(Shogun Rua comes face-to-face with his future. Props: reddit)
Notable quote from yesterday’s UFC Rio press conference:
"I’m still thinking (on fighting in Rio). But I’m always training. This return of UFC to Brazil touched me, made me feel the wish of coming back to the Octagon. Everything has being negotiated with Dana White. Let’s wait and see." — UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie
Not to say that the UFC’s first superstar shouldn’t have some sort of ceremonial role at the UFC’s return to Brazil next August…but fighting? Let’s nip that shit in the bud, pronto. The last time Royce set foot in the Octagon, he was smashed by Matt Hughes in a brutal passing of the torch back at UFC 60. His next (and still most recent) performance was a June 2007 revenge match against Kazushi Sakuraba, which ended in a decision win and a one-year steroid suspension.
Letting Royce take another smashing by someone currently on the UFC’s roster is definitely not the best way to pay tribute to the Gracie legacy. We all know that. I’m pretty sure the UFC knows that too, despite Royce’s cryptic statement that "everything has being negotiated with Dana White." Unless of course, the right opponent can be found for him. And really, how hard can it be to track down Harold Howard at this point?
Semi-related: Former heavyweight PRIDE/IFL vet Daniel Gracie (5-2-1) has been picked up for Bellator’s first-ever light-heavyweight tournament, which is slated to kick off in February.
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comments@Old_Bald_and_Irish: Unfinished business? What, Hughes didn't finish breaking his arm, or didn't finish pounding his head through the mat?
The fact that people are throwing up names of guys who haven't won a fight in 10 years is telling. Save that shit for Puerto Rico Cage Rumble, thanks.
nice
People, back in the day, came to head butt you, a la coleman...or punch you in the nuts, a la that one guy. No one expected to be choked out by a lanky brazilian who has no hands.
That's exactly why hughes beat the snot out of ol Rolls Royce. Even in Royce's prime, he would lose horribly bad to just about anyone of relevance in MMA today.
Give the old man a cane or walker, or even a rascal, hoverround or jazzy and send him on his way...no one wants to see old stupid people get their ass' kicked.
On a side note, I don't see BJJ ever as an Olympic sport, BJJ is Kosen Judo... if they were going to incorporate BJJ into the Olympics they would just open another category of Judo and change the rules to allow being grounded longer. The Gracies are an amazing family and all but the media really drank the kool-aid when they bought into the "Gracies invented a martial art" bit.
I say Royce v Couture at some sort of catch weight or light heavy if he can pull it off....sure Royce will get smashed, but it would be cool!!
Royce gracie vs Marco Ruas
there both old
there both brazilians
there both past there prime
and there both former champs from back in the old days
If it have to happen(as an extra fight of the card, a superfight) would be awesome if UFC set Royce Gracie vs. Wallid Ismail, this would be great, the guy who choked and made Royce sleep years ago in a gi-fight now facing him in MMA
If Sakuraba is a Gracie Hunter on MMA, Wallid is a Gracie Hunter on Jiu Jitsu, on their own game he won Royce, Renzo, Ralph and Ryan Gracie
I'm all for Royce getting in the cage for this event....BUT....
....I would prefer to see a jiu jitsu demonstration instead of an actual fight. Kinda what Fedor did with Aoki. the Gracies have done these before and they are entertaining and impressive.
Or, I wouldn't mind seeing a straight up BJJ grappling match. The Olympics are coming to Rio next and I know that Brazil has been trying to get BJJ included as a trial sport. This would be the perfect chance to highlight BJJ as a legit sport.
Will any of my sugestions actually come to fruition?
OF COURSE NOT
....but one can only dream.
If he does want to fight, he needs to fight Hughes. There's unfinished business there.
I'd love to see him square off with Renzo, but that would NEVER happen.
Or maybe....just maybe...if ol' Randy Couturre needs to punch one more ticket before he hops off the UFC train, then a match with Royce is quite a way to go out.
Be present, represent, and wish the rest luck. A win means nothing, a loss means nothing. The fight means nothing. And financially, it'd do well there regardless, but I don't think it adds any "must see" to the card.
That all sounds negative, but I like the guy. I just think fighting is the wrong way to be involved.
They fight, that's what they do. They are hardwired to need to show the Gracie Jui Juitsu system to the world. It's been that way since Helio first marched himself into karate dojos and challenged their black belts.
C'mon Cage Potato, get with it; Royce wanting to fight is as natural as two frogs humping on a lillypad.
You know, if Michael Jordan wants to go out and play one-on-one or have a 3-point contest against Magic Johnson for a halftime show during the NBA Finals, I don't think anyone would argue. It wouldn't be the most exciting thing in the world, but sometimes these guys have just earned one last hurrah.
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