Royler Gracie: How to Lose Fans and Alienate People
by KJ Gould on Jul 24, 2011 12:38 PM EDT
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The Royler Gracie versus Eddie Bravo bout at this year's ADCC in Nottingham, England is off. What transpired over the past couple of months after the rematch was initially announced was perhaps the least surprising, most predictable story to grace the Submission Grappling world. Arguments for and against each party for the match not happening have been made but now the dust has settled it seems clear where the majority of the blame can be placed.
Here's a timeline of what went down:
- In May the rematch many expected would never happen was officially announced by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club.
- Within a week doubts first arose of the match taking place when Eddie Bravo dropped a bombshell on his official website message boards stating that Royler Gracie after initially agreeing to take part in the match wanted significantly more money from ADCC to participate, citing ADCC Vice President Guy Neivens as his source (this may or may not have been the inspriation for Lyoto Machida to ask for 'Anderson Silva Money'). GracieMag blog - a clearly partisan online source - quickly dismissed the allegation as 'rumor-mongering'.
- By the beginning of June Royler Gracie had posted a blog entry on his official website giving his side of the story and justifying the amount of money he was asking for. He also threw out the belief that his negotiations with ADCC should have been kept confidential and not leaked to Bravo, and further suggested that Guy Neivens acted unprofessionally in disclosing contract information to Bravo. The story takes another twist when both Bravo and Neivens state that in the history of ADCC no contract is ever in place with the participants: they are there by invitation or qualification only and terms and purses are not negotiated.
- By the end of June Eddie Bravo had spoken with BJPenn.com about the situation and set a deadline of July 10th for Gracie to accept the rematch citing the time and energy required to train would need to be a solid couple of months. Bravo speculated Gracie was likely posturing by delaying this long perhaps in the hope Bravo wouldn't have enough time to prepare. Bravo only sees the rematch happening at the following ADCC in 2013 if at all.
- 3 days after the deadline imposed by Bravo, Tatame posted an interview with Gracie who claims that while he has no problems with ADCC, he still maintains they were yet to conclude negotiations (despite ADCC making it clear they don't negotiate or form contracts) and that they had not contacted him so he wasn't going to wait around and waste his time in the process. Later in the interview we find Royler Gracie is negotiating to fight at an Amazon Forest Combat MMA event in Brazil (which he later signs), and that the promoter offered Eddie Bravo a chance to fight Royler Gracie under MMA rules. According to Gracie Bravo declined and didn't want the fight, and Gracie makes light of the situation saying he'd only hit Bravo with open hands.
Royler Gracie made a reasonable case for himself early on in his demands for $50k to show and the $25k win bonus at this year's ADCC. He's a multiple world champion in both the IBJJF Mundials and the ADCC No Gi tournaments, as well as having fought in MMA in bouts with the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba and Genki Sudo in Pride FC and K-1 MMA. Gracie is in his 40's with schools to run, fighters to coach and tours to make doing seminars all of which helps generate a steady, premium income that would take a hit should he drop everything for a couple of months to train for a match with Bravo. However, Bravo similarly would have to drop everything and lose out on potential earnings from his own schools and seminars and yet made no such demands to ADCC after accepting the invitation to take part. Considering Gracie also continued the narrative of 'contracts and negotiations' after it had been made clear they didn't exist in ADCC to me suggests political spin on Gracie's part.
Bravo has also stated he has no desire to take part in MMA and now that he is also in his 40's it's not unreasonable for him to turn down an offer to fight Gracie in such an environment considering it would be his MMA debut against someone who has had 10 MMA fights. Royler Gracie backing out of the ADCC match but eager to accept an MMA match with Bravo in his home country of Brazil knowing full well he has the edge just seems incredibly transparent and pathetic. Maybe it was the AFC promoter's idea to make a MMA fight with Bravo and who knows, maybe they're paying Gracie the same or more to take part in an MMA fight than ADCC were for a Submission Grappling match but the whole scenario reeks of the Gracie Family Stereotype in making stipulations for a match up to stack the deck in their favor.
Royler Gracie's legacy is secure and his achievements can't be taken away but actions like we've seen over the last few months coupled with debatable excuses and explanations shouldn't endear him to or draw sympathy from anyone. A rematch that has garnered a lot of attention and could have helped raise the profile of the Submission Grappling world has fallen through, and it's hard to blame anyone else but Royler Gracie.
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Royler Gracie’s legacy is secure and his achievements can’t be taken away but actions like we’ve seen over the last few months coupled with debatable excuses and explanations shouldn’t endear him to or draw sympathy from anyone.
Trying to get himself a pay day from what would be a fairly high profile match? I can’t say that’s something that particularly bothers or disappoints me – and I’m not exactly a fan of the Gracie family in general.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 24, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions
While this could be true
Taking an MMA fight with an unknown start up promotion seems pretty strange by comparison. There’s more at physical risk in an MMA fight than a Submission Grappling match, and we can only assume this MMA promotion is paying Gracie a similar amount to what he demanded from ADCC. Gracie clearly pulled a Machida in agreeing to take part and then trying to negotiate when ADCC has never negotiated with its participants. Personally I think it’s a better idea to have contracts in place, and I know ADCC could afford to pay everyone more considering Sheikh Tahnoon backs it but considering the MMA fight and how quickly that came about it feels like Royler used the money with ADCC as a way to acbk out of the match with Gracie while trying to save face.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
Just a little point: I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to call it pulling a “Machida” when somebody tries to re-negotiate for more money. It’s entirely reasonable to try to squeeze as much money out of a particular offer as possible, so long as it’s within reason and based on what the person is actually worth.
What Machida did — trying to get more money out of the fact that it was a short notice fight and he was doing the UFC a favor — was entirely reasonable. It’s how he went about it that was unreasonable. Asking for an extra $30k or $40k or something would’ve been entirely appropriate, and I’m pretty sure Dana would’ve agreed to it under the cicrumstances. Asking for “Anderson Silva money,” on the other hand, was entirely unreasonable. It essentially meant he was asking for a cut of the PPV and a raise of probably four or five times what he was contracted to. That is in no way what Machida is really worth at this point and thus not within reason.
I was being fairly tongue in cheek
But when you consider what the purses for ADCC superfights and tournament winners currently is, Royler wanting triple what he originally would have got (and that Bravo would have got) after agreeing to take part is still a bad way of going about things. In both cases, negotiating before agreeing to take part would have been a better approach.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
In the 2009 Superfight between Robert Drysdale and Jacare de Souza
Drysdale got $10k as the ‘runner up’, Jacare got $40k as the Superfight winner.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
Machida asked for money after he agreed to take the fight
Machida had verbally agreed to the fight and when it came down to sign the contracts is when he sprung his “I want Anderson Silva money” routine. If he wanted more money he should have been up front about it. Not agreeing and a couple of days later demand more money.
You sure it didn't go like this?
“Hey Lyoto, can you fight Rashad on short notice? I know it’s a big risk but it would really save our asses so we’d of course give you some more cash for it.”
“Sure I’ll do it.”
When they’re putting pen to paper:
“I want Anderson Silva money.”
“We said some more cash not the whole fucking bank you psychopath!”
I mean, that’s not that bad is it?
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Head Kick Legend
by Neil Manich on Jul 24, 2011 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
In the start I really liked the Gracie family..
but shit like this makes me hate them. Renzo seems like the only one who is cool both on and off the ring. The rest just seem like arrogant cunts that feels the world is in their debt.
in the end, there's two distinct branches of the Gracie family:
Those who trace to Helio(Gracie Humaita), who are money grubbing jerks(Royce, Royler, Rickson, etc.)
Those who trace to Carlos(Gracie Barra), who will fight anyone, anywhere(Renzo, Roger, Carlos Jr, etc.)
Read me trying to be funny at:
www.huggingnuts.com
by esquilinho on Jul 24, 2011 12:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
just spreading the knowledge.
As someone with ties to the Gracie name, it is important that there is a change in attitude about them. Not all the family members are one way or another, but when one does something wrong(like this), all the family gets lumped in as crooks. Just want it to be clear there is a branch still down to go at any moment, like it used to be.
Read me trying to be funny at:
www.huggingnuts.com
by esquilinho on Jul 24, 2011 2:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ironically
Gracie Barra is more financially successful
by IpullguardIRL on Jul 24, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
because BJJ fighters are smart
You can only get charged extra for seminars from your own academies master so many times before you say fuck off.
I remember a story of Rickson charging students for seminars… at a goddamn Rickson Gracie Academy.
Read me trying to be funny at:
www.huggingnuts.com
by esquilinho on Jul 24, 2011 9:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Rickson ? the guy that Renzo says is better than all the myth surrounding him?
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 24, 2011 11:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
bull shit
the only gracie brother that is like that you didn’t even name.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 24, 2011 9:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed 100% with this. Normally, it’s entirely reasonable to negotiate in a situation like this. But ADCC is a different animal altogether and, let’s be honest, Gracie’s appearance isn’t worth potentially $75,000 anyway. If Bravo wasn’t making demands, no reason Gracie was entitled to.
Royler and other Gracies constantly come off like their shit smells like freshly picked roses. I get it, your ancestors popularized BJJ all over and one even helped to start the UFC. But Christ, that doesn’t mean the world should bow before you for the rest of your life based on what your relatives did. Renzo is pretty awesome though.
If Bravo wasn’t making demands, no reason Gracie was entitled to.
This doesn’t really make sense. Just because Bravo chose not to make any demands it doesn’t mean Royler wasn’t entitled to. They were both entitled to make all the demands they wanted and it was ADCC’s choice whether they gave into them or not. Not to mention Royler has a much bigger name in submission grappling than Bravo does.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 24, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Bravo has a bigger name in the current world of UFC brand MMA
And to get the casuals in to watch an ADCC event, that means much more marketing wise.
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Bravo has a bigger name in the current world of UFC brand MMA
A fair point, although it does depress me.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 24, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
That's nepotism for you
Thanks Joe Hogan.
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Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
Haha, definitely. To be fair, I actually really liked it back in the day when we used to get Bravo’s round by round scoring.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 24, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I wasn’t trying to say that Gracie can’t make demands just because Bravo didn’t, although you’re right that’s exactly what it looks like. What I meant was that this whole thing came about because Gracie wants to get redemption against Bravo. Bravo then accepted the offer with no strings attached to give Gracie that opportunity, and Gracie has to go and ruin it by hitting ADCC up for more cash despite the fact that both he and Bravo had both already agreed to do it. Just a shady thing to do, and then he tries to spin it like Bravo is the one at fault.
by dropkick101 on Jul 24, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
the article has good points but is missing something
They need to look at it from a business perspective. in easy business you have to spend money to make money. there are also times where a gamble can pay off big. of course its gracies decision to decide to take that risk. to say i have to stop training and my seminars and cant afford it is the easy way out. for instants bravo pretty much made the beginning of his career off his win over gracie. that was his risk/gamble and it paid off huge.
from a business stand point gracie could do the same. yes he would lose out on income at the start but beating bravo would give him an even bigger name. he could raise prices on for his school his seminars. he could use the win to bring in extra students making even more money in the long run from avenging the lose. im not saying he needs it but look at it this way. i own a 200,000$ house. i want to sell it but before i do i add a 5000$ pool. now i can sell the house for 225. like a savings bank. ur out money to begin with but you more then make up for it with interest.
now if he loses of course it would backfire but at the same time turning down the fight for such reasons is a backfire itself. ADCC is a huge name and he would have been better to claim injury or sickness. you dont turn down the Olympics cause it doesnt pay enough. and the ADCC in my opinion is the Olympics of grappling.
i don’t understand how royler botched a chance to reclaim some glory other than avoiding bravo on purpose, either out of fear of losing and thus forever tarnishing his legacy or he’s terrible at managing money and is broke and in dire straits. one would think he had the presence of mind to see this for what it was, and considering he knew full well ADCC longstanding policy of invitation, why wouldn’t he take this? he had a chance to avenge a high profile loss, under completely standard, level field circumstances and he blew it on purpose. all he had to do was accept the known circumstance and go for it, but he didn’t and it seems clear it’s likely because he understood the real chance he would lose again.
is this the start of a community series?
"I make boring, disgusting meals for Bellator fight nights."
by Earl Montclair on Jul 24, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
I saw this a few days back
And thought ‘dammit, I was going to go with that title’. So I did anyway.
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Thanks for not constantly referencing your penis and or balls
I feel as though I know more about Fake Emcee’s nether regions than I do my own.
"I make boring, disgusting meals for Bellator fight nights."
by Earl Montclair on Jul 24, 2011 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure I see this as Royler blowing the fight. It seems to me that Royler asked for a price to participate, ADCC couldn’t match it, so he opted out. As for taking the MMA fight – do we know what they are paying Royler? Because if they are paying him close to what he wanted from ADCC, then I see nothing out of the ordinary in him taking it.
As for the timing, according to Royler (so take that for what it’s worth) ADCC announced the fight before he agreed to terms. If true (again, IF) then the fault lies with ADCC, not with Royler.
Overall I would love to see this fight, and kudos to Bravo for being ready for it. But Royler is under no obligation to take it, and if the money’s not right in his eyes, that’s his choice.
Staff Writer - BloodyElbow.com
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I like that you have no outward bias
and state the facts. I’m not a Gracie hater, nor do I claim to have studied them so fastidiously, that I can break the family down to snide separations, but as far as I can tell, from all the articles I have read on this feud, I still don’t exactly see why Gracie is so crucified.
Maybe he felt that he would be the fighter to successfully challenge the ADCC status quo. At most he would just be another fighter with an outsized ego. The FBI tends to leave those ones alone.
His callout of Bravo to fight MMA, now that was a douche move, knowing full well that Eddie Bravo does not professionally train MMA.
But that also, the FBI leaves alone.
My point is that when it comes to money, I hold very little against the fighter, because the system is stacked against the individual fighter. 99% of the time, negotiations are basically, take it, or step along
So whenever a fighter has achieved some measure of stature in the fight game, and they want to leverage literally their blood, into a better bottom line, for me, it’s just a hard thing to point fingers and call them names.
We should recognize this is a new fight age.
Fighters are getting less and less reluctant to push the envelope. Especially established, popular top fighters. Anathema to the UFC. Because the more popular a fighter is, the more the scales tip in his favor. Until you get to the level of say Overreem, who in truth does not need the UFC. Would it be nice from a fight standpoint to fight on the biggest stage against the biggest names? Absolutely. But Overreem is such a huge draw in MMA right now, that whatever tournament he entered or what ever fight he signed up for would draw immense attention and his demands would be certain to be accommodated, due to his status as Heavyweight Alpha Dog.
In the UFC, he gains the stage, but loses almost all of that control.
So if he went to a promoter with demands and the promoter felt he was not worth the demands, they just don’t do business.
No reason for blame, just the American way, coming soon to a fighter near you.
*ps just one thing: did you place a call or email to either fighter to get some quotes?
Otherwise great articles. To me, why BE stands out. You would never in a million years see this story on MMA Junkie.
Matt Bishop FIVE TRILLION STAR Bank On It Prediction! Couture by decision
mo money mo problems
The motivation between the two is worlds apart. Bravo comes off as the guy that wants to do it for “arts” sake while Royler appears to be the money motivated.
While that’s fine, I question his (Royler’s) intention to wanting the match beyond any sort of monetary gain. If he has no real desire to compete against Bravo beyond money he should NOT even be entertaining matches like this. It reeks of “sure if you give me a million dollars I’d spend 1 round against a pro box” type scenario.
bravo claims his style is for mma yet declines
His chance to prove it? Everyone comes out looking horrible in this one. I really wanted to see this match too. I am bummed.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 24, 2011 3:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I was going to touch on this
But Bravo’s not going to prove it in his 40’s against someone that has 10 fights in MMA as experience, even if he is also in his 40’s. And would Bravo really want to go to Brazil? Coupled with the weed his paranoia in getting lynched would be through the roof.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
so the master of the rubber guard doesnt think he can make it work?
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 24, 2011 4:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Think UFC 1: Was Helio wrong to send Royce instead of fighting in the tournament himself?
My name isn't Todd.
Helio was like 80 when ufc 1 happened. helio fought his fights to prove his style long before UFC 1.
Not even close to the same thing. And Royce wasn’t/ isn’t the best of the Brothers. Rickson and Relson both are sharper. Royce was chosen because he was head instructor at Rorians school and Rorian owned half the UFC.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 25, 2011 1:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He only has to point to Shinya Aoki and George Sot.
And any other fighters who have adopted it into their game (like Vinny Magalaes). Guys who are still active MMA fighters with MMA experience.
Besides, do you really think if he took the fight with Royler, Royler would let Gracie try out his guard on him? A more likely scenario is Royler turns it into a bad kickboxing match.
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no way brother.
Royler , Relson and Rickson are purists.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 24, 2011 9:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Vinny is a Royler Black Belt.
And was a champion before training with Eddie. Eddies stuff works because of what Royler taught him IMHO.
I am still waiting for a home grown 10th planet guy.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 25, 2011 12:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Of course
I never believed RG works as a stand alone system built around it. I think it can work if you’re already top level and use it as a transition to something else.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
or you can pull a Roger Gracie and just own everyone with the abc’s. I like RG, XG, etc, but there’s something to be said for the way Roger goes about it.
@rask4p on Twitter
Well yeah
I still don’t see why you can’t just attempt omoplatas Marcelo Garcia style, then try to use rubber guard to get to the same destination (if you take that route)
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
I said this as well before. Bravo always talks about rubber guard being the best system for no-gi/MMA
Well…show it.
Also, show a Rubber Guard purist who came up through the system (not a traditional BJJ black belt) who kicks ass at no-gi/MMA.
BOOSH
Denny Prokopos
2009 no gi worlds – 3rd place
2010: 1st Place: No Gi Grappling Worlds Tournament (65kg) – Krakow, Poland
2nd Place: Grappling World Championships: No Gi (66kg)
3rd Place: Worlds No Gi Jiu Jitsu Championship, Black Belt Division
2nd Place: U.S. World Team Trials (66kg): Denny achieves the status of All American and joins the U.S. World Team
1st Place: No Gi Jiu Jitsu National Championship, Brown Belt Featherweight Division
1st Place: Naga Arnold Grappling Championships
He was brought up through tenth planet, but has a good all around game including a very good top game.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
It's perfectly reasonable for Bravo to decline an MMA match.
He’s never fought in MMA. Gracie has. Whether his system is best for MMA is questionable, but I don’t fault Bravo for not participating.
Well you have to consider that Gracie Jiu Jitsu is geared more towards a realistic street fight setting or MMA fight rather than a sport grappling. Asking for an MMA fight is not “pathetic”. MMA would be a better indicator of who really has the better Jiu Jitsu.
That's quite the stretch
Otherwise why not make it an old school vale tudo fight with head-butts and full on stomps? Since we’re talking about the essence of Gracie Jiu Jitsu …
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
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Because humanity is scared of the awesomness that would result
if we had head-butts and stomps in MMA.
BOOSH
yes because everyone walks around in a gi
by bitteralex on Jul 24, 2011 6:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If your in a fight, someones coat or clothing acts like a gi in a sense. You can grab their clothing and control them, similar to how you can do it if someones wearing a gi
by discoandherpes on Jul 24, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
i choked someone with their own Tshirt to prove what a silly point that is.
So Next time you put a t-shirt on…. Just know there are men in the world that could choke you to sleep with it.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 25, 2011 12:22 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
that came off doucher than my normal comments.
I demonstrated , and showed him the Chokes could be done with a t-shirt at his request. I didn’t choke him for doubting or something stupid like that.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 25, 2011 3:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Bravo has never wanted to compete in MMA
Even Royler’s terrible boxing and judo is better than Bravo’s, but does that make Bravo’s grappling system worse? He’s claiming that the rubber guard is a good option for minimising damage and setting up attacks, and indeed it is. Check out, for instance, Mann shutting down Curran with it the other night.
Curran still won a decison
I’m not particularly keen on the Rubber Guard but I’ve stated as much in previous posts. At most it can be used to stall before transitioning into something more dynamic and offensively proven.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
Curran did plenty of other things that won that decision
When he was in Mann’s guard, he had difficulty getting much going. Much like guys do when they put Sotiropolous on his back. G-Sot, of course, nearly finished Stevenson with an omoplata from there.
I’m not saying that rubber guard is definitely better than ‘normal’ guard, but I’d love to see some real stats/analysis on how effective it is. It’d be tricky to do, because stats on triangles/armbars from the straight guard are muddied by guys throwing reckless g ‘n’ p and getting caught (Sonnen) or being hurt/tired before being finished (Akiyama) or simply having shitty sub defence. Rubber guard seems to be a better option for forcing the action against a grappler who isn’t making mistakes, at least from what I’ve seen.
I think there are much better alternatives to protecting yourself on the ground.
Alternatives that don’t flatten your own hips and make escape or sweeping more difficult than it needs to be.
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
Berate Me on Twitter @KJGould
Don't Be Scared Romie
The Big Book of English for MMA: Brazil Edition! Including Such Staples As:
"I'm Ready For Fight!"
"I'm Excite For Fight"
"I'm Train"
"He Will Receive The Punch"
"I'm Good Standup"
Bravo 2 – Royler 0
That’s the way it’ll be remembered. Nice one Royler, you’ve deprived the grappling world a true superfight that would bring a whole new legion of fans to the sport of submission grappling, A chance to prove that your Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective grappling discipline in the world, A chance to avenge your most famous loss, A chance to bring your families name to the front of the fighting world again.
You go fight in your obscure little fight that no-one cares about in Brazil.
Well done Eddie, Royler knew there was no way he could beat you and decided to run scared instead and shift the blame onto anyone else but himself.
I have no respect left for you Royler, you are an embarrasment to your families heritage!
What would Helio have said?
Well done Eddie, Royler knew there was no way he could beat you and decided to run scared instead and shift the blame onto anyone else but himself.
I have absolutely no idea how you reached this conclusion.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 25, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
clearly because of all the adcc medals and major tournament wins that Bravo has.
"Many have the will to win. Few have to will to prepare to win."
" A black belt only covers 2 inches of your ass. The rest is up to you." - Royce Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Jul 25, 2011 1:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
100% agreed.
Good article. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but from an outsider’s point of view, who wanted to see this match, Gracie comes off looking really bad in this.
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