Renzo Gracie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Renzo Gracie
Born	(1967-03-11) March 11, 1967 (age 58) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Residence	Holmdel Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	171 lb (78 kg; 12 st 3 lb)
Division	Welterweight Middleweight
Reach	76 in (193 cm)
Style	Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out of	New York City, U.S.
Team	Renzo Gracie Academy
Rank	7th degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active	1992–2018
Mixed martial arts record
Total	23
Wins	14
By knockout	2
By submission	8
By decision	3
By disqualification	1
Losses	7
By knockout	2
By submission	1
By decision	4
Draws	1
No contests	1
Other information
Spouse	Cristina Gracie
Children	Catarina Gracie, Cora Gracie, Ruran Gracie
Notable relatives	Gracie family
Notable students	Matt Serra, Ricardo Almeida, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Georges St-Pierre, Rolles Gracie, Chris Weidman, Kyra Gracie, Frankie Edgar, Roy Nelson, Neiman Gracie, Gunnar Nelson, Harley Flanagan, Guy Ritchie, Ralph Gracie and John Danaher.
Medal record Submission Wrestling ADCC World Championship Gold 2000 Abu Dhabi -77kg Gold 1998 Abu Dhabi 77kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Copa Atlântico Sul Championship Gold 1988 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Gold 1989 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Gold 1990 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Gold 1991 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Gold 1994 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Renzo Gracie (born March 11, 1967) is a famous Brazilian mixed martial artist and a high-ranking Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert. He is a coach and a member of the well-known Gracie family, who helped create Gracie jiu-jitsu. Renzo is the grandson of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of this martial art.

By the time he was 20, Renzo Gracie had already won many Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships in Brazil. In mixed martial arts, he competed in major events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Pride Fighting Championships. He is known for training many top fighters in North America. Some of his famous students include Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, and Chris Weidman. He also trained Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is now the President of the United Arab Emirates.

A documentary film called Renzo Gracie: Legacy was made in 2008. It showed how he influenced Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts over ten years. The film explained how the sport grew from its early days to become popular in Japan and America. Because of his great achievements, Renzo Gracie was added to the ADCC Hall of Fame in February 2022. In January 2023, he received his special coral belt in Abu Dhabi.

Renzo Gracie's Fighting Journey

Renzo Gracie started his fighting career in Brazil in a style called vale tudo. His first fight was against a kickboxer named Luiz Augusto Alvareda. Renzo won by using a rear naked choke, which is a type of submission hold. After this, he moved to the United States to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Early Mixed Martial Arts Fights

In October 1995, Renzo Gracie competed in the World Combat Championships. This event had separate tournaments for fighters who mostly used striking and those who used grappling. Renzo was in the grappling tournament because of his jiu-jitsu skills.

His first opponent was a Dutch judoka named Ben Spijkers. Renzo won by choking him. He then faced Phil Benedict, a striker, and won by using ground and pound from the mount position. In the finals, Renzo defeated kickboxer James Warring with a neck crank.

The Pentagon Combat Event

Renzo Gracie (on the ground with white trunks) fights Eugenio Tadeu at Pentagon Combat

In September 1997, Renzo Gracie fought in an MMA event called Pentagon Combat. He was matched against Eugenio Tadeu, a fighter from a rival martial art style called luta livre. This fight was very exciting because of the rivalry between the two styles.

The fight was stopped early because of a big crowd disturbance. Fans started throwing chairs and fighting each other. This event caused mixed martial arts to be banned in Rio de Janeiro for ten years.

Competing in Pride Fighting Championships

Renzo Gracie first fought in Pride Fighting Championships at their very first event, Pride 1. He fought a Japanese judo fighter named Akira Shoji. Renzo controlled most of the match, trying to use different submission moves like armbars and rear naked chokes. However, he couldn't finish the fight, so it ended in a draw after thirty minutes.

His first win in Pride was at the next event, Pride 2, against Sanae Kikuta. This fight had special rules with many ten-minute rounds. Renzo eventually won in the sixth round by using a guillotine choke.

Renzo returned to Pride at Pride 8, where he fought Alexander Otsuka. Renzo tried many submission moves, like a triangle choke and a guillotine choke. The fight went the distance, and Renzo won by decision.

Fighting in Rings Tournament

Renzo Gracie also competed in the King of Kings tournament for another fighting promotion called Fighting Network Rings. He quickly defeated his first opponent, Wataru Sakata, with an armbar. He then beat former kickboxer Maurice Smith with a judo-style triangle choke and armbar combination.

In the quarterfinals, Renzo faced Kiyoshi Tamura. Tamura won the fight by decision, which meant Renzo was eliminated from the tournament.

Return to Pride and Key Fights

Renzo Gracie later returned to Pride to fight Kazushi Sakuraba. Sakuraba was known as "The Gracie Hunter" because he had beaten other members of the Gracie family. In their fight, Sakuraba managed to grab Renzo's arm and use a Kimura lock. This move dislocated Renzo's arm, and the referee stopped the fight. Even after this tough loss, Renzo showed great sportsmanship. He said that Sakuraba was the better fighter and later called him "his hero."

At Pride 13, Renzo fought American wrestler Dan Henderson. Henderson won the fight by knocking Renzo out with punches. Renzo then bounced back with a win against Michiyoshi Ohara.

In 2002, Renzo fought Shungo Oyama in Pride 21. Oyama won the fight by decision. Renzo's last fight for Pride was in October 2003 against Carlos Newton. Newton won this fight by a close decision.

Competing in IFL and EliteXC

In September 2006, Renzo Gracie joined the International Fight League (IFL). He won his first fight by submitting Pat Miletich with a guillotine choke. He then had a rematch with Carlos Newton in December, which Renzo won by split decision.

In February 2007, Renzo won a fight against Frank Shamrock in the EliteXC promotion. Shamrock was disqualified for hitting Renzo with illegal knee strikes to the back of his head.

Fighting in the UFC

After a three-year break, Renzo Gracie signed with the UFC in December 2009. He fought former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes in April 2010. Hughes won the fight by TKO (technical knockout) in the third round.

ONE Championship Return

In June 2018, Renzo Gracie came out of retirement to fight Yuki Kondo at ONE Championship: Reign of Kings. Renzo won the fight in the second round by using a rear-naked choke submission. This was his first fight since 2010.

Renzo Gracie as a Coach and Author

Renzo Gracie used to coach a team called the New York Pitbulls in the International Fight League. He is also the main instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City. Many famous jiu-jitsu and MMA fighters have been trained by Renzo.

Renzo has also written two books about jiu-jitsu. One is called "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique," which he wrote with his cousin Royler Gracie. The other is "Mastering Jujitsu," written with his training partner John Danaher. He has also been the personal jiu-jitsu teacher for Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan since 1993.

Submission Grappling Achievements

In November 2014, Renzo Gracie had a grappling match against Kazushi Sakuraba at Metamoris V. The match ended in a draw.

About Renzo Gracie's Life

Renzo Gracie lives in Holmdel Township, New Jersey. He is married to Cristina Gracie, and they have three children. He has many brothers and sisters, including Ralph Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie. In early 2022, a book about Renzo's life was released.

Instructor Lineage

Renzo Gracie's jiu-jitsu knowledge comes from a long line of teachers: Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Renzo Gracie

Championships and Awards

Submission Grappling

• ADCC Submission Fighting World champion (1998 and 2000)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

• Copa Atlântico Sul Champion (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994)

Mixed Martial Arts

• World Combat Championships
  • World Combat Championships 1 tournament winner

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Grappling Record

19 Matches, 11 Wins (3 Submissions), 7 Losses, 1 Draw
Result	Rec.	Opponent	Method	Event	Division	Date	Location
Draw	11–7–1	Kazushi Sakuraba	Draw	Metamoris V	Superfight	November 22, 2014	Los Angeles, CA
Loss	11–7	Mario Sperry	Points	ADCC 2011	Superfight	September 25, 2011	Nottingham
Loss	11–6	Mike Fowler	Points	ADCC 2007	–77 kg	May 4, 2007	Trenton, NJ
Loss	11–5	Pablo Popovitch	Points	ADCC 2005	–77 kg	2005	Long Beach, CA
Loss	11–4	Marcelo García	Points	ADCC 2003	–77 kg	May 17, 2003	São Paulo
Win	11–3	George Sotiropoulos	Points
Loss	10–3	Cris Brown	Advantage	ADCC 2001	–88 kg	2001	Abu Dhabi
Win	10–2	Jean Jacques Machado	Advantage	ADCC 2000	–77 kg	2000	Abu Dhabi
Win	9–2	Marcio Feitosa	Submission (guillotine choke)
Win	8–2	Israel Albuquerque	Points
Win	7–2	Dennis Hallman	Points
Loss	6–2	Egan Inoue	Points	ADCC 1999	–99 kg	1999	Abu Dhabi
Win	6–1	Fan Yi	Submission (verbal)
Win	5–1	Luis Brito	Submission (guillotine choke)	ADCC 1998	–77 kg	1998	Abu Dhabi
Win	4–1	Fabiano Iha	Points
Win	3–1	Rodrigo Medeiros	Points
Win	2–1	Frank Trigg	Decision
Loss	1–1	Wallid Ismail	decision	Desafio WxR	Superfight	1993	Rio de Janeiro
Win	1–0	Ricardo de la Riva	Advantage	Campeonato Brasileiro	Superfight	1993	Rio de Janeiro

See also

In Spanish: Renzo Gracie para niños

• List of ONE Championship alumni