Who would you have Roger Gracie in with next?

When it comes to actually looking for the sub on the ground Rogers game seems just about ideal for MMA to me. The way he methodically improves position and then slaps on a sub makes the most of every takedown he gets where as someone like Maia's more aggresive game can lead to his opponants escaping, obviously worse than in BJJ if you don't want to fight them standing. The big question is just how good his wrestling is and if I were him working on that would be my #1 target right now.

Standup wise I think he's moving in the right direction, he knowed Randleman down with that knee but really looking to hurt people standing should be an afterthough compaired to defence and setting up the takedown. He's got enough reach for a decent jab to a great tool to achieve both.

I'd say he should leave off someone like Mo right now though exactly because he seems to be improving, If he was the typical Gracie "BJJ only" fighter he might aswell start at the top but I'm guessing he'll be significantly better in a year than he is now and at 29 theres no great rush.

 

I hope they bring Roger along at a good pace and don't rush him into a big fight too soon. If he can improve on his striking there is no telling how high he can go in the sport.

 

Question - is there a wrestler that could control him well enough over 3 or 5 rounds? Pure grappling or pure mma grappling where they can use strikes on the ground.

In SF, he should always have space to move because guys will try to punch rather than elbow.

 

In a word no.

Roger can transition from anywhere in such an easy fashion on the ground it is like Maia, but better and bigger for the weight. Nobody wants to be on the floor with Roger because he can submit you from guard or if he can sweep you or take you down and land on top you are in deep deep ****. And his mma grappling is only going to improve.

Standing is a whole different kettle of fish.

 

So you think he is as close to unstoppable in grappling in PURE grappling and MMA grappling?

 

I wouldnt say unstoppable, I could see a wrestler like Jones possible TKOing him quickly but anyone without a high level BJJ game themselves looking to control him for a decision is likely making a big mistake.

The real threat from a wrestler like Mo though wouldnt be on the ground but rather there ability to avoid going to the ground. Thats what I think Roger needs to focus his training on, work on his wrestling but also be willing to take the Aoki route of getting the fight to the ground anyway he can.

 

You could get somebody landing in a totally dominant position or jumping on him when he was hurt.

But I doubt it, unless its somebody like Jones like moreorless says. But even Jones vs Vera Jones would have been armbarred pretty sharpish if he left his hands straight across Roger waist.

 

roger would abuse every1 on the ground in his weight no one would want the fight to go there! he's sub'd the best grapplers in the world in gi and no-gi!

no one will be able to control him unless they get a very quick powerful shot on his chops first!

 

rogers school is in london. hopefully it start to pull in a crazy amount of new guys and jits becomes huge in the uk and all our fighters become masters of the sport. bipsing has ricco rod in camp with him and he is black belt in bjj. plus the adcc is being held in the uk.

bjj is invading britain like a virus.

 

The UK has Braulio Estima in Birmingham as well.

In the city where I live there used to be one place to learn BJ, but in the past couple of years another three places have sprung up. The sport is going from strength to strength over here.

 

Go for it mate, they'd be good experiences.

:thumbsup