UFC Legend Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to Be Inducted into 2024 Hall of Fame Class
zach bacharContributor IMay 5, 2024
Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
On Saturday, the UFC announced that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
UFC @ufcWelcome to the #UFCHOF, @ShogunRua 👏
Mauricio Rua will join the 2024 HOF class! pic.twitter.com/EyKZnuQMBe
Rua will enter the Hall of Fame as the 20th member of the Pioneer Era Wing, which includes athletes that turned professional before the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted in Nov. 2000.
The 42-year-old finished with a record of 27-14-1 throughout 42 career fights, earning notable wins over UFC greats such as Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell.
Rua holds multiple UFC records, as his 24 fights are the most in UFC light heavyweight history while his 14 knockdowns are tied for the highest mark in light heavyweight history. His eight knockouts rank No. 2 all-time among members of the division.
He’s already earned some Hall of Fame recognition prior to Saturday’s announcement, as his 2011 clash with Dan Henderson at UFC 139 was inducted into the fight wing of the hall in 2018 (h/t MMA Junkie). Now, he’ll hold an individual honor as well.
UFC President & CEO Dana White commended Rua, calling him “one of the greatest Brazilian athletes in combat sports history.”
“Shogun had an incredible run in PRIDE and UFC, and he was fearless inside the Octagon,” White said, via ufc.com. “His fights against Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson represent some of the most memorable moments in UFC history and helped put Brazilian MMA on the map. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer during International Fight Week.”
Rua rounds out a class of inductees that includes Frankie Edgar, Joana Jedrzejczyk, and Wanderlei Silva. The clash between Anderson Silva and and Chael Sonnen from UFC 117 will also be inducted into the fight wing.
The induction ceremony will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 27.
