Art of War and IFL veteran Rolles Gracie has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC according to a post he made on his Twitter account Tuesday. Rolles’ father, Rolls Gracie, was raised by his uncle Helio Gracie, who is the co-founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Mixed Martial Arts is literally in Rolles Gracie’s blood.
Rolles is 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter. Not surprising, all three of his wins have come in the first round by submission. His most recent fight was on Sept. 26 at Art of War 14 where he tapped out Peter Graham with an arm-triangle just 1:43 into the bout.
Rolles currently trains at two schools, dividing his time between the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Holmdel, N.J. and Greg Jackson’s Submission Academy in Albuquerque, N.M.
MMA Weekly is reporting Gracie’s first fight inside the Octagon will be at UFC 109 against heavyweight Englishman Mustapha Al-Turk (6-5). Al Turk has fought twice in the UFC losing both fights via TKO, first to Cheick Kongo at UFC 92, then to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 99.
The last time a Gracie was inside the Octagon was at UFC 60 in May 2006 when Royce Gracie returned after an 11-year hiatus to fight Matt Hughes. UFC 109 is expected to take place in Las Vegas, Nev. in Feb. 2010.
By: Jack Bratcher
Nice to see a Gracie in the UFC again!
I agree quick edward. Very cool to see this. Hope he does well. He shouldn’t have ANY trouble with Mustapha Al-Turk.
I don’t know man, Al-Turk won ADCC Europe one time. We all know how tough European grappling is… (sarcasm)
It is worth watching any Gracie. Love the style and the determination.
European grappling, or more specifically English grappling, appears to be good enough for both of the current holders of the most prestigious grappling world titles to teach here: Roger Gracie (2009 Mundials champ) has a school in London, while Braulio Estima (2009 ADCC champ) heads up Gracie Barra Birmingham in the midlands. They’ve been here over five years.
Obviously European BJJ is not yet up to the level of the US or Brazil, but its certainly no backwater.
Having the Gracie alone name should generate some hype but this is 2009 and Im not sure how familiar the mainstream audience is with the Gracie’s. But for the mma purists it is good to see a Gracie back in the octagon.
Seriously… Rolles Gracie is a beast. I saw hima few weeks ago at Art Of War in Macau and it was an eductation. Superb Double leg takedown, passd the guard…tapout. Unreal. He had Greg Jackson, Royce Gracie and The Ax murderer in his corner. He has the tools, he has the name, he has the best trainers in the world. He will Destroy Al Turk. I live in China and was really loving him at AOW cause I could see him fight in person,but.. Now I have to get up early sunday mornings to watch hiom on PPV like everybody else. Sucks for me, but GREAT for the UFC. A brazilian with god English…. named Gracie?!?! dana White must be creaming his pants