Glover Teixeira makes triumphant return to fighting with win over Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua
Glover Teixeira and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua faced off in a thrilling boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 3, with the bout going all eight rounds before Teixeira's hand was raised.
Two Brazilian legends in Glover Teixeira and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua returned to action this past Saturday in SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil. However, instead of MMA, the two men clashed in an eight-round boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 3, which ultimately saw Teixeira get his hand raised.
Glover Teixeira finds his first win in three years
The Glover Teixeira vs. Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua fight at Spaten Fight Night 3 was both men's first combat sports bout since 2023. To up the entertainment value of their encounter, it was made a boxing match, as both men made their names in MMA as strikers. However, it was a rule-set far better suited to Teixeira, whose always favored 'The Sweet Science,' while 'Shogun' has, historically, been a Muay Thai specialist in the cage. So, when they clashed, it should come as no surprise that Teixeira won, using forward pressure to crowd and batter 'Shogun' for 8 rounds, even scoring a knockdown en route to a unanimous decision win.
Prior to the boxing match, Teixeira's last fight had been at UFC 283, where he was handed a brutal, one-sided beatdown at the hands of Jamahal Hill for the then vacant UFC light heavyweight title, which he had lost just one fight prior in his first title defense at UFC 275 via fifth-round submission to JiĆĂ ProchĂĄzka. His brief championship reign distinguished him as the second-oldest UFC champion in history, with only Randy Couture being older. Similar to Teixeira, 'Shogun' also enjoyed a brief reign as light heavyweight champion that he failed to solidify with a successful title defense, as he suffered his own lopsided beatdown, though his loss came in the form of a third-round TKO courtesy of the great Jon Jones at UFC 128.
After his latest loss to Teixeira, 'Shogun' should hang up the gloves, as he succeeded only in taking unnecessary punishment. He is 44 years old and a veteran of over 40 professional fights. Teixeira should also consider committing to retirement and continuing his role as a coach and cornerman to Alex Pereira, as he is even older at 46 years old and also carrying over 40 fights worth of damage.
