Interesting RICKSON GRACIE Thread

[pstevens]

Here's how I see it... I know Rickson is a BJJ legend and his achievement in BJJ speak for itself. However, even if you're the best at what you do in your little corner, it's a whole different ball game when you face the rest of the world. Ofcourse, the Gracies will say he's the best, 10 times better then Royce and so on... Because it can't be proven. Royce would lose on purpose.

Here are some examples:

Hugo Duarte, a lutra livre legend... Tank Abbot made him look like a biatch... Mark Kerr made him look like an idiot.

Marco Ruaz, another lutra livre legend... Lost to Alexander Otsuka.

Wallid Ishmael, A BJJ legend in Rio... Got knocked out by Akira Shoji.

Takada... Japan's Hulk Hogan... We all know what Rickson did to him, TWICE!!!

Oleg Tar###rav... Russia's premiere Sambo player... Dan Severn beat him to a bloody pulp.

You see, MMA at it's best is a bunch of great fighters from different corners who come together to see is has it that day. Ofcourse, each fighter will be respected and legendary in his own little corner of the world. I think Rickson is just another great fighter from Brasil... But his time is over.

[CKD]

What can Rickson really do? When he was fighting the best fighters were the ones mentioned there was no Fedor or Vochancyn at the pro level. But he did beat Funaki in Colluseum and even though he might be unknown to a lot of westerners he is one of the best shooto fighters from Japan. But what can Rickson do now? B.J penn is still young enouph to prove himself and Rickson is old and his son died. Rickson is suppossed to fight soon but after that, thats it.

[JaredExtreme]

Rickson is suppossed to fight soon

I wouldn't hold your breath.

[CKD]

He already signed a contract. They just are trying to find a person to fight him. So far options are Wakahona, Maeda and a bunch of other people.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Great possible opponents...(sarcasm)

After he beats another tomato can I look forward to seeing people post stuff like, 'Rickson would beat Vanderlei', etc.

[JaredExtreme]

He already signed a contract.

With who? Link please?

[CKD]

http://www.subfighter.com/forumnews-id1929.html With K-1 MMA. They have been putting out big $$$$ and Rickson says he will fight. But to have him fight some big pro fighter at this age is ridiculous he probaly fighting someone more near his age. I wonder if a younger Helio could beat Silva. Or Rolls Gracie against Silva? Excuse me I have to dream up more fantasy matches.

[IPON]

But to have him fight some big pro fighter at this age is ridiculous

This is what I do not understand. If he is willing to fight then fight whoever. His claims are to be the best then (and no offense to you) ppl make excuses why he should not fight the best. Personally it just seems that he wants to cash out and not take a chance to loose. I am quite sure if Helio was 30yrs younger he would take a match with anyone...just put them in the ring.

[Hermosa]

I am not a Gracie worshiper...And I do not know anything more about Rickson's 400 and 0 record

But I do know two different events that are spoken about with hushed reverence that are fairly well documented by quite a lot of different people, reputable sources...

The first one was mentioned earlier, the huge seminar in Japan. I have heard this story over and over again and it seems like it really was pretty amazing!

Rickson and Luis Heredia just Tapping out appx. 200 of japan's best Judo players and wrestlers one after another. Imagine seeing that!
That is pretty cool even if it is only straight grappling.

The other event is when Yoji Anjoh came to Ricksons' school with the Japanese press and challenged him..Rickson reportedly lost it and went "Columbine" on his a$$ leaving him absolutely trashed and Rickson basically untouched. I beleive that Grappling Mag. Editor in Chief, Todd Hester was actually there for this. Also would be amazing to see...

I don't know why Rickson fights tomato cans..but it seems like the guy can probably really bring it if necessary.

?

[hippo]

There is a recent internet thread that quotes Helio Gracie as saying that Rickson's record is 9-0 and the 400 wins thing is a great exaggeration. As someone on that thread said, old school Helio tells it straight.

[IPON]

There is a recent internet thread that quotes Helio Gracie as saying that Rickson's record is 9-0 and the 400 wins thing is a great exaggeration

Can you provide the link?

[Mr. Miyagi]

Vanderlei would have beaten both Rolls and Helio to a bloody mess. There wasn't anyone around like him back then, that was not only a dangerous muay thai fighter but a very good grappler as well and difficult to take down and difficult to keep down. Not to mention that they were both quite a bit smaller than Vanderlei. The game has evolved, grappling technique is no longer good enough. But from the stories about Helio, he would have stepped up to the challenge for sure, it seems like he wasn't afraid of any fight.
People like to say that if the Gracies train standup and wrestling they will be able to hang with top competition but it takes certain physical gifts to be good at those. Certainly more so than grappling, which takes talent but is just as much about technique and discipline. You can teach someone to be a good grappler but you can't teach someone to be a slugger like Vanderlei or Crocop.
Rickson still could probably tap out almost anyone wearing a gi. The Yoji Anjoh thing is a funny story but c'mon, Anjoh is a joke of a fighter. What if it had been Saku or Mach Sakurai showing up to his school? Or even worse, Vov, Vanderlei, or Pedro Rizzo?
Rickson should retire and should always be remembered for being a great fighter, he can still fight some of the older guys if he wants, like Ken Shamrock for example. But his time has passed and to compare him to the current top guys is not fair. And to think he would do well against them is ridiculous.

[hippo]

It was originally on Sherdog forum, I think, and I don't have the time to look for it now, but I found the following at :

http://www.adcombat.com/ubbADCC_Forum/ubb/Forum1/HTML/027180-2.html

"If you buy all three of the Gracie Ju-Jitsu Advanced videos, taught by Rorion and Royce Gracie, you get an extra free bonus tape which consists of an interview with Helio Gracie.
In the course of the tape, he comments on Rickson's 400-win record. To say he isn't impressed is putting it mildly! .... he says if he included everyone that he tapped in practice in the gym, he would have a record numbering in the thousands, and that as far as he is concerned records should be for professional fights only. He goes on to say that apart from his 2 fights with Zulu, ALL of Rickson's fights have been in Japan. As we all know, that means his 2 Vale Tudo championship appearances (accounting for 6 of his fights); 2 wins over Takada, and his win over Funaki.

A total of 9, or 11 if you count the 2 against Zulu.....I think they count, they were genuine NHB fights and he won them; the second one is on of the Gracie in Action tapes, many of you have probably seen it, and there is NO doubt that it happened and he won, so by Helio's reckoning, Rickson's record is 11-0. "

I don't know anything more. I don't care about Rickson's record. He seems like a decent guy to me.

[hippo]

Here is the link: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showth...io+AND+rickson

[pstevens]

Here's an interesting comment on Rickson's flawless record. In the August 1999 issue of "Martial Arts Illustrated," Romero "Jacare´" Cavalcanti qoutes:

"Actually though, Rickson lost a few times, when he was still young and skinny. But by the time Rickson was a 17 year old black belt, he was invincible."

Jacare bagan training at the Gracie Academy in Copacabana in 1970, when he was 11. He was afterall, "weak", just like everyone seems to be who joins BJJ.