Werdum, Dos Santos to grapple; Shogun, Teixeira to box in August

Four Brazilian MMA legends are set to step back into competition this summer under different rule sets, with two high-profile crossover events scheduled for August 2026.

Fabricio Werdum and Junior Dos Santos will settle their rivalry on the grappling mat on August 8. Werdum, 48, carries a professional MMA record of 24-9-1 and built his legacy as one of the most decorated submission artists in heavyweight history, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the orthodox fighter known as "Vai Cavalo" brings elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials to the match. Dos Santos, nicknamed "Cigano," is 42 years old and holds a 21-9-0 record. The former heavyweight champion was always regarded as one of the division's premier strikers, averaging 4.49 significant strikes per minute with 47 percent accuracy, and his grappling credentials will face a steep test against Werdum.

On August 29, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Glover Teixeira will face each other under boxing rules. Teixeira, 46, compiled a 33-9-0 MMA record and held the UFC light heavyweight title, demonstrating well-rounded skills that included 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and a 49 percent striking accuracy. At six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, the Teixeira MMA and Fitness representative brings genuine punching power to the boxing ring.

Why it matters

• Both events repurpose MMA careers into specialist formats, testing how skill sets translate outside mixed rules
• Werdum versus Dos Santos isolates the grappling dimension of a rivalry built in the heavyweight MMA era
• Teixeira versus Shogun under boxing rules strips away Teixeira's grappling advantage, leveling the competitive equation
• All four fighters remain prominent names in Brazilian combat sports, ensuring strong regional and global interest