Mauricio Rua has a humble request for the way followers ought to view him.
The legendary “Shogun” retired on Saturday in his residence nation of Brazil after a loss to Ihor Potieria at UFC 283, a battle that concluded a 20-year journey that started in 2002. It was a longtime coming for Rua, 41, who has competed sporadically for the previous few years.
Regardless of crafting quite a few indelible recollections all through his preventing profession — together with tearing by means of PRIDE within the Japanese promotion’s hay day and a UFC mild heavyweight title win — Rua isn’t centered on celebrating his previous aggressive glories; slightly, he hopes folks concentrate on his character.
“The legacy I wish to go away and the best way I wish to be remembered is as an awesome individual, an excellent position mannequin contained in the octagon in addition to exterior the octagon,” Rua stated. “For us fighters I believe this is essential and that is actually what I believe fighters ought to put throughout and what I attempted to place throughout by means of this entire time. I attempted to be an excellent individual as knowledgeable athlete contained in the octagon, but additionally as a standard individual exterior the octagon.
“So I wish to be remembered as that, as somebody who was an excellent individual contained in the octagon, exterior the octagon, in all elements of my life.”
Beloved within the fight sports activities neighborhood and notably in Brazil, Rua had supporters speeding to sentence Potieria after the Ukrainian fighter seemingly disrespected Rua with a post-win celebration dance that included him making the movement of firing a gun. Potieria later defined that it was truly an indication of respect stemming from his nickname, “Duelist.”
Rua missed it when it occurred reside, however downplayed any potential disrespect gesture that Potieria might have displayed.
“No, I didn’t see something,” Rua stated. “Quite the opposite, he at all times confirmed respect for me through the weigh-ins or within the lodge after the battle, so I actually didn’t see something.”
With the loss, Rua closed out his profession on a three-fight skid. A homecoming reserving regarded like it could be the right second for Rua to finish his profession on a excessive word, nevertheless it wasn’t to be and he accepts {that a} fairy story ending wasn’t within the playing cards for him.
“Actually, I didn’t wish to end my profession with a loss,” Rua stated. “I wished to complete with a win, however sadly it wasn’t potential and though I misplaced I actually really feel a way of getting my mission achieved, of fulfilling my duties. As a result of for 21 years I gave my most, I left every part inside rings, octagons, I gave all of it and generally it occurs.
“So I really feel relieved and fulfilled and a way of accomplishment as a result of I did my greatest and it was a protracted profession and the one factor I can do is to do my greatest.”