Through the ups and downs of his career, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has never lost his love for the game. That devotion has allowed the 35-year-old, one of the last men standing from the storied PRIDE era, to not just put together his two-fight winning streak since 2009, but to remain relevant in the light heavyweight division as he heads into his Saturday co-main event against Gian Villante.
“I love what I do,” Rua said through translator / manager Eduardo Alonso. “I am a fighter, and I never stopped enjoying it. The day I stop enjoying my job is the day I'll retire.