Champion Grappler Roger Gracie to Focus on MMA
LONDON -- Roger Gracie (Pictures) has more world championships in grappling than minutes of experience in fighting, but that is about to change.
The question: Is he going after more grappling titles or more fight time? The answer: both.
"My next step is MMA now -- that's what I'm thinking of most of the time," said Gracie, who plans to continue competing in one or two prestigious grappling tournaments.
He is not calling out anyone, but he does want good competition.
"I don't like to do easy fights," Gracie explained. "I'd rather not fight at all. It's just a matter of when I think I'll be ready" to fight the best.
On Dec. 2, 2006, Gracie made his MMA debut against Ron Waterman (Pictures) in BodogFight. Giving up 54 pounds and more than 20 fights of MMA experience did not deter Gracie, who submitted the UFC and Pride veteran via armbar from his guard four minutes into the first round.
But it has been nearly a year since he successfully transitioned to MMA, and he has no fights currently signed. With his obligations to Bodog fulfilled, the EliteXC banner, which features British promoters Cage Rage, appeals to the London resident. In addition, Gracie acknowledges the U.S. MMA boom and Japan's silent fervor for fighting. Wherever he ends up, he just wants "to go where the big boys are."
The soft-spoken heavyweight also admits the size difference against Waterman raised considerations of dropping to 205 pounds in the future. For now, he is fine where he is and sees early 2008 as the start of a long journey.
"I always had the feeling that I would do MMA at some point in my life, even since I was young, since I started taking jiu-jitsu seriously in my life," Gracie reflected. "I always knew that at some point that would happen."
The son of Reyla Gracie (daughter of Carlos Gracie Sr.) and the Rolls Gracie black belt Mauricio Motta Gomes, Roger Gracie (Pictures) has a legacy of more than eighty years behind him. Tradition is not something he ignores.
"I don't fight for myself," he said. "I fight for my family."
He relishes defending the family name but avoids comparisons. Despite his success, Gracie is quick to say he is not even the best in his family.
Family, in fact, is what the Roger Gracie (Pictures) Academy is built on. Centered between the flags of Brazil and England at the school gleams a large photo of Grand Master Carlos Gracie.
Fighting, however, is not limited to the Gracie name. His gym has produced England's first three Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, and he brings community kids to the academy and teaches them about his art. Meanwhile Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA are picking up popularity in the U.K., and Gracie just wants to be there to spread the technique and philosophy.
Gracie feels his team is "getting stronger and stronger." It is a squad based on the exchange of dedication, and his students' enthusiasm carries over to Gracie himself. Despite not being suited up during an advanced gi class, he hit the mats.
Gracie jumped into the half guard of a student radiating sweat and went through techniques. One question from a student led to another question from another student equally drenched. There Gracie went, working positions, possibly ruining his forest green wool sweater. He took it off later before continuing on with his students.
And all after a class he was not running.
It's clear that Gracie is focused on jiu-jitsu as he gears up for his return to MMA. At the moment, he is not training standup.
"It doesn't matter how much boxing I do, how much kickboxing I do, we're always going to fight on the floor," Gracie said. "I'm a ground fighter; I'm a jiu-jitsu fighter."
There is no arguing with results. He is the only man to submit all eight of his opponents in Abu Dhabi competition, which was one of the greatest moments of his life and career.
"It wasn't he easy," he said.
The question remains whether his success in grappling will translate to MMA, though. However it turns out, he's right -- it won't be easy.
Still, Gracie's mindset is the same for all competition: "When I get there, there is no losing. If I'm fighting, I fight to win, and I'm glad I'm doing so well to defend the Gracie name."
There's a motto scrawled on a whiteboard at Gracie's jiu-jitsu academy. "Through endurance," it says, "we shall conquer."
Indeed, Gracie has endured the spiraling world of submission grappling. Now, he hopes to conquer a world once conquered by his Gracie surname -- mixed martial arts.
