SteemSports Presenter: @brandonk
SteemSports Editor: @theprophet0
It was almost a sad sight for those who've been watching the sports of mixed martial arts for over a decade.. someone like me in fact. Shogun looked for in the first few exchanges even tagging Smith with a big shot before eating a few of his own. Youth and strength seemed to be the x factors here...
...because Shogun's heart and willingness to fight was still fully intact. Although Mauricio Rua (nicknamed Shogun) is closer to the beginning of his 30s than he end of them, and even though he was just on a 3 fight win streak, I believe that with this devastating knockout...
...and the damage he can incur in a few more fights, it may be better that he just lay the gloves down for good. Retirement is always the hardest thing for a fighter, because for them it is truly in their blood. It is a sad day for the old era, but a new type of fighter has stepped into the light.
We will see just how far LionHeart Smith can go in his light heavyweight tenure, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get stopped by any of the top 15. He is having one of the easiest roads to a title with his dismantling of Rashad and Shogun, two men way past their primes.
I regret even watching the event with such fervor this morning as sometimes I put my eggs into the wrong basket based off of nostalgia. Shogun was always a stellar fighter and handled pure strikers like Smith well, but to be perfectly honest, I did know he was past his prime.
It is a necsesary venture to retire once you have conquered so many mountains. Whether it be boxing or mma, these legends just don't know how to quit because they never have, but it is truly ok in the end. They will always be remembered, and thank you for the memories Shogun!
Shogun is a legend, but maybe it's time for him to think about retiring. He is one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. He has nothing to prove at this point.
Absolutely.
buena leyenda
Shoguns the man, and had had a long and amazing career, one of the last few old school fighters left in the game! Mad respect to the legend!
Smith did a great job of finishing him!
What do you think about Gus dropping out right after smith beat shogun? After looking for an opponent, it did seem a bit of a coincidence. I like Gus as a fighter, but in the past year I’m starting to not like his attitude too much at all. Just fight man, you’ve lost 2 title fights, I do understand he’s the number 1 and also has been through wars so he wants meaningful fights, but 1 more fight and big win would mean he 100% has to fight for the belt next. If dc vacates he should win the belt, but did you see Corey Anderson respectfully call out dc and it looks like dc might be interested...
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