Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
I had no idea former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Mauricio Rua, was still competing in mixed martial arts (MMA), and I’m not even trying to be funny about it, I just completely forgot he was still around.
The Brazilian, who turns 38 in less than two months, has been booked for a 205-pound showdown against Sam Alvey on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 164 fight card, according to ESPN, going down Sat., Nov. 16, 2019, inside Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Rua (26-11) hasn’t competed since capturing a technical knockout win over Tyson Pedro at the UFC Fight Night 142 event last December in Australia. “Shogun” has won four of his last five, but it should be noted those fights took place over the span of five years.
Frequency just isn’t his thing.
As for Alvey (33-13, 1 NC), he’s looking to rebound from a disastrous three-fight losing streak that includes two technical knockout finishes. “Smile’n Sam,” a former middleweight, is one of the busiest fighters on the roster, routinely competing three-to-four times per year.
UFC Fight Night 164 will mark the 205-pound debut for Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who battles current light heavyweight contender, Jan Blachowicz, in the five-round main event. Elsewhere on the card, James Krause takes on Sergio Moraes in welterweight action, while Bobby Green and Francisco Trinaldo hook ‘em up at 155 pounds.
For the current UFC Sao Paulo fight card and line up click here.