‘Shogun’ Rua Targets September Return, Wants to Complete Final Two Fights of UFC Deal

One of the few fighters in MMA history to win championships in Pride and the UFC, Mauricio Rua is getting close to retirement. 

After a lackluster performance in a second-round TKO loss to Paul Craig at UFC 255 last November, the 39-year-old “Shogun” received pressure from fans and promotion head Dana White to call it a career.

In an interview with Brazilian outlett OSS, Rua expressed a desire to complete the remaining two fights on his current UFC deal.

"In my last fight I hurt my arm, so I have not been able to return 100 percent to jiu-jitsu and grappling training. My goal is return in September,” he said. “My next fight may be the last, but I don’t want to put any pressure on myself about that because I still have two fights in my contract.”

As far as the rest of the light heavyweight division goes, Rua believes Glover Teixeira will emerge victorious when he meets Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight crown at UFC 266 in September.

"Glover is 41 years and probably in the best part of his career,” Rua said. [Thiago Santos] already knocked out Blachowicz and Glover submitted ‘Marreta.’ I think his single-leg game will be a problem for the champion. If I had to bet money on it, I would say he will impose his ground-and-pound and win the title.”

Rua also discussed his interest in grappling rules matchup with former Pride rival Ricardo Arona once he reaches the end of his MMA career.

"I would love to face Arona in a submission super fight and I would win, again,” he said.