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 (193 cm)
Weight	186 lb (84 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. Rilion Gracie
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 on September 26, 1981) is a famous Brazilian athlete. He was a professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and is a highly skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) expert and coach.

Roger comes from a very famous family in Jiu-Jitsu. His father, Mauricio Gomes, and his grandfather, Carlos Gracie, helped create Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Many people think Roger Gracie is one of the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters ever.

He is part of both the IBJJF Hall of Fame and the ADCC Hall of Fame. Roger won 10 IBJJF world championship titles between 2004 and 2010. He was the first person to win the open weight division three times. He also won the European Championship twice and the Pan Championship once.

Roger Gracie is also an ADCC Submission Fighting champion. He won gold in his weight class and the open weight division in 2005. He won every match by making his opponents give up. Roger stopped competing in Jiu-Jitsu in 2017. He never lost a match by submission in his entire career!

He also competed in MMA. In 2016, he became the ONE Light Heavyweight Champion. He also fought in Strikeforce and the UFC. When he retired from MMA in 2017, his professional record was 8 wins and 2 losses.

Early Life and Training

Roger Gomes Gracie was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 26, 1981. His mother, Reila Gracie, was the daughter of Carlos Gracie, who started Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His father, Mauricio Gomes, was also a famous Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Roger started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was very young.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Career

Starting His Journey

Roger Gracie began competing in Jiu-Jitsu as a teenager. In 1999, he won the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a blue belt. The next year, he won the Pan American Championship and the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

He continued to train in the UK with his father and in Brazil with his uncle, Carlos Gracie, Jr.. In 2001, Roger won another world championship as a purple belt. He also won the Brazilian Nationals again as a brown belt. In 2002, as a brown belt, he won both the heavyweight and open class divisions at the World Championship.

In 2003, Roger competed in the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in Brazil. He finished third in his weight class. Later that year, at age 22, his uncle Carlos Gracie Jr. gave him his black belt.

Black Belt Success

In his first year as a black belt, Roger won a silver medal at the 2003 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In 2004, he won the ADCC South American Trials. He won both his weight class and the open weight division by making all his opponents give up.

Winning World Titles

At the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Roger won the super heavyweight division. He lost the final of the Absolute division in a close match.

In May 2005, Roger competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in California. He won all eight of his matches in both the super heavyweight and absolute weight classes. He made every single opponent give up, which was a first in history! That same year, he won the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and two gold medals at the European Open Championship.

More Championships

In April 2006, Roger competed at the Pan American Championship. He won a silver medal in his weight class but then won gold in the Absolute division. He won another world title in 2006 at the 2006 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

In 2007, Roger won both his weight division and the Absolute division at the World Championship. He made almost all his opponents give up. At the 2007 ADCC world championships, Roger won a special "superfight." This made him the first person to win the ADCC "triple crown."

Final World Titles and Retirement

In 2008, Roger became the 2008 World Champion. At the 2009 World Championship, he won double gold again, making all his opponents give up.

In 2010, Roger fought in his last world championship. He won both divisions, winning 8 fights. He became the first athlete to win 3 Open weight titles at the black belt level. After this, Roger announced he was leaving BJJ competitions to focus on his mixed martial arts career.

Special Matches

Roger vs. Buchecha

In 2012, Roger Gracie returned for one special Jiu-Jitsu match at Metamoris 1. He faced Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida, a young and talented fighter. The match lasted 20 minutes and ended in a draw. Many people called it "one of the greatest grappling matches ever."

Roger vs. Comprido

In July 2015, after not competing in Jiu-Jitsu for five years, Roger returned for another special match. He faced Rodrigo Comprido and won by making him give up with an armbar in about four minutes.

Roger vs. Buchecha II

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

Amazing Achievements

Roger Gracie was never made to give up in 20 years of competition. He won 14 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship titles (10 as a black belt). Many people consider him 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, Roger 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, Roger received his 5th Stripe on his BJJ black belt from his father.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Roger Gracie started his MMA career in 2006. He won his first fight by making his opponent give up with an armbar. In 2008, he won another fight by making his opponent give up with a choke.

Fighting in Strikeforce

In 2009, Roger signed a contract with Strikeforce to fight in America. In September 2011, he had his first MMA loss. In July 2012, Roger won his first middleweight fight against Keith Jardine. He then won his next fight by making Anthony Smith give up.

Joining the UFC

On January 15, 2013, the UFC announced that Roger Gracie would join their organization. This made him the fourth member of the Gracie family to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Roger fought Tim Kennedy in July 2013. He lost this fight, and the UFC decided not to renew his contract.

Becoming a ONE Champion

In August 2014, Roger signed a deal with ONE Championship. He returned to the Light Heavyweight division. In his first fight with ONE, he won by TKO in the third round.

On May 6, 2016, he defeated Michal Pasternak to become the first ONE FC Cruiserweight Champion. He won the fight by making his opponent give up in the first round.

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

Coaching Career

With help from his father, Roger opened the Roger Gracie Academy in London in 2004. He has helped many students become black belts.

Roger has also been a coach on the Professional Grappling Federation show. He led Team Epic Roll in 2024 and the 1st Phorm team later that year.

Personal Life

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

Major Achievements

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling

• 10-time IBJJF World Champion (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• 2-time IBJJF Pan American Champion (2006)
• 2-time IBJJF European Open Champion (2005)
• 2-time ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2005)
• ADCC Superfight Champion (2007)

Mixed Martial Arts

• ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship (2016)

Instructor Lineage

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

See also

In Spanish: Roger Gracie para niños

• List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners