Gracie! Once one of if not the most feared names in all of mixed martial arts. Now the pioneer family struggles to find a place as well as relevancy in an ever evolving sport. On April, 10Th at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi living legend Renzo Gracie is the next family member to try erase the vision of the fallen Gracie in the cage, against former welterweight champion Matt Hughes.
While the name Gracie is synonymous with jiu-jitsu, the inability or desire to develop a quality stand up approach seems to be the downfall of the Gracie fighters. As recent as UFC 109 we watched Rolles Gracie look typical and amazing on the ground, but when the fight made its way standing he looked more like a tough man competitor rather than an elite fighter.
Renzo who is (13-6-1 1NC) is making his UFC debut after a three year hiatus since posting a three fight win streak.
Renzo is fighting former welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Hughes beat Renzo's cousin and first ever UFC champion Royce Gracie. Although Renzo insist that this isn't a fight for revenge, rather a fight to restore pride in the Gracie family and name. That's where the question lies. Are the Gracies still relevant?
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While the name Gracie is synonymous with jiu-jitsu, the inability or desire to develop a quality stand up approach seems to be the downfall of the Gracie fighters. As recent as UFC 109 we watched Rolles Gracie look typical and amazing on the ground, but when the fight made its way standing he looked more like a tough man competitor rather than an elite fighter.
Renzo who is (13-6-1 1NC) is making his UFC debut after a three year hiatus since posting a three fight win streak.
Renzo is fighting former welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Hughes beat Renzo's cousin and first ever UFC champion Royce Gracie. Although Renzo insist that this isn't a fight for revenge, rather a fight to restore pride in the Gracie family and name. That's where the question lies. Are the Gracies still relevant?
source and full article