Rolles Gracie vs. Mostapha Al-Turk at UFC 109
by Scott Haber on Oct 21, 2009 12:17 AM EDT
42 comments
News of heavyweight Rolles Gracie's (3-0) signing of a multi-fight deal with the UFC broke today on Rolles's Twitter account and that of his cousin and MMA legend, Renzo Gracie. Now MMA Weekly reports that Gracie's debut will come in February at UFC 109 against Mustapha Al-Turk (6-5, 0-2 UFC):
The bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday by sources close to the fight.
Gracie's MMA experience is limited, but his performances have been impressive, with first-round submission victories in all three of his pro fights, the last two taking place in China for the Art of War promotion. The son of the late Rolls Gracie who was a nephew of family patriarch Helio, Rolles is a BJJ black belt (naturally) and splits his training time between his cousin Renzo's gym in New York City, and Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico. Along with fellow BJJ standout Roger, Rolles is one of the few Gracies to have the size to compete sucessfully at heavyweight, and if you really needed evidence of his grappling ability, he took second-place in the heavyweight division at the 2007 Abu-Dhabi's, losing to Fabricio Werdum in the finals on points.
Al-Turk is getting what will likely be his last chance at securing a victory in the UFC, with losses in his first two bouts in the Octagon, albeit against very stiff competition in Cheick Kongo and Mirko Cro Cop. Although he was taking a beating against Cro Cop in his most recent fight at UFC 99 last June, an errant eye-poke is what ultimately ended the night for Al-Turk, leading to the UFC brass deciding to give him one more shot. The odds will be stacked against the Brit, especially given that is strength is ground-and-pound and Gracie, like most of his family, is very dangerous on the ground.
UFC 109 is expected to take place on February 6th in Las Vegas, and will also feature a welterweight bout between veterans Matt Serra and Frank Trigg, and a middleweight fight with Demian Maia taking on Dan Miller.
HT: hewsdaddy
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Blackout612:
I know he’s been wanting to join the UFC for a long time and that he’s been training with Jackson. This would be an awesome signing.
http://www.mmadogma.com/2009/09/30/rolles-right-in-to-th-big-time/
Shaun32887:
Is it like "holes" or "hol-liss"?
by Scott Haber on Oct 21, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't get a chance to respond to Shaun
..and I’m not 100% sure, but I think it’s pronounced “hoy-ess”.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s “Hol-liss.” I recall hearing Renzo pronounce Rolls Sr.’s name that way.
by JRN on Oct 21, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just watched him fight Sam Holloway in the IFL and you are correct, the announcer pronounced it “Hol-liss”
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 21, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now I'm certain
It’s pronounced “Robert”.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
No, it’s definitely “Steve”.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Oct 21, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It’s pronounced Kimbo.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
by Llewdor on Oct 21, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Linderman?
"That feeling after you win and they raise your hand... it's like you have this energy that releases from your body, and it's like you mingle with the cosmos, and you feel omnipotent"
by woomikee on Oct 22, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
- Hobert
This shirt is "dry clean only", which means it's dirty.
by SamCupitt on Oct 22, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In one hand, I feel bad for Al-Turk (fellow Lebanese guy and all), but I’m also happy for him that he gets one last opp after the Thumb-KO he suffered against CroCop. Rolles via whatever-sub-he-wants round one. Good luck in the future, Mustapha.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd
Keefik?
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh dang, i thought you guys were asleep and wouldn’t be doing a post on this one.. haha. I included it in a slightly different version of your Fight Announcement Frenzy series..
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 21, 2009 12:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If they don’t do the Gracie train for the entrance I’m going to be bummed.
by JRN on Oct 21, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rolles is 31, but has only started fighting MMA pretty recently. Al Turk is definitely a tailor made opponent for him though, and Rolles does have the Gracie name behind him. It is tough to say if he has a bright future or not because I really need to see him fight. Obviously, his BJJ is at the top level, but I have to see other parts of his game as well. Training at the camps that he trains is a good start though.
by chrisbboy82 on Oct 21, 2009 1:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Rolles strings together a few good wins we’ll see the headline “Gracie vs. Lesnar.” That’s f*cking huge.
by MMAEruption on Oct 21, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rolles weighs 240, If he gets a decent string of wins, I’d like to see him against Big Nog first.
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 21, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Gracies are back. Is this the guy that keeps dropping out of fights?
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 21, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this is a defensive signing
it’s premature to sign Rolles to the UFC IMO, but they know that a Gracie vs Fedor fight on CBS would do huge business. It’ll be good to have another legit BJJ guy in the heavyweight division, but I don’t expect Rolles to do that well in the UFC. Werdum is a better BJJ guy (barely) and has trained muay thai with Cro Cop and Chute Boxe for years and still got KTFO’d in the UFC. Going to be hard on Rolles. He’s no Demian Maia, and after the Marquardt KTFO, Maia ain’t even Maia.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Oct 21, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
i see him munching on the few of the mid to lower half of TUF 10 alums after Al Turk, so he could develop more.
and who knows, if both win their debuts, maybe we’d get to see Kimbo vs Gracie..
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 21, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What?
it’s premature to sign Rolles to the UFC IMO, but they know that a Gracie vs Fedor fight on CBS would do huge business.
That’s what Roger is for, who is a bigger Gracie name than Rolles. Roger Gracie vs Fedor can still be put on CBS.
Werdum is a better BJJ guy (barely) and has trained muay thai with Cro Cop and Chute Boxe for years and still got KTFO’d in the UFC.
So the UFC KTFO’d Werdum? I was pretty sure it was Dos Santos, who is doing that to everyone he fights. Last I checked, Werdum KTFO’d Gonzaga TWICE, so this statement is pretty silly.
Also, Werdum is a MUCH more accomplished BJJ player than Rolle’s is. Either way, Roger Gracie vs Fedor is a much bigger fight.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He doesn’t, he just a decoy.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 22, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is even a preemptive strike against a possible Fedor/Roger fight.
If that fight gets happens, which means Roger has to actually fight, so it’s a very big if, Zuffa has the built in story that they have the “real HW Gracie” who isn’t afraid to test himself in the UFC.
Gracie name or not, it’s going to be hard to push the “best fight the best” if they plan a Roger/Fedor fight without Roger beating some big names.
by Phildo on Oct 21, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
butt scooting on CBS is not a recipe for success.
by mmalogic on Oct 21, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
You’d be lighting off fireworks right now if Rolles signed with SF. Come onnnnnn…
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would they have 2 Gracies at HW? It would be nice, but kinda awkward as well.
Roger is the younger and better Gracie though and no one should dispute that. All he has to do is eventually fight.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would never dispute that
But one of them seems more serious about fighting and he just signed with the UFC. It was a nice signing and he has plenty of upside despite his age. You should at least be able to concede that.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely...
But if you read my initial post, it was referencing what Kid Nate posted.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL at the idea of Roger actually stepping in the cage
The guy made his MMA debut in 2006 and has racked up a whopping ONE fight since then. That’s one fight in the last 34 months and still counting. Roger is a tease. He talks a good game about wanting to compete in MMA, but when push comes to shove he never gets in the ring/cage.
Roger is not cut from the same cloth as guys like Maia or Jacare. MMA is not for everyone, and Roger seems to be one of those guys who prefers straight grappling to MMA. He’s got more in common with Marcelo Garcia than he does with a guy like Jacare.
by Steve4192 on Oct 23, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why is Al Turk in the UFC anyway?
The guy sucks!!!!!!! His big win is versus James McSweeny. my god. McSweeny could barely keep his breathe in a 2 round fight. Hell he didn’t keep it. He damn near lost that fight.
by GoldmedalGrappling on Oct 21, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“Professional Opponent”
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 21, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s a lot of exclamation marks.
I STILL poop rainbows.
by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if you aren’t a fan of the guy you gotta admit he’s got it tough in terms of his opponents. Kongo, Cro Cop then Rolles Gracie, not exactly pushover opponents though I know little about Robert/Steve
by StevenGiles on Oct 21, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone had to take McCully’s place.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 21, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s in the UFC the same reason Phil Baroni is in the UFC—a bone to throw at up-and-comers and guys on a losing streak
by judonerd on Oct 22, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not the same reason.
Baroni is in the UFC because he is the greatest ever!
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 27, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
rooting for rolles
he teaches lots of classes at renzo’s academy in nyc where i train, and he’s the nicest, most humble guy around and an excellent teacher. obviously his jitz is top-notch. just hope he’s getting that striking up to a ufc level. al-turk shouldn’t test him too much on the feet but the next guy, whoever he is, definitely will. war rolles —
what has been will be again; what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
by Jeremy S. on Oct 22, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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