MMA legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua ended his illustrious two-decade career before a home crowd in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 283. Sadly for Rua, his final outing as a fighter ended in a first-round loss to Ihor Potieria. Despite this, Rua, who once held the UFC light heavyweight championship and the PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix championship, told the post-fight press conference that he wants to be remembered as a role model, not just as a fighter.
“The legacy I want to leave and the way I want to be remembered is as a great person, a good role model inside the octagon as well as outside the octagon.
Shogun Rua Reflects on UFC Legacy
For us fighters I think this is very important and this is really what I think fighters should put across and what I tried to put across through this whole time. I tried to be a good person as a professional athlete inside the octagon, but also as a normal person outside the octagon.
So I want to be remembered as that, as someone who was a very good person inside the octagon, outside the octagon, in all aspects of my life.”
Rua was beloved in the combat sports community, particularly in his home country of Brazil. Potieria’s post-fight celebrations were deemed disrespectful by many in attendance at UFC 283, but Rua downplayed any perceived disrespect from his opponent.
“No, I didn’t see anything. On the contrary, he always showed respect for me during the weigh-ins or in the hotel after the fight, so I really didn’t see anything.”
Rua, despite his illustrious career, finished things with a three-fight losing streak. While that’s far from the ending he hoped for, “Shogun” remains proud of his accomplishments, citing his twenty-one years in the business.
“Certainly, I didn’t want to finish my career with a loss. I wanted to finish with a win, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible and even though I lost I really feel a sense of having my mission accomplished, of fulfilling my duties. Because for 21 years I gave my most, I left everything inside rings, octagons, I gave it all and sometimes it happens.
So I feel relieved and fulfilled and a sense of accomplishment because I did my best and it was a long career and the only thing I can do is to do my best.”
How will you remember Shogun Rua’s time in the cage? Let us know in the comments.
