Gracie Spotlight: Renzo Gracie — The People's Champion

Fighter. Coach. Legend. The Gracie who built an empire in New York City.

Quick Facts

The Fighter's Fighter

If you want to understand why Renzo Gracie is beloved in martial arts, consider this: he's still competing. At 51, he submitted Yuki Kondo in ONE Championship. He has fought in PRIDE, UFC, K-1, RINGS, EliteXC, IFL, and just about every major organization that ever existed.

While other legends retired to coaching, Renzo kept stepping into cages, rings, and arenas. He doesn't just talk about the warrior spirit—he lives it.

Early Life and Training

Renzo was born into BJJ royalty as the grandson of Carlos Gracie Sr. (co-founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) and son of 9th Degree Red Belt Robson Gracie.

Like all Gracies, he started training as an infant. His primary influences included:

• Rolls Gracie — The legendary innovator who tragically died young

• Carlos Gracie Jr. — Who would eventually award Renzo his black belt

By age 20, Renzo was already a multiple-time BJJ champion in Brazil.

The Fighting Career

Vale Tudo Beginnings

Renzo's first professional fight came at age 25 in the Gracie Vale Tudo Challenge, where he submitted kickboxer Luiz Augusto Alvarado via rear-naked choke. He immediately established himself as a submission hunter willing to fight anyone.

World Combat Championships (1995)

At WCC, Renzo dominated the grappling bracket and then defeated kickboxing specialist James Warring with a neck crank in the finals to win the championship.

The Pentagon Combat Riot (1997)

This fight against Eugenio Tadeu became infamous for reasons beyond the actual bout.

The matchup pitted BJJ against Luta Livre—a heated rivalry in Brazil. Security was minimal. During the fight, Luta Livre supporters broke through barriers and attacked Renzo in the cage.

A full-scale riot erupted. Several people were injured in the chaos.

The aftermath: MMA was banned in Rio de Janeiro for 10 years.

Only Renzo could emerge from a riot as a legend.

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Renzo competed at PRIDE 1 (1997)—the same card where his cousin Rickson defeated Nobuhiko Takada. Renzo fought Akira Shoji to a draw after 30 minutes of action.

His most memorable PRIDE bout came against Sanae Kikuta in PRIDE 2. Under special rules allowing unlimited rounds, the fight stretched over an hour before Renzo finally secured a guillotine choke in round six.

After the fight, Renzo claimed PRIDE promoters had drugged him before the bout, explaining his sluggish performance.

ADCC Champion (2000)

At the 2000 ADCC World Championships, Renzo won the 77kg division, cementing his legacy as a world-class grappler in addition to his MMA accomplishments.

EliteXC vs. Frank Shamrock (2007)

At EliteXC's debut on Showtime, Renzo faced UFC legend Frank Shamrock. After being outmatched on the feet, Renzo took the fight to the ground and controlled position until Shamrock was disqualified for landing illegal knee strikes to the back of Renzo's head.

Renzo had to be helped to his dressing room due to a concussion from the illegal strikes.

UFC Debut at Age 43

In December 2009, Renzo signed a UFC contract. His debut came against former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

Renzo lost via TKO in round 3, but nobody questioned his courage. He became the second Gracie defeated by Matt Hughes (Royce being the first).

ONE Championship (2018)

At 51 years old, Renzo returned to the cage against Japanese MMA legend Yuki Kondo at ONE Championship: Reign of Kings.

Renzo won by rear-naked choke in round 2.

Over 50 years old. Still getting submissions.

Complete MMA Record

The Academy That Changed Everything

In the mid-1990s, Renzo did something revolutionary: he opened a high-level BJJ academy in midtown Manhattan.

The "blue basement" of Renzo Gracie Academy became legendary—a crucible that forged some of the greatest fighters and grapplers in history.

Notable Students

UFC Champions:

• Georges St-Pierre — Widely considered the greatest MMA fighter ever

• Matt Serra — UFC Welterweight Champion who shocked the world against GSP

• Chris Weidman — UFC Middleweight Champion who ended Anderson Silva's reign

• Frankie Edgar — Former UFC Lightweight Champion

Grappling Legends:

• John Danaher — The most influential grappling coach of the modern era

• Ricardo Almeida — Pancrase Champion

• Rodrigo Gracie — Elite competitor and coach

The Danaher Death Squad: Under John Danaher's guidance at Renzo's academy, a new generation of submission specialists emerged:

• Gordon Ryan

• Gary Tonon

• Eddie Cummings

• Nicky Ryan

The Renzo Gracie Academy lineage has produced more elite fighters and grapplers than perhaps any other single school in history.

Teaching Royalty

Beyond fighters, Renzo has trained some unexpected students.

Since 1993, he has been the personal jiu-jitsu instructor to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now President of the United Arab Emirates. This relationship helped establish BJJ's presence in the Middle East and contributed to the founding of the ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) tournament.

The Personality

Renzo is known for:

• Warmth and accessibility — He responds to fans on social media and trains with hobbyists

• Storytelling — His tales from the Vale Tudo days and Gracie Challenge era are legendary

• Fearlessness — He's never turned down a fight and has chased muggers through New York streets

• Controversy — His outspoken political views and occasional social media incidents

Love him or not, Renzo is authentic. What you see is what you get.

Documentary: Legacy

The 2008 documentary "Renzo Gracie: Legacy" follows his journey through martial arts' evolution over a decade. It covers the bare-knuckle days of Vale Tudo through the explosion of MMA in Japan and America.

The film is essential viewing for understanding how BJJ grew from a Brazilian family art into a global phenomenon.

Publications

Renzo co-authored two influential books:

• "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique" (with Royler Gracie)

• "Mastering Jujitsu" (with John Danaher)

In 2022, he released his autobiography, written by Roberto Alvim.

Personal Life

Renzo lives in Holmdel Township, New Jersey with his wife Cristina and their three children.

He has eleven brothers and sisters, including:

• Ralph Gracie — Elite competitor and notorious enforcer

• Charles Gracie — Academy owner

• Ryan Gracie — Talented fighter who died tragically in 2007

Awards and Recognition

• ADCC Hall of Fame (2022)

• ADCC Champion (2000, 77kg)

• Multiple Vale Tudo and MMA championships

Legacy

Renzo Gracie bridges generations. He competed alongside his uncles in the Vale Tudo era and trained UFC champions of the 2010s and 2020s. He's a living link between the Gracie Challenge days and modern MMA.

His academy system has spread across the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Israel, and South Africa.

More than titles or techniques, Renzo's legacy is the army of fighters, coaches, and practitioners he's developed. Every time Georges St-Pierre finished a takedown or Chris Weidman defended a submission, Renzo's influence was visible.

And somewhere, probably right now, he's planning his next fight.