Quick Q&A with UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie

Posted October 27, 2009 at 1:59 pm and filed under Sports.

Together, Royce Gracie and his relatives are considered the first family of mixed martial artists by most associated with the sport. Headed by the late Helio Gracie, the family brought Brazilian jui-jitsu to North America. In the early 1990s, family members launched Ultimate Fighting Championship, which has become the fasting growing spectator sport in the country.

Royce Gracie

Royce Gracie

Gracie was an early UFC star, winning three out of the first four tournaments.

Gracie was at Locked and Loaded Grill Friday, Oct. 23 at a weigh-in to help promote Carolina Crown II, an MMA card held the following night at RBC Center.

News Editor Paul Tambasco grabbed a few moments with the three-time UFC champion. Here’s what Gracie had to say:

Q: You’re in town to promote [Saturday’s] fights. Any other big plans while in Raleigh?

A: I know a lot of people here from Team ROC, guys I have trained with. I am doing a seminar over at Jason [Culbreth’s] place [CrossFit gym in North Raleigh] right after this.

Q: Mixed martial arts have become immensely popular since your family launched UFC in the early 1990s. What has changed in the sport since then?

A: There are definitely more safety measures in place. In the beginning, there were no rules, no time limit — it was more raw. Now they have rules that protect the fighters. Before, it was also a quest to see who had the best style [of fighting]. Now, it’s not just one style against another; it’s a mix.

Q: Any predictions for the fights?

A: I don’t have a crystal ball. In the cage, anything can happen.

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