than you
May 18, 2021
6,302
6,762
mma fighters should be having 450 million dollars 10 years into their careers like a bryce harper or a mike trout. baseball even has some of the same sponsors as mma.
In 2019, Bryce Harper played 157 Major League baseball games.

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