Nationality Brazilian Role Mixed martial artist | Name Renzo Gracie Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |
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Weight 171 lb (78 kg; 12 st 3 lb) Movies Maximum Cage Fighting, Pride FC: Demolition Siblings Ryan Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Charles Gracie Books Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, Mastering Jujitsu Children Cora Gracie, Catarina Gracie, Ruran Gracie Similar People Profiles | ||
Pioneers of mma renzo gracie
Renzo Gracie (; [ˈɦẽzu ˈɡɾejsi]; born March 11, 1967) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A member of the Gracie family of Brazil, Renzo is a 6th Degree Black in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Gracie Jr.. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos Gracie, Jr. grandnephew of Helio Gracie, and the 1st cousin once removed of Royce Gracie. In mixed martial arts, Renzo has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, K-1, RINGS, and International Fight League (head-coaching the New York Pitbulls). He holds notable victories over five former UFC Champions: Frank Shamrock (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion), Carlos Newton (UFC Welterweight Champion), Pat Miletich (UFC Welterweight Champion), Maurice Smith (UFC Heavyweight Champion), and Oleg Taktarov (UFC 6 Tournament Winner)
Contents
- Pioneers of mma renzo gracie
- ONE Feature What Really Makes Renzo Gracie A Legend
- Mixed martial arts career
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Metamoris
- Personal life
- Instructor lineage
- Submission Grappling
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Documentary
- References
A world famous Jiu-Jitsu coach, Gracie has helped train a number of professional fighters such as: Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Chris Weidman, Matt Serra, Ricardo Almeida, Roy Nelson, Rodrigo Gracie and Paul Creighton. His brothers Ralph Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie were also famous fighters. Renzo Gracie: Legacy, a 2008 documentary film follows Renzo's influence on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed martial arts over a ten-year period, showing the origins of the sport from its bare knuckle days to the explosion of the sport in both Japan and America.
ONE Feature | What Really Makes Renzo Gracie A Legend
Mixed martial arts career
On February 10, 2007 Gracie won a match against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Frank Shamrock for upstart MMA promotion EliteXC on its debut night Saturday February 10, 2007, on Showtime. Gracie was able to take Frank down and keep the fight on the ground, until Shamrock was disqualified by referee Herb Dean for landing illegal knee strikes to the back of Gracie's head. Shamrock had already been given one warning earlier in the match for illegal strikes to the back of Gracie's head. After the match, Gracie had to be helped out of the ring and back to his dressing room by his team allegedly due to receiving a concussion from the strikes.
Renzo formerly coached a team, the New York Pitbulls, for the International Fight League.
Gracie is the head instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy in midtown Manhattan. Many well known BJJ and MMA fighters have been trained by Renzo, including BJJ black belts Rodrigo Gracie, former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra, BJJ World Champion Rafael "Gordinho" Correa, Paul Creighton, Alan Teo, David Branch (fighter), Rafael Natal, former Middleweight King of Pancrase Ricardo Almeida, Sean Alvarez and former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman.
Renzo Gracie also has affiliate academies in the United States, Brazil, Peru, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and Israel.
Gracie has co-written two instructional books on jiu-jitsu; “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique” with his cousin Royler Gracie, and “Mastering Jujitsu” with training partner John Danaher. He has also been the personal jiu-jitsu teacher of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, since 1993.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Returning from a three year hiatus, Gracie signed a six-fight contract with the UFC in December 2009 and faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes on April 10, 2010, at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Although Gracie fared reasonably well against the American, he began to take more and more leg kicks, by the end of the second round, Hughes was taking more chances and the fight began to look more and more to his favor.
The third round saw Hughes score with a series of uppercuts and hooks that hurt Gracie. Hughes finished Gracie with a series of punches. Gracie lost to Hughes by TKO at 4:40 of round 3, becoming the second Gracie to fall victim to Matt Hughes, the other was his famous cousin Royce Gracie at UFC 60.
Metamoris
On November 22, 2014, Renzo fought Sakuraba in a grappling match in Metamoris V. The fight ended in a draw.
Personal life
Gracie is a resident of Holmdel Township, New Jersey. He and his wife Cristina have three children, Catarina, Cora and Ruran. He has eleven brothers and sisters, including Charles Gracie, Flavia Gracie (Kyra Gracie's mother), Carla Gracie (Neiman Gracie's mother), Ralph Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie. In May 2014, Renzo was arrested at 1 Oak street in New York City after being charged with gang assault after sending a night club bouncer to the hospital. Renzo stated that he took the bouncer down but did not punch him. Renzo's cousin, Igor Gracie was arrested as well in the incident.
Instructor lineage
Jigoro Kano → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Carlos Gracie, Jr. → Renzo Gracie
Submission Grappling
Mixed Martial Arts
Documentary
On November 14, 2008, there was limited release on DVD of a documentary, titled "Renzo Gracie: Legacy", which followed Gracie over 10 years of his life. The DVD was only released on Amazon.com and www.renzogracielegacy.com. Its tag line is "A 10 year history of mixed martial arts through the eyes of Renzo Gracie, one of its most charismatic pioneers."