Roger Gracie (born Roger Gracie Gomes; 26 September 1981) is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and coach. As a mixed martial artist, he formerly competed in the Light Heavyweight division of ONE Championship, in where he was the inaugural Light Heavyweight World Champion, a title he held until retirement. He also competed in Strikeforce, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and submission grappler, he held 12 major world championships across the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), and ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship (ADCC).
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.[*
]
A member of both IBJJF Hall of Fame and ADCC Hall of Fame, Gracie won 10 IBJJF world championship titles across multiple weight classes, every year from 2004 to 2010, becoming the first competitor to win the Openweight division 3 times. He is also a two-time European Champion, and a Pan Champion. Gracie is an ADCC Submission Fighting weight, absolute, and superfight champion, the only athlete to win gold in both his weight class and the open weight division with a 100% submission-rate. Gracie retired in 2017 after defeating then BJJ world champion Marcus Almeida, leaving jiu-jitsu without a single submission defeat on his record.
Competing concurrently in MMA, Gracie is the 2016 ONE Light Heavyweight Champion, a former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight contender, holding at the time of his retirement in 2017 a professional record of 8–2.
Early life
Roger Gomes Gracie was born on 26 September 1981 in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
His 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 Maurição.
From a very young age Gracie started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu career
Early career
During his teenage years, after training with his uncle Rilion Gracie, Gracie started competition.
In 1999 he won the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship fighting as blue belt in the middleweight division
then the following year Gracie won the 2000 Pan American Championship followed by the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship both in the medium-heavy blue belt division.
Training in the UK with his father and in Brazil with his uncle Carlos Gracie, Jr.,
Black belt career
In his first year as black belt Gracie won silver at the 2003 World Championship after losing by points to Márcio Cruz. In 2004 Gracie won the ADCC South American Trials held in Campos Brazil, winning both his weight class (-) and the open weight division with a 100% submission-rate.
2004–2005: First IBJJF titles, ADCC world double gold
At the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Gracie won the super heavyweight division but lost the final of the Absolute in a controversial match, after his opponent
Ronaldo Souza refused to tap out after getting armbared, got his arm dislocated as a result, then stayed away from Gracie with his broken left arm tucked into his belt, to keep his lead on points and win the match.
In May 2005 Gracie competed in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship taking place at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach California.
2006–2007: Pan Am champion, ADCC superfight champion
In April 2006 competing at the Pan American Championship taking place at California State University, Gracie won silver in the super heavyweight division after losing by points to Xande Ribeiro, the fourth loss of his career; he then won gold in Absolute after submitting the same Ribeiro in a triangle within 30 seconds.
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, Gracie then won silver in Absolute, after losing by points against Xande Ribeiro, in the last few seconds of the fight;
In 2007 Gracie won both divisions, earning double world championship gold for weight and absolute, submitting all his opponents except Fernando Pontes "Margarida";
2008–2010: Tenth world title, retirement from competition
The following year Gracie became the 2008 World Champion but lost the Absolute final against Xande Ribeiro after the clock ran out.
At the 2009 World Championship 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.
In 2010 Gracie fought his last world championship, 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. Gracie became the first athlete to win 3 Open weight titles at black belt level.
Superfights
Gracie vs. Buchecha
In 2012, Gracie returned to grappling competition for one night only at
Metamoris 1, a submission only superfights event, to face
Marcus Almeida "the new 22-year-old heavyweight jiu-jitsu sensation', the bout was ruled a draw, while the match, which lasted 20 minutes, was noted by some as "one of the greatest grappling matches ever recorded".
Gracie vs. Comprido
In July 2015, having not competed jiu-jitsu in 5 years, Gracie returned to competitive grappling to face
Rodrigo Medeiros, at a superfight American Nationals event during the UFC Fan Expo, winning via armbar in about 4 minutes.
Gracie vs. Buchecha II
On 23 July 2017, at
Gracie Pro jiu-jitsu an event taking place at Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Gracie faced Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida for a 15-minute superfight dubbed "the most-anticipated rematch in jiu-jitsu history",
at that point both fighters held 10 world championship titles and were considered the greatest competitors in the sport. In the five previous years Gracie only fought one match against Rodrigo Comprido while Buchecha fought seventy matches winning more world championship titles than any other fighter at the time.
Gracie submitted Buchecha with a lapel choke at the 6:52 mark of the match, right after his win, Gracie announced his final retirement from BJJ competition.
Recognition
Having never been submitted in 20 years of competition, holding 14 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship titles (10 as black belt), with three gold and five silver in the open weight division,
Gracie is regarded by many as the greatest jiu-jitsu competitor of all time.
In May 2014 he was inducted into the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Hall of Fame.
On 14 November 2021, 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.
Mixed martial arts career
Gracie made his MMA debut in 2006, defeating veteran
Ron Waterman by armbar submission in the 1st round at the Bodogfight pay-per-view
USA vs Russia. On May 18, 2008, Gracie competed at Sengoku 2, where he defeated
Yuki Kondo at 2:40 min of round 1 by rear naked choke.
2009–2012: Strikeforce
Gracie announced at the December 19, 2009, Strikeforce Evolution show that he had signed a contract with Strikeforce to make his American MMA debut.
[ Roger Gracie ready for Strikeforce debut by Eduardo Ferreira, Tatame Magazine, May 03, 2010] On September 11, 2011, Gracie suffered his first MMA loss when he faced former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion
Muhammed Lawal. Gracie was knocked out in the first round.
Gracie made his middleweight debut against UFC veteran
Keith Jardine at on July 14, 2012, winning the fight via unanimous decision. Gracie then won his next bout via submission defeating Anthony Smith at
2013: Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 15, 2013, the UFC announced that Gracie would be one of 20 Strikeforce fighters folding into the organisation,
making him the 4th member of the Gracie family to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Gracie fought Tim Kennedy on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162.
2014–2016: ONE Championship
In August 2014, Gracie signed a multi-fight deal with
Singapore based promotion
ONE Championship. Gracie returned to the Light Heavyweight division, known as "Cruiserweight" on ONE, and in his debut faced
James McSweeney at on December 5, 2014.
He won the fight via TKO in the third round.
On May 6, 2016, he defeated Michal Pasternak for the inaugural ONE FC Cruiserweight Championship, winning the bout by Arm Triangle in the first round.
On October 14, 2017 Gracie announced his retirement from MMA three months after retiring from Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Coaching career
With the help of his father, 8th degree coral belt Maurício "Maurição" Motta Gomes, Roger established the
Roger Gracie Academy in 2004 in
Ladbroke Grove, London.
Notable Black belt promotions include Raymond Stevens, Nicolas Gregoriades and Kywan Gracie Behring.
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.
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.
Personal life
Gracie and his wife have a son and a daughter.
Championships and accomplishments
Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Submission wrestling
Main Achievements (Black Belt):
-
10 x IBJJF World Champion (2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009/2010)
-
2 x IBJJF Pan American Champion (2006)
-
2 x IBJJF European Open Champion (2005)
-
2 x ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2005)
-
ADCC Superfight Champion (2007)
-
2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2003/2004/2005/2006/2008)
-
2nd place IBJJF Pan Championship (2006)
-
3rd place ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship (2003)
Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):
-
4 x IBJJF World Champion (2000 blue, 2001 purple, 2002 brown)
-
2 x Brazilian National Champion (1999 blue
Mixed martial arts
-
ONE Light Heavyweight World Championship (One time, inaugural)
Career records
Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Submission wrestling record
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Notes
|-
|67–7–1
|Win||
Marcus Almeida|| Submission (choke from the back) || Gracie Pro SUPERFIGHT|| 2017 || || 6min 52s ||Super Fight
|-
|66–7–1
|Win||
Rodrigo Medeiros|| Submission (Armbar) || 2015 IBJJF Black Belt League Super Fight (UFC Fan Expo) || 2015 || align=center|1 || 4min 25s || Super Fight
|-
|
|Draw||
Marcus Almeida|| Decision ||
Metamoris|| 2012|| align=center|1|| 20:00 ||
|-
|65–7
|Win||
Romulo Barral || Forfeit (Injury) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2010|| || || Final
|-
|64–7
|Win|| Ricardo "Demente" Abreu|| Points (13–2)|| World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2010|| || || Final
|-
|63–7
|Win|| Walter Vital|| Submission (Choke from Mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Super Heavyweight Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|62–7
|Win|| Bruno Bastos|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Super Heavyweight Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|61–7
|Win||
Luiz Fernando|| Submission (Choke) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Super Heavyweight Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|60–7
|Win||
Tarsis Humphreys|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Absolute Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|59–7
|Win|| Rodrigo Cavaca|| Submission (Armbar) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Absolute Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|58–7
|Win|| Diego Herzog|| Submission (Choke) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Absolute Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|57–7
|Win|| Frost Murphy|| Submission (Choke) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship(Absolute Division) || 2010|| || ||
|-
|56–7
|Win||
Romulo Barral|| Submission (Cross Choke from mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2009|| || || Final
|-
|55–7
|Win|| Ricardo "Demente" Abreu|| Submission (Cross Choke from mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2009|| || || Final
|-
|54–7
|Win|| Claudio Calasans|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2009|| || ||
|-
|53–7
|Win|| Rafael Lovato Jr.|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2009|| || ||
|-
|52–7
|Win|| Bernardo Faria|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavy)|| 2009|| || ||
|-
|51–7
|Win|| Bruno Bastos|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavy)|| 2009||
– YouTube || ||
|-
|50–7
|Loss|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| Points (4–2) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2008|| || || Final
|-
|50–6
|Win|| Leonardo Leite|| Submission (Cross Choke from mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2008|| || || Final
|-
|49–6
|Win|| Eduardo Telles|| Advantage || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2008|| || ||
|-
|48–6
|Win||
Luigi Mondelli|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2008|| || ||
|-
|47–6
|Win|| Rodrigo Cavaca|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2008|| || ||
|-
|46–6
|Win|| Jon Olav Einemo|| Points (5–0) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (Superfight)|| 2007|| || || Superfight
|-
|45–6
|Win||
Romulo Barral|| Submission (Cross Choke from mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2007|| || || Final
|-
|44–6
|Win||
Robert Drysdale|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2007|| || || Semi-final
|-
|43–6
|Win||
Robert Drysdale|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2007|| || || Final
|-
|42–6
|Win|| Fernando "Margarida" Pontes|| Points || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2007|| || ||
|-
|41–6
|Win||
Tim Carpenter|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2007|| || ||
|-
|40–6
|Win|| Rodrigo Cavaca|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2007|| || ||
|-
|39–6
|Win|| Adriano Camolesi|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2007|| || ||
|-
|38–6
|Win||
Rodrigo Medeiros|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2007|| || ||
|-
|37–6
|Loss|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| Points || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2006|| || || Final
|-
|37–5
|Win||
Robert Drysdale|| Submission (Cross Choke from mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2006|| || || Final
|-
|36–5
|Win|| Marcelo Garcia|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|35–5
|Win|| Rodrigo Cavaca|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|34–5
|Win|| Pedro Schmall|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|33–5
|Win||
Rodrigo Medeiros|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|32–5
|Win|| Zumbi Machado|| || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|31–5
|Win|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| Submission (Triangle) || Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || || Absolute Final
|-
|30–5
|Loss|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| Advantage || Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship|| 2006|| || || Weight Final
|-
|30–4
|Win|| Tiago Gaia|| Submission || Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|29–4
|Win|| Raphael Lovato Jr.|| Submission || Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|28–4
|Win|| Joao Silva|| Submission || Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2006|| || ||
|-
|27–4
|Loss||
Ronaldo Souza|| Points (2–0) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Final
|-
|27–3
|Win|| Alexandre Ribeiro||Points (12–2)|| World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2005|| || || Final
|-
|26–3
|Win|| Fernando "Margarida" Pontes|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2005|| || ||
|-
|25–3
|Win||
Saulo Ribeiro||Submission|| World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2005|| || || Semi-final
|-
|24–3
|Win||
Ronaldo Souza||Points || European Open Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Final
|-
|23–3
|Win||
Roberto Abreu||Submission || European Open Championship || 2005|| || ||
|-
|22–3
|Win|| Rodrigo Solueo||Submission || European Open Championship || 2005|| || ||
|-
|21–3
|Win||
Ronaldo Souza|| Submission (Rear Naked Choke) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Final
|-
|20–3
|Win|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| Submission (Rear Naked Choke) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Semi-final
|-
|19–3
|Win|| Fabrício Werdum|| Submission (Rear Naked Choke) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Quarter-final
|-
|18–3
|Win||
Shinya Aoki|| Submission (Foot Lock) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2005|| || || Elimination Round
|-
|17–3
|Win|| Alexandre Ferreira|| Submission (Quit on Stool) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2005|| || || Final
|-
|16–3
|Win|| Alexandre Ribeiro||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2005|| || || Semi-final
|-
|15–3
|Win|| Eduardo Telles||Submission (Armbar) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2005|| || || Quarter-final
|-
|14–3
|Win|| Justin Garcia|| Submission (Rear Forearm Choke) || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2005|| || || Elimination Round
|-
|13–3
|Loss||
Ronaldo Souza|| Points || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2004|| || || Final
|-
|13–2
|Win||
Rodrigo Medeiros||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavyweight Division)|| 2004|| Roger Gracie vs Rodrigo Medeiros || || Final
|-
|12–2
|Win|| Fernando "Tererê" Augusto|| Submission (Choke from Mount) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship || 2004|| || ||
|-
|11–2
|Win|| Marcelo Garcia|| Points || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division) || 2004 || || ||
|-
|10–2
|Win|| Recardo Franco|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Super Heavy) || 2004 || || ||
|-
|9–2
|Win|| Roberto Agnese|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division) || 2004 || || ||
|-
|8–2
|Win|| Leonardo Ramos|| Submission || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division) || 2004 || || ||
|-
|7–2
|Loss||
Marcio Cruz|| Points (3–0) || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division)|| 2003|| || || Final
|-
|7–1
|Win|| Alexandre Ribeiro|| || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2003|| || || Third place match
|-
|6–1
|Loss|| Jon Olav Einemo|| || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2003|| || || Semi-final
|-
|6–0
|Win||
Rigan Machado|| || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2003|| || || Quarter-final
|-
|5–0
|Win||
Mario Sperry|| || ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (88–98 kg Division)|| 2003|| || || Elimination Round
|-
|4–0
|Win|| Marcio Corleta|| Points || || ?|| || ||
|-
|3–0
|Win||
Demian Maia|| Points || Brazilian Teams Championship || 2002|| || || Roger: Brown Belt, Demian: Black Belt
|-
|2–0
|Win||
Ronaldo Souza|| || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Absolute Division) || 2002|| || || Brown Belt Final Match
|-
|1–0
|Win|| Rodrigo Asmus|| || World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Heavyweight Division) || 2002|| || || Brown Belt Final Match
|-
Mixed martial arts record
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–2
| Michał Pasternak
| Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:13
|
Kallang, Singapore
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–2
|
James McSweeney
| TKO (front kick and punches)
|
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:15
|
Pasay, Philippines
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 6–2
| Tim Kennedy
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 162
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
|
Las Vegas,
Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–1
| Anthony Smith
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:16
|
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–1
|
Keith Jardine
| Decision (unanimous)
|
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Portland, Oregon, United States
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 4–1
|
Muhammed Lawal
| KO (punches)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:33
|
Cincinnati,
Ohio, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–0
|
Trevor Prangley
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:19
| San Jose, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–0
|
Kevin Randleman
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 4:10
| St. Louis,
Missouri, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–0
|
Yuki Kondo
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:40
|
Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–0
|
Ron Waterman
| Submission (armbar)
| BodogFight: USA vs. Russia
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:38
|
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada
|
|-
Instructor lineage
Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Roger Gracie
Notes
See also
-
List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
-
List of male mixed martial artists
-
List of multi-sport athletes
-
List of multi-sport champions
External links
