This Week’s MMA Birthdays: ‘Shogun’ Rua Turns 32

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Mauricio Rua was for a time the standard by which all other light heavyweight mixed martial artists were measured. “Shogun” will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Nov. 25.

Rua became an international superstar in 2005, when, during an incredible four-month tear, he defeated Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona to win the Pride Fighting Championships 205-pound grand prix. Spawned by the legendary Chute Boxe camp, the Brazilian arrived in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to considerable fanfare a little more than two years later, only to find the going far rougher inside the Octagon. Though he held the promotion’s light heavyweight crown from May 8, 2010 until March 19, 2011, Rua’s tenure in the UFC has been marked by injury and inconsistency, as he has compiled a 5-6 record within the promotion.

“Shogun” has lost four of his last six bouts, his wins over Forrest Griffin and Brandon Vera intertwined with defeats to Jon Jones, Dan Henderson, Alexander Gustafsson and Chael Sonnen. He last fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August, when he submitted to a first-round guillotine choke from Sonnen at the TD Garden in Boston. Rua will look to rebound from the first two-fight losing streak of his career when he meets James Te Huna in the UFC Fight Night 33 co-main event on Dec. 7 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering Nov. 24-Nov. 30:

NOV. 24

Mike Goldberg (49)

NOV. 25

Rob Smith (42)
Mauricio Rua (32)

NOV. 27

Satoru Sayama (56)
Homer Moore (42)
Brian Ebersole (33)
E.J. Brooks (28)

NOV. 28

Shane Howell (30)

NOV. 29

Ricardo Almeida (37)
Costas Philippou (34)
James Hammortree (30)
Jamie Yager (30)

NOV. 30

Jutaro Nakao (43)
Josh Koscheck (36)
Luke Caudillo (33)
Diego Nunes (31)

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