Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will return to competition in a boxing match against fellow legend Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua on August 29 at Spaten Fight Night in São Paulo, Brazil. The 46-year-old Teixeira has been out of action since losing to Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 and has since focused on coaching, including work with UFC champion Alex Pereira. The two veterans never crossed paths during their MMA careers, making this boxing encounter a long-awaited meeting between two of the sport's icons.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira is set to make his return to competition in a boxing ring, with the Brazilian legend scheduled to face fellow MMA icon Mauricio "Shogun" Rua on August 29 at Spaten Fight Night in São Paulo, Brazil.
Teixeira, 46, steps back into combat sports for the first time since dropping the light heavyweight title fight against Jamahal Hill at UFC 283. In the time since that loss, the Brazililan has channeled his energy into coaching, notably working alongside UFC champion Alex Pereira. Over a decorated MMA career that produced a 33-9-0 record, Teixeira established himself as one of the most durable and dangerous fighters the 205-pound division has ever seen. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, he averaged 3.73 significant strikes landed per minute at 49 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently on the ground with 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Rua, one of the most celebrated strikers in light heavyweight history, brings his own legendary résumé to the matchup. The two veterans never shared a cage during their respective MMA careers, lending this boxing encounter a sense of long-overdue occasion for fans who followed both men across decades of competition.
Why it matters
- Two of Brazil's most celebrated combat sports exports finally meet, giving the São Paulo crowd a historic home-country matchup.
- The transition to a boxing ruleset puts the focus squarely on striking, a domain where both men built their reputations.
- Teixeira's ring rust after his absence from competition adds an intriguing variable to an already compelling generational clash.
- The event carries additional weight as a platform event in Brazil, signaling continued investment in combat sports spectacle outside the traditional UFC framework.
