1. Roger Gracie was born on Roger Gracie Gomes; 26 September 1981 and is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and coach.
37 Facts About Roger Gracie
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The son of coral belt Mauricio Gomes and grandson of BJJ founder Carlos Gracie, Roger Gracie is one of jiu-jitsu's most decorated and accomplished athletes and considered by many as the greatest competitor in jiu-jitsu history.
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Roger Gracie is a two-time European Champion, and a Pan Champion.
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Roger Gracie retired in 2017 after defeating then BJJ world champion Marcus Buchecha, leaving jiu-jitsu without a single submission defeat on his record.
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Roger Gomes Gracie was born on 26 September 1981 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Roger Gracie's mother, Reila Gracie, was a daughter of Carlos Gracie, the founder of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and his father, Mauricio Gomes, was a jiu-jitsu black belt under Rolls Gracie and a famous competitor in the 1970s known as.
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From a very young age Roger Gracie started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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In 1999 he won the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship fighting as blue belt in the middleweight division then the following year Roger Gracie won the 2000 Pan American Championship followed by the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship both in the medium-heavy blue belt division.
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In 2002 as a brown belt Roger Gracie won both the heavyweight division and the open class becoming double world champion for the first time.
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In 2003 at age 22, Roger Gracie received his black belt from his uncle Carlos Roger Gracie Jr.
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At the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Roger Gracie won the super heavyweight division but lost the final of the Absolute in a controversial match, after his opponent Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza refused to tap out after getting armbared, got his arm dislocated as a result, then stayed away from Roger Gracie with his broken left arm tucked into his belt, to keep his lead on points and win the match.
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In May 2005 Roger Gracie competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship taking place at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach California.
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Roger Gracie won all 8 of his matches, both at the super heavyweight and at the absolute weight classes, submitting Ronaldo Souza with a rear naked choke from standing, becoming the first grappler in history to win both divisions after submitting every single opponents.
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That same year Roger Gracie won the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship with silver in Absolute, then double gold at the 2005 European Open Championship winning the ultra heavyweight division and defeating Ronaldo Souza in the Absolute.
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Roger Gracie won another world title in 2006, at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship taking place in Rio de Janeiro, after defeating Robert Drysdale in the super heavyweight final, Roger Gracie then won silver in Absolute, after losing by points against Xande Ribeiro, in the last few seconds of the fight;.
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At the 2009 World Championship Roger Gracie submitted all of his opponents, in the super heavyweight and in the absolute weight class, with a "cross choke from mount", winning double gold again.
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In 2010 Roger Gracie fought his last world championship, Roger Gracie won both divisions, winning 8 fights with a "choke from the back", defeating Ricardo Abreu by points in the Super Heavyweight final, and winning the Absolute without fighting, after Romulo Barral forfeited due to an injury.
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Roger Gracie became the first athlete to win 3 Open weight titles at black belt level.
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Roger Gracie announced leaving BJJ competition to focus on his mixed martial arts career.
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In July 2015, having not competed jiu-jitsu in 5 years, Roger Gracie returned to competitive grappling to face Rodrigo Comprido, at a superfight American Nationals event during the UFC Fan Expo, winning via armbar in about 4 minutes.
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Roger Gracie submitted Buchecha with a lapel choke at the 6:52 mark of the match, right after his win, Roger Gracie announced his final retirement from BJJ competition.
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On 14 November 2021, Roger Gracie became the first person to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame, owing in part to his two gold medals at the 2005 ADCC world championship and his superfight victory in 2007.
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In July 2022 Roger Gracie received his 5th Stripe on his BJJ black belt from his father, Mauricio Gomes.
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On May 18,2008, Roger Gracie competed at Sengoku 2, where he defeated Yuki Kondo at 2:40 min of round 1 by rear naked choke.
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Roger Gracie announced at the December 19,2009, Strikeforce Evolution show that he had signed a contract with Strikeforce to make his American MMA debut.
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On September 11,2011, Roger Gracie suffered his first MMA loss when he faced former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal.
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Roger Gracie made his middleweight debut against UFC veteran Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Kennedy on July 14,2012, winning the fight via unanimous decision.
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Roger Gracie then won his next bout via submission defeating Anthony Smith at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine.
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On January 15,2013, the UFC announced that Roger Gracie would be one of 20 Strikeforce fighters folding into the organisation, making him the 4th member of the Roger Gracie family to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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Roger Gracie fought Tim Kennedy on July 6,2013, at UFC 162.
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Roger Gracie lost the fight by unanimous decision, and the UFC opted not to renew his contract.
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Roger Gracie returned to the Light Heavyweight division, known as "Cruiserweight" on ONE, and in his debut faced James McSweeney at ONE FC 23: Warrior's Way on December 5,2014.
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Roger Gracie won the fight via TKO in the third round.
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On October 14,2017 Roger Gracie announced his retirement from MMA three months after retiring from Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
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Roger Gracie served as a coach alongside Rigan Machado, Jean Jacques Machado, and Dean Lister on season 6 of the Professional Grappling Federation on April 21 to 26,2024.
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Roger Gracie led Team Epic Roll at the tournament, and finished in fourth place.
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Roger Gracie returned to coach on season 7 of the Professional Grappling Federation on November 3 to 8,2024, alongside Dean Lister, Pedro Sauer, and Carlos Machado.