Glover Teixeira vs. Shogun Rua boxing match NOT a friendly exhibition — ‘I’m going to take his head off’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Former UFC light heavyweight champions Glover Teixeira and Mauricio Rua are making a return to the ring for a Spaten Fight Night 3 boxing match on August 29, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The bout will be fought under professional rules, with 10-ounce gloves and eight two-minute rounds. Teixeira, speaking to MMA Junkie, expressed his determination, stating, “I fought everybody, he fought everybody, we didn’t fight each other and that’s great.

We retired the same day, here we are. We’re gonna go in there and do some boxing and let it out, man. It’s a fight. We’re training hard, no exhibition. We do 10-ounce gloves, and we’re going to take his head off. I’m going to take his head off. I’m going for that. I don’t know what he wants to do.” Teixeira, 46, hung up his MMA gloves after a 205-pound title loss to Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in early 2023.

Rua, 44, followed suit after a similar defeat to Ukrainian fighter Ihor Potieria at the same event. The Spaten Fight Night 3 event, airing live on TV Globo and streaming on Globoplay, will also showcase Olympic gold medalists Rafaela Silva and Beatriz Souza in judo action, along with a bout between 2024 Olympic silver medalist Prisca Awiti and fellow Olympian Raz Hershko.