Promotional poster for Spaten Fight Night 3: Maurício Shogun vs. Glover Teixeira . Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/spaten_br
Former UFC champions Glover Teixeira and Maurício Shogun will face off in the ring at Spaten Fight Night 3, scheduled for this Saturday (29). However, the MMA legends are not the only stars of the gala night of combat sports. With world jiu-jitsu champions, Olympic medalists and boxing belt disputes, the card features five fights involving three modalities.
With Alex Poatan in his corner, Glover Teixeira arrives at Spaten Fight Night with a record of 33 wins and nine losses in MMA. The Minas Gerais native, who became the oldest champion to win the undisputed light heavyweight title (up to 93 kg) for the first time in the UFC, has recorded 18 knockouts and ten submissions, finishing 85% of his professional victories by stoppage.
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Maurício Shogun Rua , for his part, ended his MMA career 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 victories by knockout or technical knockout, representing 78% of his wins.
Luan Medeiros, a promising Brazilian boxer.
Luan Medeiros enters the fray at Spaten Fight Night 3. Photo: Press Release / Spaten
In the co-main event, Luan Medeiros will represent Brazil against Argentinian Juan Cruz. The 31-year-old from Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the great promises of contemporary Brazilian professional boxing. The son of a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, he began his sporting career in Judo before transitioning to boxing at age 14.
After building a solid background in Olympic boxing, with around 150 amateur fights, Luan transitioned to professional boxing and maintained an undefeated record of seven wins, four of them by knockout. Currently, the athlete has gained even more international recognition by signing with Most Valuable Promotions, a company owned by American influencer and boxer Jake Paul.
Argentine 'El Diablo'
Born in Ramallo, a municipality in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Juan Cruz emerged as a promising fighter after winning the WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight title. At 25 years old and with a career that began in 2022, the Argentinian has ten wins in 15 fights.
Bia Souza, Olympic champion
Bia Souza enters the action at Spaten Fight Night 3. Photo: Press Release / Spaten
Bia Souza, a 28-year-old judoka, made history in Brazilian sport by winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the heavyweight category (+78 kg). The first Brazilian debutant to become an individual Olympic champion, the athlete from Esporte Clube Pinheiros and sergeant in the Army is consolidating a brilliant career, which already includes six medals in world championships, four silver and two bronze, in addition to the award for Best Judoka of the Year in 2024.
Israeli customer
Born in Netanya, Israel, 27-year-old Raz Hershko is a six-time Grand Slam champion, four-time Grand Prix champion, and three-time champion of both Cups and continental championships. The judoka also holds a third-place finish at the world championships and currently leads the heavyweight rankings.
However, at Spaten Fight Night 3, Hershko enters the fight with a negative record against Bia Souza. The Israeli has lost all six previous duels against the Brazilian, the last of which was in the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Rafaela Silva, a symbol of overcoming adversity in judo.
Rafaela Silva loses medal in Paris 2024 due to controversial judo rule. Photo: Reproduction/Rafaela Silva
Rafaela Silva, a 34-year-old judoka from Rio de Janeiro, is one of the greatest symbols of overcoming adversity and pioneering spirit in Brazilian sport. The athlete became the first Brazilian to win a world championship in 2013 and an Olympic gold medal in 2016, consecutively.
A product of Instituto Reação, a social project located in Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, Rafaela overcame a suspension and achieved the ultimate glory at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In Paris 2024, she also won a bronze medal in the team competition.
Furthermore, the Brazilian has accumulated two individual world titles, won in 2013 and 2022, gold at the Pan American Games, and continues to shine on the international circuit, with significant achievements such as the Paris Grand Slam.
Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, Mexican rival
Daughter of a Kenyan father and a Mexican mother, Rafaela Silva's rival, Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, had her first contact with the world of sports at a young age, when she joined an under-12 artistic gymnastics team. Shortly after, she switched to practicing judo.
Her older brother, Philip Awiti Alcaraz, competed at a world-class level and won medals in Grand Slams, a trajectory that inspired Prisca to follow in his footsteps in the sport.
With a multicultural background, the athlete decided to compete internationally for Mexico, motivated by the fighting spirit of the Mexican people and the fact that she found joy and warmth in the country. At 30 years old, she is one of the great judokas of today, with four Continental Open titles and a bronze medal at the Senior Pan-American Mixed Team Championships.
Jiu-jitsu rivals face off at Spaten Fight Night.
Meregali and Preguiça face off in a promotional fight for their UFC BJJ bout. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Felipe Preguiça and Nicholas Meregali are protagonists in one of the fiercest and most publicized rivalries in the modern history of Jiu-Jitsu. Preguiça, a 34-year-old from Minas Gerais, boasts a legendary career with 162 wins and 27 losses in the sport, crowned by major titles such as the 2017 ADCC and three IBJJF world championships.
Meanwhile, Meregali, a 32-year-old from Rio Grande do Sul, has established himself as a dominant and multi-champion competitor in the black belt division, accumulating three world gold medals in the gi, in addition to a record of 93 wins and only 21 losses.
In their head-to-head record, Meregali leads 2-0. The Brazilian submitted his rival both in gi, in 2018, and without gi, in 2023.
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