Glover Teixeira and Maurício Shogun delivered a duel worthy of two MMA legends in a boxing ring. The former UFC champions headlined Spaten Fight Night 3, and while previous editions of the event had been disappointing, this time the veterans delivered a true spectacle to the audience, with the Minas Gerais native defeating the Curitiba native.
Glover Teixeira ended his MMA career with a record of 33 wins. The Minas Gerais native also made history by becoming the oldest fighter to win the UFC light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) undisputed title.
Glover Teixeira defeated Mauricio Shogun at Spaten Fight Night 3. Photo: Press Release / Spaten
Maurício Shogun Rua , for his part, hung up his gloves with a record of 27 wins, 14 losses, and one draw. Known for his aggressive striking style, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix winner achieved 21 of his victories by knockout.
Glover puts Shogun on the ropes and gains an advantage.
Glover and Shogun started the duel very aggressively. Physically stronger, the fighter from Minas Gerais put the fighter from Curitiba against the ropes and began to explore varied combinations, mixing body shots and crosses that even managed to rock the former PRIDE champion.
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The second round began frenetically, with Glover again cornering Shogun. The fighter from Minas Gerais rocked the Curitiba native with a combination of a hook followed by an uppercut. Maurício managed to turn to the center of the ring, but was hit again by a cross that, this time, took him to the ground, scoring the first knockdown of the fight.
With Shogun showing clear signs of fatigue, Glover began to better calculate the distance in search of the final blow. With jabs followed by punches to the sides, the Brazilian continued to punish his opponent, who, by this point, was demonstrating enormous resilience.
Shogun started the fourth round by landing a strong right hand, but received a quick sequence of blows from Glover, who once again rocked him.
Shogun reacts and instigates a great war.
Maurício Shogun ceded control of the center of the ring in the fifth round and, relying heavily on dodging and pendulum movements, began exchanging powerful blows with Glover, who refused to back down. However, the fighter from Curitiba found his best moment when he landed a powerful right hand that rocked the fighter from Minas Gerais.
In the sixth and seventh rounds, the fight became more open, with both fighters refusing to stay on the ropes and exchanging high-powered blows, even under considerable physical exhaustion. The veterans' commitment thrilled the audience, especially in the final seconds, when Glover Teixeira landed a powerful sequence that nearly knocked Shogun down. The fighter from Curitiba was saved by the bell.
Final round ends in a war-like atmosphere.
The final round began with a hug between the two veterans, but the war continued immediately afterward. Glover opened his combinations with jabs and continued to punish Shogun with crosses. Even staggering around the ring and showing clear signs of fatigue, the former UFC champion once again demonstrated his enormous resilience and held on until the final bell.
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