Roger Gracie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie
Born	Roger Gracie Gomes (1981-09-26) September 26, 1981 (age 43) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Residence	London, England
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Division	Super heavyweight (BJJ) Middleweight (MMA) Light Heavyweight
Reach	79 in (201 cm)
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out of	London, England
Team	Roger Gracie Academy Gracie Barra (BJJ) Evolve (MMA)
Trainer	Mauricio Gomes Renzo Gracie Carlos Gracie Jr.
Rank	5th deg. BJJ black belt
Years active	2006–2017
Mixed martial arts record
Total	10
Wins	8
By knockout	1
By submission	6
By decision	1
Losses	2
By knockout	1
By decision	1
Occupation	Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor
Medal record Representing  Brazil Men's Submission Wrestling ADCC World Championship Bronze 2003 São Paulo, Brazil -99kg Gold 2005 California, USA -99kg Gold 2005 California, USA Absolute ADCC South American Championship Gold 2004 Campos, Brazil -99kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Silver 2003 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute Gold 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -99kg Silver 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute Gold 2005 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -99kg Silver 2005 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute Gold 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -99kg Silver 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute Gold 2007 California, USA -99kg Gold 2007 California, USA Absolute Gold 2008 California, USA +99kg Silver 2008 California, USA Absolute Gold 2009 California, USA -99kg Gold 2009 California, USA Absolute Gold 2010 California, USA -99kg Gold 2010 California, USA Absolute Pan-American Championship Silver 2006 California, USA +100kg Gold 2006 California, USA Absolute European Championship Gold 2005 Lisbon, Portugal +100kg Gold 2005 Lisbon, Portugal Absolute

Roger Gracie (born Roger Gracie Gomes; 26 September 1981) is a famous Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and a top Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) expert and teacher. He holds a 5th degree black belt in BJJ.

Roger is the son of coral belt Mauricio Gomes. He is also the grandson of Carlos Gracie, who started Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Many people think Roger Gracie is the greatest jiu-jitsu competitor ever.

He is part of both the IBJJF Hall of Fame and the ADCC Hall of Fame. Gracie won 10 IBJJF world championship titles. He won these titles in different weight categories every year from 2004 to 2010. He was the first person to win the open weight division three times.

Roger Gracie also won the European Championship twice and the Pan Championship once. He is an ADCC Submission Fighting champion in his weight class, the absolute division, and a superfight. He is the only athlete to win gold in both his weight class and the open weight division by making every opponent give up. Gracie stopped competing in 2017 after beating the world champion Marcus Buchecha. He retired from jiu-jitsu without ever being forced to give up a match.

While doing jiu-jitsu, Roger also competed in MMA. He was the 2016 ONE Light Heavyweight Champion. He also fought in Strikeforce and the UFC. When he retired in 2017, his professional record was 8 wins and 2 losses.

Roger Gracie: A Jiu-Jitsu Legend

Who is Roger Gracie?

Roger Gomes Gracie was born on September 26, 1981, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His mother, Reila Gracie, is the daughter of Carlos Gracie. Carlos Gracie founded Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Roger's father, Mauricio Gomes, was a famous jiu-jitsu black belt in the 1970s. He was known as "Maurição." Roger started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was very young.

His Amazing Jiu-Jitsu Journey

Starting Out

As a teenager, Roger Gracie began competing. He trained with his uncle Rilion Gracie. In 1999, he won the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a blue belt. The next year, he won the 2000 Pan American Championship. He also won the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship that year. Both wins were in the medium-heavy blue belt division.

He trained in the UK with his father and in Brazil with his uncle Carlos Gracie, Jr.. In 2001, Gracie won another world championship. This time, he was a purple belt in the medium-heavy division. He was part of the Gracie Barra team. Also in 2001, he got his brown belt and won the Brazilian Nationals again. In 2002, as a brown belt, Gracie won both the heavyweight and open class divisions. This made him a double world champion for the first time.

In 2003, at age 22, Gracie received his black belt from his uncle Carlos Gracie Jr.

Becoming a Black Belt Champion

In his first year as a black belt, Gracie won silver at the 2003 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He lost to Márcio Cruz by points. In 2004, Gracie won the ADCC South American Trials in Campos, Brazil. He won both his weight class and the open weight division. He made every opponent give up in these matches.

At the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Gracie won the super heavyweight division. However, he lost the final of the Absolute division. His opponent, Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza, refused to give up even after his arm was hurt. Souza then kept his distance to win by points.

In May 2005, Gracie competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. He won all 8 of his matches. He won in both the super heavyweight and absolute weight classes. He made Ronaldo Souza give up with a choke. This made him the first grappler to win both divisions by making every opponent give up. That same year, Gracie won the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship with a silver in the Absolute division. He then won double gold at the 2005 European Open Championship. He won the ultra heavyweight division and beat Ronaldo Souza in the Absolute.

In April 2006, Gracie competed at the Pan American Championship. He won silver in the super heavyweight division. He lost to Xande Ribeiro by points. This was his fourth loss. He then won gold in the Absolute division. He made Ribeiro give up with a triangle choke in just 30 seconds. Gracie won another world title in 2006 at the 2006 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He beat Robert Drysdale in the super heavyweight final. Gracie then won silver in the Absolute. He lost to Xande Ribeiro by points in the last seconds.

In 2007, Gracie won both divisions, earning double world championship gold. He made all his opponents give up except Fernando Pontes "Margarida." At the 2007 ADCC world championships, Gracie won a superfight against Jon Olav Einemo. Einemo was one of only four people who had beaten him before. Gracie became the first ADCC triple crown winner.

The next year, Gracie became the 2008 World Champion. But he lost the Absolute final to Xande Ribeiro when time ran out. At the 2009 World Championship, Gracie made all his opponents give up. He won in both the super heavyweight and absolute weight classes. He used a "cross choke from mount" to win double gold again.

In 2010, Gracie fought his last world championship. He won both divisions, winning 8 fights with a "choke from the back." He beat Ricardo Abreu by points in the Super Heavyweight final. He won the Absolute without fighting, as Romulo Barral had to withdraw due to an injury. Gracie became the first athlete to win 3 Open weight titles at the black belt level. After this, Gracie announced he was leaving BJJ competition to focus on his mixed martial arts career.

Epic Fights and Retirement

In 2012, Gracie returned to grappling for one night at Metamoris 1. This was a special event where fighters could only win by making their opponent give up. He faced Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida, a new jiu-jitsu star. The match was a draw. Many people called it "one of the greatest grappling matches ever."

In July 2015, Gracie returned to grappling after 5 years. He faced Rodrigo Comprido at a superfight event. He won by armbar in about 4 minutes.

On July 23, 2017, Gracie faced Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida again. This was at the Gracie Pro jiu-jitsu event in Rio de Janeiro. This 15-minute superfight was called "the most-anticipated rematch in jiu-jitsu history." Both fighters had 10 world championship titles. Gracie made Buchecha give up with a lapel choke. Right after his win, Gracie announced his final retirement from BJJ competition.

Recognition

Roger Gracie was never forced to give up in 20 years of competition. He holds 14 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship titles (10 as a black belt). He also has three gold and five silver medals in the open weight division. Because of this, many people see him as the greatest jiu-jitsu competitor of all time. In May 2014, he was added to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Hall of Fame.

On November 14, 2021, Gracie became the first person to be added to the ADCC Hall of Fame. This was because of his two gold medals in 2005 and his superfight win in 2007. In July 2022, Gracie received his 5th Stripe on his BJJ black belt from his father, Mauricio Gomes.

His Mixed Martial Arts Career

Gracie started his MMA career in 2006. He beat Ron Waterman by armbar in the first round. This was at the Bodogfight event USA vs Russia. On May 18, 2008, Gracie fought at Sengoku 2. He beat Yuki Kondo with a rear naked choke in the first round.

Fighting in Strikeforce

Gracie signed a contract with Strikeforce in 2009. He made his American MMA debut there. On September 11, 2011, Gracie had his first MMA loss. He was knocked out by Muhammed Lawal in the first round. Gracie then started fighting in the middleweight division. He beat UFC veteran Keith Jardine by decision in July 2012. Gracie then won his next fight by making Anthony Smith give up.

Joining the UFC

On January 15, 2013, the UFC announced that Gracie would join their organization. He was one of 20 Strikeforce fighters to move over. This made him the fourth member of the Gracie family to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Gracie fought Tim Kennedy on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162. He lost the fight by decision. After this, the UFC decided not to renew his contract.

Becoming a ONE Championship Winner

In August 2014, Gracie signed a deal with Singapore-based promotion ONE Championship. Gracie returned to the Light Heavyweight division. In his first fight, he faced James McSweeney on December 5, 2014. He won the fight by TKO in the third round.

On May 6, 2016, he beat Michal Pasternak. This made him the first ONE FC Cruiserweight Champion. He won the fight with an Arm Triangle choke in the first round.

On October 14, 2017, Gracie announced he was retiring from MMA. This was three months after he retired from Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Teaching the Next Generation

In 2004, Roger started the Roger Gracie Academy in Ladbroke Grove, London. He did this with help from his father, Maurício "Maurição" Motta Gomes. Some notable black belts who trained with him include Raymond Stevens and Kywan Gracie Behring.

Gracie has also coached on the Professional Grappling Federation show. He led Team Epic Roll in 2024 and finished in fourth place. He returned to coach again in November 2024, leading the 1st Phorm team.

Family Life

Roger Gracie is married and has a son and a daughter.

Awards and Achievements

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Submission Wrestling

Main Achievements (Black Belt):

• 10 x IBJJF World Champion (2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009/2010)
• 2 x IBJJF Pan American Champion (2006)
• 2 x IBJJF European Open Champion (2005)
• 2 x ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2005)
• ADCC Superfight Champion (2007)
• 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2003/2004/2005/2006/2008)
• 2nd place IBJJF Pan Championship (2006)
• 3rd place ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship (2003)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 4 x IBJJF World Champion (2000 blue, 2001 purple, 2002 brown)
• 2 x Brazilian National Champion (1999 blue / 2001 brown)

Mixed Martial Arts

• ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship (2016, Former)

Career records

Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Submission wrestling record

Mixed martial arts record

Instructor lineage

Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Roger Gracie

See also

In Spanish: Roger Gracie para niños