Why was Royce chosen for UFC out of all the brothers ?

Im2Lazy

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this one, out of all the Gracie brothers, why was Royce chosen to compete in the 1st UFC's ?

I know he's a legend now & most of the people wouldn't be doing BJJ if not for him but I've heard that within the Gracie family he wouldn't be considered their best fighter - I've heard Rickson is refered to as the modern day 'champion' of the Gracies.

Anyone with any insight true/false, greatly appreciated.

On a seperate note, is it true that Rorion Gracie co-created UFC to demonstrate Gracie Jiu-Jitsu on a larger scale?

Thanks

pma-ire

Im2Lazy wrote:

rion Gracie co-created UFC to demonstrate Gracie Jiu-Jitsu on a larger scale?

Seems partly true...

The legend of Helio's creation, Brazilian (or Gracie) Jiu-Jitsu, would be solidified upon the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) in 1993. Vale Tudo had come to the United States, and it was destined to become a huge success. The first competition brought experts of many traditional martial arts, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and others, not just to test their skills against other fighters, but also to test their martial art against others.

The UFC was the brainchild of Helio's son Rorian Gracie. Helio's other son, Royce Gracie, came forward as a competitor.

http://www.newamericanrevolution.us/?postid=359&replyto=155

Though I don't think it meant much to his success in the early UFC's. Infact UFC now is not a great place for BJJ only fighters (which is how he fought those early UFC's).

breadmonkey

From Wikipedia:

While Art Davie felt that Royce's older brother Rickson Gracie, who was stronger and more skilled than Royce, was the obvious choice as the Jiu-Jitsu representative, Rorion Gracie chose Royce to represent the family style. At 175 pounds, and with a frame much smaller than his opponnents, the Gracie family felt that Royce would be the perfect fighter to demonstrate the claims that Jiu-Jitsu techniques could be employed to overcome a larger opponent.

cmb.

rickson was meant to compete in the ufc but fell out with rorion over taking fights - might have been interesting - if 2 gracies had of won the ufc title it could have further cemented the gracie legacy

Im2Lazy

Thanks a lot, for all the help that seems to have answered my questions.

Millionaire

who in UFC 1 was in 93 or 94 ???

I saw it live on tv, it looked a few of the opponentd were supposed to be different MA styles. I remember the Kenpo guy for example was a tub of lard doing kickboxing strikes.

to me the best was the Dutch guy who fought and gracie choked him out in final fight. I reckon the dutch guy fought harder and better than anyone, including gracie. If the dutch guy knew ground (which was one fo our first real intor to ground MA) ) reckon he would have won. he had fighting spirit that dutch guy.