Dana White interested in ‘Shogun’ moving to 185 – or retiring – with UFC Fight Night 33 loss

Mauricio Rua recently said he wasn’t sure about dropping down a weight class. But if can’t beat James Te Huna this week, his boss would be up for seeing that happen – or in seeing “Shogun” retire.

Rua (21-8 MMA, 5-6 UFC), a former UFC light heavyweight champion, fights Te Huna (16-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 33 co-headliner, which takes place Saturday at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Queensland, Australia. Due to the time difference, the event airs live in the U.S. on Friday on FOX Sports 1.

On Wednesday night’s episode of “FOX Sports Live” on FOX Sports 1, UFC President Dana White weighed in on the Rua-Te Huna fight and said a loss for “Shogun,” which would be his third straight and fourth in five fights, might have him thinking about talking to the fighter about retirement.

But on the flipside, Te Huna, a New Zealand native who lives in Australia, would be poised to become a breakout star with a win, White said.

“This is a huge fight for both of these guys,” White said. “Obviously for ‘Shogun’ Rua, to be in this position right now fighting a guy like Te Huna – this is the fight of Te Huna’s life. If Te Huna wins this fight, it catapults him into the Top 10, everybody knows his name and everybody’s going to want to see what’s next for him.

“And yes, if ‘Shogun’ loses this fight, I probably would have that (retirement) conversation with him.”

At a recent fan Q&A in his native Brazil, Rua said he has never given serious thought to dropping down from light heavyweight – and that he’d have to consult with doctors before making such a drop. He wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

If faced with his boss wanting him to hang up the gloves or drop down to middleweight, who knows what the 32-year-old would say.

White said he hasn’t had the conversation with the former champ about making the move, but will wait to see what happens this week.

“I have not, but it’s not a bad idea,” White said. “If he lost this fight, I’d be interested in giving him a run at 185.”

Rua hasn’t had a win streak since a 2009 two-fight stretch that saw him knock out Mark Coleman in a “Fight of the Night” performance at UFC 93 and Chuck Liddell in a “Knockout of the Night” win at UFC 97. His back-to-back losses have come by decision to Alexander Gustafsson and by submission to Chael Sonnen in August.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 33, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.