This, this, this. If Rickson really wanted to prove Gracie superiority once and for all, he could have taken on Sakuraba or Rutten and spanked them. If he really was THAT confident in his abilities then he'd have not blinked an eye at taking up the challenge. Instead he fought Takada TWICE (who we all know was worthless) and Nakai (who I have not seen, but whose record doesn't look that impressive) and Funaki. Funaki is a good win but is no Rutten or Saku. Rickson totally reminds me of Mayweather discussing Golovkin "Pfft, Easy work" while we all know that he'd go nowhere near Gena in a ring.
Just read that Rickson dissed Fedor as being technically weak and that he would beat him for sure OK, this dude is officially a clown in my books now.
If he was referring to the Fedor of the last 6 or 7 years he would be correct apart from him beating Fedor.
Oh, agreed, Fedor lately is only a faded shadow of what he used to be. But these remarks were made in his prime. He also had things to say abot Ruas and Coleman and other guys but he never dared step it up. When Bas challenged him he never had a thing to say.
and he also said he "didnt want to fight sakuraba, cause he didnt have the Spirit of a warrior". he knew sakuraba was a Level above him and would have kicked the **** out of him.
Missed that one The Japanese fighters of the Pride era and Sakuraba in particular were the definition of warriors. They always left it all in the ring win or lose, save a few exceptions. That's disrespectful to say.
It wasn't just a matter of him getting old, after he blew out Arlovski and Rogers he started falling in love with his power and neglected his diverse skillset. A lot of the fights he lost he could've won had he fought intelligently to his strengths. What made Fedor so dangerous in his prime is he could destroy you on the feet and on the ground, later on he became a 1d brawler. He also suffered from Liddell syndrome rushing in wildy after he clipped someone.
Lol! I remember seeing that Rickson had totally dismissed Fedor when he was prime. Fedor sat right in big Nog's guard and smashed him. He'd abuse Rickson very, very bad. Mark Kerr also wanted a piece of Rickson in the late 90's. Rickson didn't fancy that fight either
LOL I'll bet Rickson didn't fancy a piece of Mark Kerr. Those giant wrestlers can pose major problems to even the best BJJ guys because they have the positional awareness and sheer strength to nullify a lot of what the BJJ guy is trying to do. Additionally, Kerr did some horrible things to people (eg Varelans) with his GnP. If Rickson didn't fancy a vale tudo style match with Kerr, he could have tried grappling only. Abu Dhabi had the World Submission Wrestling Championships, Rickson could have entered that. As for Fedor, I don't even want to think what he'd do to RG with his patented chin-up boxing style.
Yeah exactly I was going to mention the Abu Dhabi Submission Championships. Kerr won that thing three years in a row I believe and beat Mario Sperry in their big super fight. Almost got him in that guillotine.
Rickson Gracie is from a time that BJJ was proven to be almost unbeatable, and he was the best in the world at it. Rolls Gracie is the only name I've heard mentioned as being better/as good as Rickson and he died in a hang-gliding accident in 1982. The UFC was created to show the efficacy of BJJ to the unknowing and the first event was held November 12, 1993. Rickson turned 35 years old 9 days later. Why wasn't Rickson in UFC I? Rorion has always stated that it was more better for BJJ if the lesser known, less imposing, Royce could win. While this may have been true, I've always heard that Rickson and Rorion had a falling out before and that is why Rickson was not chosen. Art Davie later confirmed the rumor I'd always heard, between 6:00 and 13:00: This content is protected Why didn't Rickson face Coleman or Kerr, or grapple in ADCC? Rickson would have been 37 when Mark Coleman won UFC 10. Rickson was 38 when Mark Kerr made his MMA debut. Rickson was 39 when the first ADCC championship took place, and 41 when Mark Kerr won the ADCC absolute division. Rickson's last fight was against Funaki. Funaki had a 25 pound weight advantage, and was 11 years younger. Funaki had the best credentials of any of Rickson's official MMA opponents. With wins over Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock and Bas Rutten; Funaki had a better resume than Rickson. Rickson won by submission.
Would have been beaten against a pro-wrestler just like the rest of his family. Not sure why anyone is doubting the skills of funaki either. Funaki was awesome in pancrase.
How would Sakuraba defeat Rickson Gracie? Rickson is bigger and stronger than any of the Gracie family members Sakuraba faced, and was the superior grappler. Sakuraba has the better MMA resume but he does not have the better grappling credentials. Sakuraba was not a good puncher. Rickson can close the distance without fearing the ko. If Sakuraba kicks, he has to worry about eventually getting taken down. Rickson by armbar, choke or possibly even Kimura just to show off.
Yes but none with Sakuraba's modern MMA credentials. Well, I take that back. Funaki is probably as good of a grappler as Sakuraba. Sakuraba submitted Funaki but Funaki was 7 years past his fight with Rickson, and professionally inactive 7 years at that point.