- Born
- Nickname
- Lord Rickson
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Rickson Gracie is considered one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in history. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he comes from the legendary fighting Gracie family. Along with brothers Royce, Royler, and Rorion Gracie, and his father Hélio, Rickson Gracie has won countless tournaments and championships. A master at submissions, Rickson has defeated such fighters as Japanese jiu-jitsu champion Yoshinori Nishi, kick boxing champion Bud Smith, Pankration champion Masakatsu Funaki, and Japanese wrestling champion Nobuhiko Takada. In 1980, Rickson became a legend by defeating famed vale tudo fighter Rei Zulu, who had an alleged record of 140-0. Rickson is said to have a record of 410 wins and no defeats. However, this record is not without controversy. Gracie is reported to have been defeated in the early 1990s in Oklahoma City losing to Dr. Ron Tripp in a Sambo tournament. In addition, critics often cite the fact he has failed to face any recent champions or truly credible opponents. Regardless, Rickson Gracie will always be ranked among the great jiu-jitsu practitioners. He just may be the greatest jiu-jitsu fighter in history, only time will tell.- IMDb Mini Biography By: jacobmancha
- Rickson Gracie was viewed as the best fighter among the children of Helio Gracie . In Brazil, Helio and his brother Carlos Gracie created and popularized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, by modifying a Japanese martial art to a ground-based fighting style. They established "The Gracie Challenge" to fight opponents trained in other martial arts, and won in many instances. Helio regarded Rickson as the "champion" among his children. Rickson was the presumed choice to represent the family in early UFC tournaments, but that did not happen. Accounts vary, with one version being that Rickson had a disagreement with older brother Rorion Gracie at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. Rorion, who owned the academy, was upset that Rickson taught students without his permission. Another version told by John McCarthy, a UFC referee, during it's early and latter years. According to McCarthy, Rickson operated his own school at the time, and Rorion insisted that the person whom competed in UFC represented his Gracie Academy. A differing account by UFC co-creator Art Davie, cited money being the reason. Rickson, believing that Rorion and Davie were going to make plenty as UFC's co-owners, purportedly wanted a million dollars to compete. Rorion selected Royce Gracie to represent the family. Royce competed in and won the tournaments at UFC 1: The Beginning (1993), UFC 2: No Way Out (1994) and UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors (1994).
Rickson Gracie's official fight record went as far back as 1980, with many more unofficial bouts. Gracie's first two formal fights were with the same opponent-- Rei Zulu--who outweighed him by more than thirty pounds. Zulu claimed an undefeated fighting record of 140. Gracie submitted him, and established himself apart from his famous family. Four years later Zulu obtained a rematch against Rickson and was again submitted. Rickson has boasted of being victorious in hundreds of unsanctioned fights. In a now famous video recorded encounter on a beach in Brazil in 1980s, he fought Hugo Duarte.
In 1994, Rickson Gracie competed in the Japan Vale Tudo tournament. In the opening round bout, Gracie fought David Levicki. Both fell to the outside through the ropes from the momentum of a clinch initiated by Gracie. Later in the ring, Gracie alternated punching Levicki's body and head which compelled Levicki to tap the mat in submission. Gracie stood up, and won when Levicki did not get up for the ten count. Gracie submitted his next opponent, Bud Smith, with punches in thirty-nine seconds. Gracie won his third tournament bout with a technical submission choke of Yoshinori Nishi, which made him Japan Vale Tudo Champion. His success in Japan Vale Tudo '94 grew his name, which drew challenges from fighters such as Nobuhiko Takada and Yoji Anjo. Both Takada and Anjo competed for Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFI), which had a reputation for fights with predetermined outcomes. Gracie declined to fight either of them under UWFI's rules. On December 7,1994, Anjo arrived from Japan with media members in Los Angeles, California to fight Rickson. Gracie allowed Anjo into his gym without the rest. For a few minutes Gracie struck Anjo and then choked him unconscious. Gracie then permitted the Japanese press members entry to the gym.
Gracie returned to Japan in 1995 to compete in Japan Vale Tudo '95, as depicted in the documentary Choke (1999). Early on, Gracie placed Yoshihisa Yamamoto in the corner and landed uppercuts. They ended up in clinch position and Gracie threw him outside over the ropes. The referee appeared to penalize him for the action. Back in the ring, Yamamoto applied a lengthy standing guillotine choke to Gracie's neck. Gracie escaped, delivered body punches to Yamamoto, then took him down. Gracie took control of Yamamoto's back while on the ground, landed some head punches, secured his left arm around Yamamoto's neck for a while, then stood up and walked away. Yamamoto remained motionless while the referee counted to ten and declared Gracie the winner. After Todd Hayes withdrew from the tournament due to an injured right arm, two losing fighters from were brought back to replace him: Koichiro Kimura and Wayne Emons. Kimura submitted Emons by guillotine choke to meet Gracie in the semi-finals. Gracie submitted Kimura with a rear-naked choke. Gracie met Yuki Nakai in the tournament championship bout. Gracie submitted Nakai with a rear-naked choke to remain the Japan Open Vale Tudo Freestyle Fighting champion .A fight between Rickson Gracie and Nobuhiko Takada was booked to happen in Pride Fighting Championships (2006). Rickson helped formulate the rules for the Japanese organization. In the main event of Pride 1 (1997), on October 11, 1997, Gracie fought Takada and defeated him by a rear-naked choke. They re-matched at Pride 4 (1998). Takada clinched with Gracie early to keep the fight standing up. The action later ended up on the mat. Gracie went on top, Gracie attacked Takada's right arm with an arm-bar to force a submission.
Rickson Gracie's last official opponent was Masakatsu Funaki , and they fought for the Colosseum promotion in Japan. Gracie defeated Funaki by technical submission via rear-naked choke. It was the last time Gracie competed in MMA, putting his record at nine wins with no losses. A match was booked in 2001 between Gracie and Kazushi Sakuraba. Sakuraba was renowned for his striking and grappling abilities, along with victories over a few of Rickson's relatives: Royler Gracie, Royce Gracie and Renzo Gracie. Purportedly, Rickson canceled the bout as a result of the death of his oldest son, Rockson Gracie, and did not train for years after. He continued to teach at his school, Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, later renamed Rickson Academy.- IMDb Mini Biography By: invictorious
- Armbar
- Rear naked choke
- Has a fighting record of 400-0
- The first fighter to defeat the legendary Zulu who was undefeated in 140 fights.
- Undefeated in 410 fights.
- Is an avid surfer.
- Defeated 25 opponents in one day in California.
- Jiu-Jitsu is like a philosophy. It helps me learn how to face life.
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