Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie Gomes (born September 26, 1981) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner (10x world champion) and a retired mixed martial artist. A member of the Gracie family, he is the son of Reila Gracie (daughter of Carlos Gracie) and Mauricio Motta Gomes.[1] Roger was awarded his black belt by his cousin Renzo Gracie at the behest of Carlos Gracie, Jr. whilst training in New York in 2003. He is currently a fourth degree black belt.[2] Roger Gracie is the founder and head instructor at The Roger Gracie Academy located in Hammersmith, London, England. Notable Black belt promotions include Raymond Stevens, Nicolas Gregoriades and Kywan Gracie Behring. Roger is the former ONE World Cruiserweight (now Light Heavyweight) Champion.
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Biography
In 2005 Roger competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship[3] and won all 8 of his matches both at the super heavyweight[4] and absolute weight classes[3] by submission. In the 2009 Mundials he submitted all of his opponents in the super heavyweight and the absolute weight classes with a choke from the mount.[5] Roger has not been submitted in competition since he was a blue belt. He is regarded by many BJJ fans as the greatest competitor of all time. Gracie has 10 wins at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships as a black belt, with three of those victories in Open Weight competition.[6] [7]
On 14 November 2021, Roger became the first person to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame, owing in part to his two gold medals in the 2005 world championships and his superfight victory in 2007.[8]
Mixed martial arts
Gracie defeated Ron Waterman in his mixed martial arts debut by armbar submission in the 1st round at the Bodogfight pay-per-view USA vs Russia. On May 18, 2008, Roger Gracie competed at Sengoku 2, where he defeated Yuki Kondo at 2:40 min of round 1 by rear naked choke.
Strikeforce
Gracie announced at the December 19, 2009, Strikeforce Evolution show that he had signed a contract with Strikeforce to make his American MMA debut.[9] On September 11, 2011, Gracie suffered his first MMA loss when he faced former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal. Gracie was knocked out in the first round.[10] Roger made his middleweight debut against UFC veteran Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy on July 14, 2012, winning the fight via unanimous decision. Roger then won his next bout via submission defeating Anthony Smith at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 15, 2013, the UFC announced that Roger would be one of 20 Strikeforce fighters folding into the organization,[11] making him the 4th member of the Gracie family to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Roger Gracie lost by unanimous decision to Tim Kennedy on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162.[12] After the Kennedy fight his contract with the organization expired and they chose not to renew it.
ONE Championship
In August 2014, Gracie signed a multi-fight deal with Singapore based promotion ONE Championship. Gracie returned to the Light Heavyweight division, known as "Cruiserweight" on ONE, and in his debut faced James McSweeney at ONE FC 23: Warrior's Way on December 5, 2014.[13][14] He won the fight via TKO in the third round.
On May 6, 2016, he defeated Michal Pasternak for the inaugural ONE FC Cruiserweight Championship, winning the bout by Arm Triangle in the first round.[15]
On October 14, 2017 Gracie announced his retirement from MMA.
Controversy
In 2000, Roger Gracie together with other three jiu-jitsu practitioners (Rafael Lima, Rafael Ramos and Murilo Carvalho) was indicted by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro for doing drive-by shootings with paintball and rubber bullets at transexuals.[16][17] The incident led to Roger's mother sending him to train in the United Kingdom.[17]
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 10 matches | 8 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 8–2 | Michal Pasternak | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | ONE: Ascent to Power | May 6, 2016 | 1 | 2:13 | Kallang, Singapore | Won the inaugural ONE Cruiserweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2 | James McSweeney | TKO (front kick to the body and punches) | ONE FC: Warrior's Way | December 5, 2014 | 3 | 3:15 | Pasay, Philippines | Cruiserweight debut. |
| Loss | 6–2 | Tim Kennedy | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 162 | July 6, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Anthony Smith | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine | January 12, 2013 | 2 | 3:16 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Keith Jardine | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy | July 14, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Portland, Oregon, United States | Middleweight debut |
| Loss | 4–1 | Muhammed Lawal | KO (punch) | Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov | September 10, 2011 | 1 | 4:33 | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Trevor Prangley | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg | January 29, 2011 | 1 | 4:19 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Kevin Randleman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery | May 15, 2010 | 2 | 4:10 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Light Heavyweight debut |
| Win | 2–0 | Yuki Kondo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 2 | May 18, 2008 | 1 | 2:40 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ron Waterman | Submission (armbar) | BodogFight: USA vs. Russia | December 2, 2006 | 1 | 3:38 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling record
Championships and accomplishments
- ONE Championship
- ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship (One time, Former)
- ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship:
- ADCC 2007
- Superfight Champion
- ADCC 2005
- 88–98 kg: 1st Place
- Absolute: 1st Place
- ADCC 2003
- 88–98 kg: 3rd Place
- IBJJF World Championships:
- 2010
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2009
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2008
- Black Belt Ultraheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 2007
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2006
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 2005
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 2004
- Black Belt Superheavy: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 2003
- Black Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 2002
- Brown Belt −91 kg: 1st Place
- Brown Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2001
- Purple Belt −85 kg: 1st Place
- 2000
- Blue Belt −85 kg: 1st Place
- IBJJF Pan American Championships:
- 2006
- Black Belt −97 kg: 2nd Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2002
- Brown Belt −91 kg: 1st Place
- Brown Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
- 2001
- Purple Belt −85 kg: 1st Place
- 2000
- Blue Belt −85 kg: 1st Place
- 1999
- Blue Belt −79 kg: 2nd Place
- IBJJF Brazilian Championships:
- 2001
- Brown Belt −81 kg: 1st Place
- 1999
- Blue Belt −79 kg: 1st Place
- IBJJF European Championships:
- 2005
- Black Belt −97 kg: 1st Place
- Black Belt Open Weight: 1st Place
Personal life
Gracie and his wife have a son and daughter named Tristan & Maya.[18]
References
- Carl Fisher (23 March 2003). "BJJ legend Mauricao Gomes talks to Carl Fisher". SFUK.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - "Roger Gracie – Jiu Jitsu Academy: Professors". www.rogergracie.com/. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "ADCC 2005". ADCC. 2005. Archived from the original on 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- "ADCC Results". ADCC. Archived from the original on 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- "Roger Gracie, the unsatisfied three-time champ". Gracie Mag. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
- "Roger Gracie career on MARanking|MARanking Martial Arts Ranking". Maranking.com. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- "Retired fighter Roger Gracie talks coronavirus infection: 'I never felt that before'". MMA Fighting. 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
- https://jitsmagazine.com/roger-gracie-becomes-first-inductee-to-adcc-hall-of-fame/
- Roger Gracie ready for Strikeforce debut by Eduardo Ferreira, Tatame Magazine, May 03, 2010
- "Strikeforce results: Muhammed Lawal vs Roger Gracie fight review and analysis". Vox Media. September 11, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- "UFC Reveals List of Strikeforce Fighters Making Jump to Octagon". sherdog.com. January 16, 2013.
- Staff (2013-03-04). "Roger Gracie To Fight Tim Kennedy At UFC 162". fightofthenight.com. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- "Roger Gracie signs with One FC, plans to compete in both MMA and BJJ". mmafighting.com. August 7, 2014.
- "Roger Gracie returns to light heavyweight, meets James McSweeney at One FC 23". mmafighting.com. November 3, 2014.
- "Roger Gracie joins Evolve MMA fight team". mmamania.com. May 10, 2014.
- "Folha de S.Paulo - Polícia indicia quatro lutadores de jiu-jitsu - 08/08/2000". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- World, B. J. J. (2020-06-19). "Brawls, Prison Time and Tragedies: The Other Side Of The Gracie Family". BJJ World. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- "The Unlikely Heir". Sherdog.com. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
External links
- Roger Gracie Black Belts List
- Official Web Site
- Professional MMA record for Roger Gracie from Sherdog
- Roger Gracie at UFC
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| In-laws | |
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