Four Brazilian MMA legends are returning to competition outside of MMA rules. Fabricio Werdum and Junior dos Santos will face each other in a grappling match on August 8, while Mauricio Shogun Rua and Glover Teixeira will compete in a boxing bout on August 29.
Four Brazilian MMA veterans are stepping outside their usual ruleset this summer, with Fabricio Werdum and Junior dos Santos set to meet in a grappling match on August 8, followed by a boxing bout between Mauricio Shogun Rua and Glover Teixeira on August 29.
Werdum, 48, is one of the most decorated submission grapplers in heavyweight history. The six-foot-four Brazilian, known as "Vai Cavalo," carries a professional MMA record of 24-9-1 and a 77-inch reach. He averaged 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his MMA career and lands significant strikes at a 52 percent accuracy rate — the highest among the fighters involved in these events. His takedown output of 1.75 per 15 minutes underlines a game built around bringing fights to the mat, making a pure grappling format a natural environment for him.
Dos Santos, nicknamed "Cigano," is six years younger at 42 and brings a 21-9-0 record into the contest. Also standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he built his reputation as one of the most dangerous heavyweight strikers of his era, averaging 4.49 significant strikes landed per minute in MMA — the highest rate in this group. His submission attempts sat at just 0.1 per 15 minutes, reflecting a career almost entirely focused on stand-up exchanges, which sets up an interesting contrast against Werdum on the ground.
Teixeira, 46, holds a 33-9-0 record and stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach. The former UFC light heavyweight champion averaged 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts in MMA, but he will test himself under boxing rules against Shogun Rua on August 29.
Why it matters
- Werdum's submission-heavy background versus Dos Santos's near-zero grappling output creates a stark stylistic mismatch on the mat.
- Teixeira and Rua are two of the most recognized names in light heavyweight history, giving the August 29 boxing card significant nostalgia value.
- Both events continue a broader trend of established MMA names competing in alternate combat sport formats.
