Rivalries: Royce Gracie
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Royce Gracie forever altered the idea of what modern-day martial artists were supposed to look like. When the lanky Brazilian marched to the Octagon in his trademark gi for his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, few outside of his inner circle could have imagined the lasting impact he would make in a matter of hours. Gracie won the UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 tournaments, brought Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the masses and helped ignite a movement that transformed mixed martial arts from “human cockfighting” to billion-dollar business.
They met for the first time in the infancy of a combat sports revolution, as Gracie locked horns with Shamrock in the UFC 1 semifinals on Nov. 12, 1993 at McNichols Arena in Denver. The historic encounter lasted less than a minute but managed to propel Gracie forward on his march to becoming the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first superstar. Shamrock sprawled on a takedown and moved toward top position, only to become entangled in the Brazilian’s spidery guard. He then made a pass at an ill-advised heel hook, left his neck exposed and found himself trapped in a rear-naked choke. Shamrock tapped 57 seconds into Round 1. Of course, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” lived to fight another day. Shamrock won 13 of his next 15 bouts—his tear included two submission victories over Bas Rutten—and squared off with Gracie for the Superfight Championship at UFC 5 on April 7, 1995. Their rematch was declared a draw after 36:00, leaving business between them unfinished. More than two decades later, Gracie, then 49, and Shamrock, 52 at the time, completed their trilogy under the Bellator MMA banner. The utterly forgettable Bellator 149 affair ended in controversy, as Gracie was awarded a technical knockout after he floored Shamrock with a knee to the groin—referee Jacob Montalvo did not see the foul—and closed the door with follow-up punches 2:22 into Round 1.
Royce Gracie forever altered the idea of what modern-day martial artists were supposed to look like. When the lanky Brazilian marched to the Octagon in his trademark gi for his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, few outside of his inner circle could have imagined the lasting impact he would make in a matter of hours. Gracie won the UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 tournaments, brought Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the masses and helped ignite a movement that transformed mixed martial arts from “human cockfighting” to billion-dollar business.
While Gracie fought only sporadically after UFC 5 and completed his
career with a 15-2-3 record, he remains one of the central figures
in the history of MMA. A look at a few of the rivalries that played
roles in his rise to prominence:
Ken Shamrock
They met for the first time in the infancy of a combat sports revolution, as Gracie locked horns with Shamrock in the UFC 1 semifinals on Nov. 12, 1993 at McNichols Arena in Denver. The historic encounter lasted less than a minute but managed to propel Gracie forward on his march to becoming the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first superstar. Shamrock sprawled on a takedown and moved toward top position, only to become entangled in the Brazilian’s spidery guard. He then made a pass at an ill-advised heel hook, left his neck exposed and found himself trapped in a rear-naked choke. Shamrock tapped 57 seconds into Round 1. Of course, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” lived to fight another day. Shamrock won 13 of his next 15 bouts—his tear included two submission victories over Bas Rutten—and squared off with Gracie for the Superfight Championship at UFC 5 on April 7, 1995. Their rematch was declared a draw after 36:00, leaving business between them unfinished. More than two decades later, Gracie, then 49, and Shamrock, 52 at the time, completed their trilogy under the Bellator MMA banner. The utterly forgettable Bellator 149 affair ended in controversy, as Gracie was awarded a technical knockout after he floored Shamrock with a knee to the groin—referee Jacob Montalvo did not see the foul—and closed the door with follow-up punches 2:22 into Round 1.
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