Royce Gracie Interview
Apr 21, 2006 19:21:41 GMT -5
Post by LWPD on Apr 21, 2006 19:21:41 GMT -5
Courtesy of maxfighting.com
Pre-UFC: 60 Interview with Royce Gracie
By Cindy Ortiz, April 21, 2006
November 12, 1993 began the same as just about every other day for Royce
Gracie since relocating to the United States from Brazil but by the end of the night, life as he knew it would never be the same. Gracie’s job as a fighter took him to the McNichols Arena in Denver Colorado where he would compete in the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, a tournament initiated by his family in an effort to expose North America to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
His performance that night changed the landscape of martial arts and the spectacle of no-holds barred fighting was taken to an entirely new level. It also spawned the evolution of today’s sport of mixed martial arts and led to the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premiere organization and proving ground for MMA athletes on the planet!
At the age of thirty-nine, Royce Gracie is without a doubt one of the most recognized and respected icons the sport of MMA has ever known. Unlike other pioneer’s of his era, Gracie continues making history as an active competitor. On May 27th, he will return once again to where it all began; the Octagon, where he will take on welterweight champion Matt Hughes in the main event at UFC: 60.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the surprisingly amusing Royce Gracie recently and he shared his thoughts about why fans new to the sport of MMA should know his name and explained how the fight between he and Hughes came to be. Royce also reflected on some of his previous battles and even dropped a few hints about his future role in the sport!
Cindy: Now Royce, I can definitely appreciate the many contributions the Gracie family has made to the world of MMA. There has been a huge surge in the popularity of the sport in the mainstream since the inception of Spike TV’s hit reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, and unfortunately, many of the new fans have no idea who Royce Gracie is.
You have a fight coming up on May 27th at UFC: 60 against current welterweight champion Matt Hughes. It’s not a title defense, but a tough fight nonetheless. What do you want these new fans to know about Royce Gracie and why should they even care who you are?
Royce: Wow, Cindy! That’s a hard question you’re asking me (laughter)!
Cindy: I know, Royce, but they get easier from here!
Royce: What do I want them to know? Well, what they should know is my family is the one who introduced ground grappling. I’m the one who beat four guys in one night. I’m the one who fought for an hour and one-half in one match. I’m the one who fought someone 6’8 and 490 lbs. being 6’1 and 180 lbs. Maybe now they’re curious.
Cindy, you don’t see fights like that anymore. Nowadays the fights are within weight classes and time limits with many rules. It’s not like it used to be when my family started the UFC. The Gracie family made history; Royce Gracie made history… and that’s what new fans need to know because they’re not going to ever see it again.
Cindy: I think one of the most memorable fights of your career was against Kimo. Tell me exactly what happened in that fight and do you think it would have turned out the same way if Kimo didn’t have a pony-tail?
Royce: I don’t know. In a fight anything can happen and there’s only one way to find out and that’s to get in there and see. Kimo at the time was about 250lbs., solid… chiseled like a God (laughter) and very strong! The fight was about maybe five minutes but people watching thought it seemed much longer. I mean it was a fight! It was brutal and both of us were exhausted when it was over. “Don’t try this at home, ladies and gentlemen!”
Cindy: (laughter) And Kimo’s pony-tail had seen better days! I think he chopped it off after that fight. Royce, you have fought bigger guys than Kimo and didn’t seem to have the same struggle. What was different?
Royce: When I fought Kimo, I used the wrong strategy, Cindy, and that’s why I got tired. I won the fight, but I couldn’t come back for my next fight, so…
Cindy: What strategy did you use and what strategy should you have used?
Royce: I heard that he was very strong; and 250 lbs. and I tried to fight his fight and match strength with him and that got both of us very tired. I should have used technique from the beginning and I should have used leverage. I tried to go toe-to-toe and match his strength and that caused us both to be exhausted. It was bad.
Cindy: You won the fight, advanced and returned to the Octagon to fight Harold Howard, but you weren’t able to compete. How come?
Royce: I went to the locker room and showered and was getting ready to walk out. Right before I walked out I got light headed and laid down for a minute, then I got up and walked out. That’s all I remember. My brother’s said they approached me (when I was lying down) and asked me if I needed anything and I told them I needed some watermelon juice. They said they told me I couldn’t have any then, and that I needed to get back up because it was time to go to the ring.
I got up and walked to the ring and when I got there, everything blacked out. The referee walked up to me and asked if I was ready. I looked towards my brothers and told them I couldn’t see anything. They said I would be okay and they told me to fight. When the ref approached me again I told him I was ready, but I turned to my brother’s and said, “Guys, I will do my job, but I can’t see. Now, you got to do your job,” so they threw in the towel. That’s what they told me happened, so that’s what I know.
Cindy: That’s too bad. It’s a blemish on your professional fight record but it was a long time ago. Let’s talk about your upcoming fight with Matt Hughes. Some people change their game plan depending on their opponent and some just prepare for anything. How are you approaching this fight with Hughes and are you training with people outside the Gracie Camp?
Royce: It’s a strategy game. I spar with fighters that are the same weight and height of my opponents. It’s not that I’m really “changing my game plan,” but it’s more like using a different strategy; the right strategy that I need to use to prepare myself to be able to fight the person. So, I’m not going to learn how to… kick-box now to fight Matt Hughes (laughter)! I have the right strategy, Cindy and will rely on technique. He is very strong but I will be ready.
Cindy: I have no doubt you’ll bring you’re A game! There’s a question as to whether or not fighting Matt without being able to wear a gi may be a disadvantage for you, but haven’t you competed without the gi in the past?
Royce: Yes, I have fought in Japan without a gi, so it’s not a problem; just something to get used to. It’s just a different strategy and a different approach to the fight. That’s all.
Cindy: I created a thread on the UFC forum to let your fans know I would be interviewing you so if they had any questions or comments they wanted me to pass along, that’s where they could post them. I’ll give you those now.
Royce: These are from the UFC forum? Royce Gracie fans (laughter)?
Cindy: Yes, Royce (laughter)! There’s about five or six dinosaurs left who know who you are!
Royce: This won’t take long (laughter)!
Cindy: Pfft! Royce, you need to give more interviews because you’re funny and we don’t get to see that side of you often! I always have fun “chatting it up” with the fighters but you’re catching me off guard (laughter)!
Royce: It’s a different interviewing strategy, Cindy!
Cindy: (laughter) Yes, it is! Let’s see; forum member (craigdan) would like to know who your toughest opponent has been.
Royce: My imagination, Craig; myself.
Cindy: Are you nervous before fights?
Royce: Nothing to be nervous about because I have been doing this my whole life. I breathe; my heart rate’s between 55-65, and I sleep before fights.
Cindy: Forum member (Andy) wants to know who you think won the fight between BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre?
Royce: I would say BJ. He caused much more damage but the rules and points favored GSP. That’s why I like fighting with no rules. Two fighters should decide who is best without time limits, rounds or judges. Two men will eventually settle who the winner is. It’s not like that now.
Cindy: Forum member (BOSCO) wants to know if you wish the rules had stayed the same from back in UFC 1, or do you prefer the changes that were made in order to get the sport regulated?
Royce: For regulation, the rules had to change but I would prefer at least 10 minute rounds. I don’t like judge’s decisions. I prefer the fighter’s determine the winner. I prefer elbows, knees and head-butt’s because that’s how I started and that’s how to fight. I prefer everything goes.
Cindy: How do you feel about women competing in full blown MMA events just like men do?
Royce: (laughter) Ah, Cindy! I don’t want to answer that question or I might be in trouble!
Cindy: Oh, come on Royce! You can tell me! You don’t think a woman with a black eye, missing teeth, a busted nose and scars is hot?
Royce: Hot?
Cindy: You know, attractive and good looking.
Royce: I don’t think a man with all those things is “hot” so how can I think a woman the same way is (laughter)? I guess it’s a personal opinion, and I’m very liberal, but I’m not okay watching women fight. I don’t even watch the guys too much. I’m not completely against it; it’s just not something I would personally prefer to see.
Cindy: Do you think your children will want to grow up and be fighters and carry on the Gracie family name and traditions?
Royce: If they want to. Like my father always said, the Gracie name is a heavy name, they don’t have to grow up to fight but they will know how to defend themselves.
Cindy: Whether you win against Matt Hughes or not, what do you think is next for you?
Royce: That’s a question for my manager; I’m not allowed to talk about it. I do have options.
Cindy: I had hoped that you were going to be one of coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.
Royce: We negotiated about that from the beginning along with the fighting, but they said to forget the coaching for now and we went for the fighting. Maybe in the future.
Cindy: Do you watch The Ultimate Fighter series on Spike TV? Season 3 is just starting.
Royce: No, not so much. A couple of times, yes. It came on really late and I have kids that take over the TV so I never get to watch what I tape, so… no (laughter)!
Cindy: (BOSCO) also wanted to know how your opportunity to fight Matt came about.
Royce: Dana White and my manager have been talking about my return to the UFC for close to 4 years now. So finally they reached an agreement. I am a K-1 fighter now, so we had to get K-1 to approve the deal and so finally it all came about.
Cindy: From what I have read, Matt is a little offended that you actually think you can fight him inside the Octagon and walk away the winner. I guess he doesn’t buy into the, “This is MY house” idea.
Royce: Matt is offended? That does not make any sense. He is a fighter right, and a fight takes two people, so what is he offended about? If anything, Matt should thank me for even having a job and being able to fight. For him to be offended for something my family created, I don’t understand the disrespect. If he has problems with people fighting him, maybe he should look into a different profession. I was fighting in the UFC before he even knew what UFC was, so I have no idea what he is offended about, I also do not care.
Cindy: Now, I don’t think Matt is trying to be disrespectful to you, or is offended by the opportunity to fight you. I think what he meant was he’s offended that you actually think you can beat him inside the Octagon because he’s the champion, even though this is not a title defense.
Royce: Same thing, Cindy. I’m not offended that I will be fighting Matt. If I win or lose, if it’s in the cage or a ring, whether I’m champion or not, I wouldn’t be offended. I wouldn’t disrespect an opponent and if he is offended by anything to do with fighting me, he is being disrespectful to me. I wouldn’t say something like that about an opponent. No fighter takes on a fight hoping to loose, so what is he offended about?
Cindy: Forum member (Jadzia) wants to know how come this fight isn’t for the title.
Royce: I don’t know, Jadzia.
Cindy: Are you going to fight at 170 or 175?
Royce: 175 lbs. For five, five-minute rounds.
Cindy: Would you be willing to go down to 170 to fight for the title? Would you have wanted this to be a title fight?
Royce: I think that’s for the future, that fight can come after this one. I take one fight at a time and my manager decides which ones. It doesn’t matter to me.
Cindy: I think this fight is going to introduce millions of fans new to MMA to Royce Gracie and create awareness about the impact the Gracie family has had on this sport. You are one of the pioneer’s who helped to pave the way for many of the athletes we enjoy watching compete today and the Gracie form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu opened many eyes about the importance of having solid ground grappling and submission skills in your arsenal of techniques.
Royce: You are a smart woman. Size disparities can be overcome with leverage and when you go to the ground, the playing field becomes a lot more even if the smaller practitioner knows BJJ. Matt Hughes is close to my size but he is very strong and my strategy when I fight him will show I am prepared for that.
Cindy: So, you are planning to neutralize the strength factor Matt Hughes typically relies upon when he fights?
Royce: Yes. I am a thinking fighter and I will be ready with good technique and strategy.
Cindy: I’m definitely looking forward to it and I think many of the new fans who haven’t gotten to see you fight in the past are in for quite a treat.
Royce: It will be a very good fight for the fans.
Cindy: I guess this mystery will be solved on May 27th! Why did the Gracie family pull out of the Ultimate Fighting Championship after UFC: 5?
Royce: We didn’t like the rules, Cindy. We would have never started the UFC if we had to follow all of the rules of today because that’s not how we are accustomed to fighting. When everything started to change, we didn’t want to continue with the events because it went against our beliefs and fighting style. It was best to go.
Cindy: Forum member (craigdan) is curious about which of all your brothers is the best fighter.
Royce: Probably Robin. But my sister can do more damage than my brothers can do (laughter)!
Cindy: Forum member (Little Kang) wants to know how well you think Rolles and Rockson would have done in MMA.
Royce: They both passed away, you probably know that. Rolles was one of my first instructors and I would definitely put him in my corner today. Rockson died in a motorcycle accident, but if it wasn’t for that he could have been a really good fighter.
Cindy: Tell me about the next generation of Gracie’s we will probably be seeing compete next in MMA fighting.
Royce: Roger, he’s a very good grappler; he’s the one pretty much dominating the grappling world right now. He’s going to be fighting as a heavy weight. Daniel and Rhalan, too. Both are very good and I think will be great fighters.
Cindy: I covered the Gracie Fighting Championship in March as part of the Arnold Expo and saw Daniel and Rhalan fight.
Royce: What did you think?
Cindy: Well… I think Daniel knows how to throw some knees (laughter)! He fought Wes Sims and that’s a big kid! I thought Rhalan was very impressive, and his fight against Dustin Hazlett was literally a human chess match. After three rounds it went to the judges for a decision and Dustin won. It was a great fight, though and I’d definitely like to see him compete again.
Royce: Rhalan is new and this was his first professional fight but he’s very good. They will be champions one day.
Cindy: When I tell people that you made your professional debut in UFC: 1, they are shocked because you “cleaned house,” and Ken Shamrock was one of the fighters you defeated in that tournament! Considering the recent success of Strikeforce in California, where fans turned out in record numbers to see Frank Shamrock vs. Cesar Gracie, forum member (BOSCO) wants to know if you would ever be interested in fighting Ken Shamrock again since people seem to appreciate the rivalry between the two families?
Royce: Yes, if they put it together.
Cindy: You seem pretty indifferent.
Royce: I don’t choose my opponents, Cindy. If my manager and an organization think a fight would be good and they put it together, then that’s who I fight. I don’t think people really care to see me fight Ken Shamrock again because we fought two times already. I won the first time and we had a draw the second time. I think Ken Shamrock might want a third fight so maybe he could win one against me but I don’t have a feeling about a third time, one way or the other.
Cindy: Forum member (Whispering Death) wants to know what your favorite UFC fight was.
Royce: Dan Severn, because you heard the commentators saying, “Dan is gonna win! Dan is gonna win!” And then he didn’t (laughter) and everybody was so surprised… but not me.
Cindy: Who has been your toughest opponent?
Royce: Probably Sakuraba.
Cindy: Forum member (TapOut) wanted me to ask you why it is that Sakuraba has enjoyed success against the Gracie family when no one else can.
Royce: He is a very smart fighter and he had better strategies for those fights. Doesn’t mean he is a better fighter; he was on those days, though.
Cindy: O.K. What is the best piece of advice you give to up and coming fighters?
Royce: Train! Learn what to do because you have to know what you’re doing out there. You have to have good patience and discipline and you just have to get up and do it, even when you don’t want to. Discipline and dedication is important if you ever hope to be the best. Train hard and put in the time. It takes a lot of time but you have to do it or you will never be better than average. To be the best you have to work harder than everybody else. You must.
Cindy: What do you want people to know about your upcoming fight with Matt?
Royce: I just want people to know it is going to be a good fight.
Cindy: What’s next for Royce Gracie? Will you retire after the fight with Matt Hughes May 27th?
Royce: I take one fight at a time and this will not be my last. I still have one fight left with K-1 on my contract and my manager gets offers and opportunities all the time so I’m going to be around; you just have to wait and see where, but I’m not going anywhere.
Cindy: Alright, then! You have dropped a few hints already so now we’ll have to just keep our eyes and ears open to find out what’s next for the very first champion of the UFC! I think that’s going to about do it, Royce. Do you have any sponsors you want to mention or a website you want to plug?
Royce: Well, my site is www.roycegracie.tv . I would like to thank Atama Kimonos for their support, I have been with them for over 4 years now and they make great products and I enjoy the relationship. I want to thank CytoSports the makes of Muscle Milk, they have been very supportive of my carrier and make excellent protein shakes. I want to thank an Acai company Sampazon for their support. I wanted to welcome some new sponsors like Serious Pimp, Diamond back tactical, Century Martial arts and lastly I want to thank all the guys at Fairtex and Fairtex Gear for their support and wisdom.
Cindy: Any closing comments for your fans?
Royce: Anything’s possible, you just have to have discipline to get up and do it! It’s going to be a great fight with Matt Hughes and we’re going to find out if his strength is better than my technique and strategy. I’m looking forward to being back in the Octagon because it’s been a long time.
Cindy: Thanks for taking the time to interview with me, Royce! I can’t think of a better way I could have spent a Saturday night (laughter)!
Royce: I enjoyed talking to you, Cindy. I’ll see you in May.
Cindy: You got it! Take care.
Pre-UFC: 60 Interview with Royce Gracie
By Cindy Ortiz, April 21, 2006
November 12, 1993 began the same as just about every other day for Royce
Gracie since relocating to the United States from Brazil but by the end of the night, life as he knew it would never be the same. Gracie’s job as a fighter took him to the McNichols Arena in Denver Colorado where he would compete in the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, a tournament initiated by his family in an effort to expose North America to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
His performance that night changed the landscape of martial arts and the spectacle of no-holds barred fighting was taken to an entirely new level. It also spawned the evolution of today’s sport of mixed martial arts and led to the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premiere organization and proving ground for MMA athletes on the planet!
At the age of thirty-nine, Royce Gracie is without a doubt one of the most recognized and respected icons the sport of MMA has ever known. Unlike other pioneer’s of his era, Gracie continues making history as an active competitor. On May 27th, he will return once again to where it all began; the Octagon, where he will take on welterweight champion Matt Hughes in the main event at UFC: 60.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the surprisingly amusing Royce Gracie recently and he shared his thoughts about why fans new to the sport of MMA should know his name and explained how the fight between he and Hughes came to be. Royce also reflected on some of his previous battles and even dropped a few hints about his future role in the sport!
Cindy: Now Royce, I can definitely appreciate the many contributions the Gracie family has made to the world of MMA. There has been a huge surge in the popularity of the sport in the mainstream since the inception of Spike TV’s hit reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, and unfortunately, many of the new fans have no idea who Royce Gracie is.
You have a fight coming up on May 27th at UFC: 60 against current welterweight champion Matt Hughes. It’s not a title defense, but a tough fight nonetheless. What do you want these new fans to know about Royce Gracie and why should they even care who you are?
Royce: Wow, Cindy! That’s a hard question you’re asking me (laughter)!
Cindy: I know, Royce, but they get easier from here!
Royce: What do I want them to know? Well, what they should know is my family is the one who introduced ground grappling. I’m the one who beat four guys in one night. I’m the one who fought for an hour and one-half in one match. I’m the one who fought someone 6’8 and 490 lbs. being 6’1 and 180 lbs. Maybe now they’re curious.
Cindy, you don’t see fights like that anymore. Nowadays the fights are within weight classes and time limits with many rules. It’s not like it used to be when my family started the UFC. The Gracie family made history; Royce Gracie made history… and that’s what new fans need to know because they’re not going to ever see it again.
Cindy: I think one of the most memorable fights of your career was against Kimo. Tell me exactly what happened in that fight and do you think it would have turned out the same way if Kimo didn’t have a pony-tail?
Royce: I don’t know. In a fight anything can happen and there’s only one way to find out and that’s to get in there and see. Kimo at the time was about 250lbs., solid… chiseled like a God (laughter) and very strong! The fight was about maybe five minutes but people watching thought it seemed much longer. I mean it was a fight! It was brutal and both of us were exhausted when it was over. “Don’t try this at home, ladies and gentlemen!”
Cindy: (laughter) And Kimo’s pony-tail had seen better days! I think he chopped it off after that fight. Royce, you have fought bigger guys than Kimo and didn’t seem to have the same struggle. What was different?
Royce: When I fought Kimo, I used the wrong strategy, Cindy, and that’s why I got tired. I won the fight, but I couldn’t come back for my next fight, so…
Cindy: What strategy did you use and what strategy should you have used?
Royce: I heard that he was very strong; and 250 lbs. and I tried to fight his fight and match strength with him and that got both of us very tired. I should have used technique from the beginning and I should have used leverage. I tried to go toe-to-toe and match his strength and that caused us both to be exhausted. It was bad.
Cindy: You won the fight, advanced and returned to the Octagon to fight Harold Howard, but you weren’t able to compete. How come?
Royce: I went to the locker room and showered and was getting ready to walk out. Right before I walked out I got light headed and laid down for a minute, then I got up and walked out. That’s all I remember. My brother’s said they approached me (when I was lying down) and asked me if I needed anything and I told them I needed some watermelon juice. They said they told me I couldn’t have any then, and that I needed to get back up because it was time to go to the ring.
I got up and walked to the ring and when I got there, everything blacked out. The referee walked up to me and asked if I was ready. I looked towards my brothers and told them I couldn’t see anything. They said I would be okay and they told me to fight. When the ref approached me again I told him I was ready, but I turned to my brother’s and said, “Guys, I will do my job, but I can’t see. Now, you got to do your job,” so they threw in the towel. That’s what they told me happened, so that’s what I know.
Cindy: That’s too bad. It’s a blemish on your professional fight record but it was a long time ago. Let’s talk about your upcoming fight with Matt Hughes. Some people change their game plan depending on their opponent and some just prepare for anything. How are you approaching this fight with Hughes and are you training with people outside the Gracie Camp?
Royce: It’s a strategy game. I spar with fighters that are the same weight and height of my opponents. It’s not that I’m really “changing my game plan,” but it’s more like using a different strategy; the right strategy that I need to use to prepare myself to be able to fight the person. So, I’m not going to learn how to… kick-box now to fight Matt Hughes (laughter)! I have the right strategy, Cindy and will rely on technique. He is very strong but I will be ready.
Cindy: I have no doubt you’ll bring you’re A game! There’s a question as to whether or not fighting Matt without being able to wear a gi may be a disadvantage for you, but haven’t you competed without the gi in the past?
Royce: Yes, I have fought in Japan without a gi, so it’s not a problem; just something to get used to. It’s just a different strategy and a different approach to the fight. That’s all.
Cindy: I created a thread on the UFC forum to let your fans know I would be interviewing you so if they had any questions or comments they wanted me to pass along, that’s where they could post them. I’ll give you those now.
Royce: These are from the UFC forum? Royce Gracie fans (laughter)?
Cindy: Yes, Royce (laughter)! There’s about five or six dinosaurs left who know who you are!
Royce: This won’t take long (laughter)!
Cindy: Pfft! Royce, you need to give more interviews because you’re funny and we don’t get to see that side of you often! I always have fun “chatting it up” with the fighters but you’re catching me off guard (laughter)!
Royce: It’s a different interviewing strategy, Cindy!
Cindy: (laughter) Yes, it is! Let’s see; forum member (craigdan) would like to know who your toughest opponent has been.
Royce: My imagination, Craig; myself.
Cindy: Are you nervous before fights?
Royce: Nothing to be nervous about because I have been doing this my whole life. I breathe; my heart rate’s between 55-65, and I sleep before fights.
Cindy: Forum member (Andy) wants to know who you think won the fight between BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre?
Royce: I would say BJ. He caused much more damage but the rules and points favored GSP. That’s why I like fighting with no rules. Two fighters should decide who is best without time limits, rounds or judges. Two men will eventually settle who the winner is. It’s not like that now.
Cindy: Forum member (BOSCO) wants to know if you wish the rules had stayed the same from back in UFC 1, or do you prefer the changes that were made in order to get the sport regulated?
Royce: For regulation, the rules had to change but I would prefer at least 10 minute rounds. I don’t like judge’s decisions. I prefer the fighter’s determine the winner. I prefer elbows, knees and head-butt’s because that’s how I started and that’s how to fight. I prefer everything goes.
Cindy: How do you feel about women competing in full blown MMA events just like men do?
Royce: (laughter) Ah, Cindy! I don’t want to answer that question or I might be in trouble!
Cindy: Oh, come on Royce! You can tell me! You don’t think a woman with a black eye, missing teeth, a busted nose and scars is hot?
Royce: Hot?
Cindy: You know, attractive and good looking.
Royce: I don’t think a man with all those things is “hot” so how can I think a woman the same way is (laughter)? I guess it’s a personal opinion, and I’m very liberal, but I’m not okay watching women fight. I don’t even watch the guys too much. I’m not completely against it; it’s just not something I would personally prefer to see.
Cindy: Do you think your children will want to grow up and be fighters and carry on the Gracie family name and traditions?
Royce: If they want to. Like my father always said, the Gracie name is a heavy name, they don’t have to grow up to fight but they will know how to defend themselves.
Cindy: Whether you win against Matt Hughes or not, what do you think is next for you?
Royce: That’s a question for my manager; I’m not allowed to talk about it. I do have options.
Cindy: I had hoped that you were going to be one of coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.
Royce: We negotiated about that from the beginning along with the fighting, but they said to forget the coaching for now and we went for the fighting. Maybe in the future.
Cindy: Do you watch The Ultimate Fighter series on Spike TV? Season 3 is just starting.
Royce: No, not so much. A couple of times, yes. It came on really late and I have kids that take over the TV so I never get to watch what I tape, so… no (laughter)!
Cindy: (BOSCO) also wanted to know how your opportunity to fight Matt came about.
Royce: Dana White and my manager have been talking about my return to the UFC for close to 4 years now. So finally they reached an agreement. I am a K-1 fighter now, so we had to get K-1 to approve the deal and so finally it all came about.
Cindy: From what I have read, Matt is a little offended that you actually think you can fight him inside the Octagon and walk away the winner. I guess he doesn’t buy into the, “This is MY house” idea.
Royce: Matt is offended? That does not make any sense. He is a fighter right, and a fight takes two people, so what is he offended about? If anything, Matt should thank me for even having a job and being able to fight. For him to be offended for something my family created, I don’t understand the disrespect. If he has problems with people fighting him, maybe he should look into a different profession. I was fighting in the UFC before he even knew what UFC was, so I have no idea what he is offended about, I also do not care.
Cindy: Now, I don’t think Matt is trying to be disrespectful to you, or is offended by the opportunity to fight you. I think what he meant was he’s offended that you actually think you can beat him inside the Octagon because he’s the champion, even though this is not a title defense.
Royce: Same thing, Cindy. I’m not offended that I will be fighting Matt. If I win or lose, if it’s in the cage or a ring, whether I’m champion or not, I wouldn’t be offended. I wouldn’t disrespect an opponent and if he is offended by anything to do with fighting me, he is being disrespectful to me. I wouldn’t say something like that about an opponent. No fighter takes on a fight hoping to loose, so what is he offended about?
Cindy: Forum member (Jadzia) wants to know how come this fight isn’t for the title.
Royce: I don’t know, Jadzia.
Cindy: Are you going to fight at 170 or 175?
Royce: 175 lbs. For five, five-minute rounds.
Cindy: Would you be willing to go down to 170 to fight for the title? Would you have wanted this to be a title fight?
Royce: I think that’s for the future, that fight can come after this one. I take one fight at a time and my manager decides which ones. It doesn’t matter to me.
Cindy: I think this fight is going to introduce millions of fans new to MMA to Royce Gracie and create awareness about the impact the Gracie family has had on this sport. You are one of the pioneer’s who helped to pave the way for many of the athletes we enjoy watching compete today and the Gracie form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu opened many eyes about the importance of having solid ground grappling and submission skills in your arsenal of techniques.
Royce: You are a smart woman. Size disparities can be overcome with leverage and when you go to the ground, the playing field becomes a lot more even if the smaller practitioner knows BJJ. Matt Hughes is close to my size but he is very strong and my strategy when I fight him will show I am prepared for that.
Cindy: So, you are planning to neutralize the strength factor Matt Hughes typically relies upon when he fights?
Royce: Yes. I am a thinking fighter and I will be ready with good technique and strategy.
Cindy: I’m definitely looking forward to it and I think many of the new fans who haven’t gotten to see you fight in the past are in for quite a treat.
Royce: It will be a very good fight for the fans.
Cindy: I guess this mystery will be solved on May 27th! Why did the Gracie family pull out of the Ultimate Fighting Championship after UFC: 5?
Royce: We didn’t like the rules, Cindy. We would have never started the UFC if we had to follow all of the rules of today because that’s not how we are accustomed to fighting. When everything started to change, we didn’t want to continue with the events because it went against our beliefs and fighting style. It was best to go.
Cindy: Forum member (craigdan) is curious about which of all your brothers is the best fighter.
Royce: Probably Robin. But my sister can do more damage than my brothers can do (laughter)!
Cindy: Forum member (Little Kang) wants to know how well you think Rolles and Rockson would have done in MMA.
Royce: They both passed away, you probably know that. Rolles was one of my first instructors and I would definitely put him in my corner today. Rockson died in a motorcycle accident, but if it wasn’t for that he could have been a really good fighter.
Cindy: Tell me about the next generation of Gracie’s we will probably be seeing compete next in MMA fighting.
Royce: Roger, he’s a very good grappler; he’s the one pretty much dominating the grappling world right now. He’s going to be fighting as a heavy weight. Daniel and Rhalan, too. Both are very good and I think will be great fighters.
Cindy: I covered the Gracie Fighting Championship in March as part of the Arnold Expo and saw Daniel and Rhalan fight.
Royce: What did you think?
Cindy: Well… I think Daniel knows how to throw some knees (laughter)! He fought Wes Sims and that’s a big kid! I thought Rhalan was very impressive, and his fight against Dustin Hazlett was literally a human chess match. After three rounds it went to the judges for a decision and Dustin won. It was a great fight, though and I’d definitely like to see him compete again.
Royce: Rhalan is new and this was his first professional fight but he’s very good. They will be champions one day.
Cindy: When I tell people that you made your professional debut in UFC: 1, they are shocked because you “cleaned house,” and Ken Shamrock was one of the fighters you defeated in that tournament! Considering the recent success of Strikeforce in California, where fans turned out in record numbers to see Frank Shamrock vs. Cesar Gracie, forum member (BOSCO) wants to know if you would ever be interested in fighting Ken Shamrock again since people seem to appreciate the rivalry between the two families?
Royce: Yes, if they put it together.
Cindy: You seem pretty indifferent.
Royce: I don’t choose my opponents, Cindy. If my manager and an organization think a fight would be good and they put it together, then that’s who I fight. I don’t think people really care to see me fight Ken Shamrock again because we fought two times already. I won the first time and we had a draw the second time. I think Ken Shamrock might want a third fight so maybe he could win one against me but I don’t have a feeling about a third time, one way or the other.
Cindy: Forum member (Whispering Death) wants to know what your favorite UFC fight was.
Royce: Dan Severn, because you heard the commentators saying, “Dan is gonna win! Dan is gonna win!” And then he didn’t (laughter) and everybody was so surprised… but not me.
Cindy: Who has been your toughest opponent?
Royce: Probably Sakuraba.
Cindy: Forum member (TapOut) wanted me to ask you why it is that Sakuraba has enjoyed success against the Gracie family when no one else can.
Royce: He is a very smart fighter and he had better strategies for those fights. Doesn’t mean he is a better fighter; he was on those days, though.
Cindy: O.K. What is the best piece of advice you give to up and coming fighters?
Royce: Train! Learn what to do because you have to know what you’re doing out there. You have to have good patience and discipline and you just have to get up and do it, even when you don’t want to. Discipline and dedication is important if you ever hope to be the best. Train hard and put in the time. It takes a lot of time but you have to do it or you will never be better than average. To be the best you have to work harder than everybody else. You must.
Cindy: What do you want people to know about your upcoming fight with Matt?
Royce: I just want people to know it is going to be a good fight.
Cindy: What’s next for Royce Gracie? Will you retire after the fight with Matt Hughes May 27th?
Royce: I take one fight at a time and this will not be my last. I still have one fight left with K-1 on my contract and my manager gets offers and opportunities all the time so I’m going to be around; you just have to wait and see where, but I’m not going anywhere.
Cindy: Alright, then! You have dropped a few hints already so now we’ll have to just keep our eyes and ears open to find out what’s next for the very first champion of the UFC! I think that’s going to about do it, Royce. Do you have any sponsors you want to mention or a website you want to plug?
Royce: Well, my site is www.roycegracie.tv . I would like to thank Atama Kimonos for their support, I have been with them for over 4 years now and they make great products and I enjoy the relationship. I want to thank CytoSports the makes of Muscle Milk, they have been very supportive of my carrier and make excellent protein shakes. I want to thank an Acai company Sampazon for their support. I wanted to welcome some new sponsors like Serious Pimp, Diamond back tactical, Century Martial arts and lastly I want to thank all the guys at Fairtex and Fairtex Gear for their support and wisdom.
Cindy: Any closing comments for your fans?
Royce: Anything’s possible, you just have to have discipline to get up and do it! It’s going to be a great fight with Matt Hughes and we’re going to find out if his strength is better than my technique and strategy. I’m looking forward to being back in the Octagon because it’s been a long time.
Cindy: Thanks for taking the time to interview with me, Royce! I can’t think of a better way I could have spent a Saturday night (laughter)!
Royce: I enjoyed talking to you, Cindy. I’ll see you in May.
Cindy: You got it! Take care.