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In a recent interview with Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso, UFC Hall of Famer and MMA legend, Royce Gracie stated the following in regards to whether there is a chance of a comeback to the UFC:
There had been some rumblings since the UFC's press conference in Brazil on December 15th announcing their return to the country that Royce was looking to step back into the Octagon at the event. Gracie is currently 44 years old and hasn't fought since a decision victory over Kazushi Sakuraba in 2007, after which he tested positive for steroids.
The idea seems crazy but is not without precedent. Early last year at UFC 112, Royce's cousin, Renzo Gracie made his UFC debut at the ripe age of 43 having also not fought since 2007. A couple of months before that the UFC had scheduled a bout between Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman to take place at UFC 110 in the organization's debut in Australia. Sinosic has a losing record, was on a two-fight slide and hadn't fought since 2007 while his would-be opponent, Haseman is 40 years old and hadn't fought since 2008.
While the Renzo Gracie/Matt Hughes "fight" would have topped my "Worst things of 2010" list if it wasn't for Ashton Kutcher's "Killers" and the proposed SInosic/Haseman fight never materialised due to injury, it showed that the UFC was willing to bring in fighters far past their expiry date if only to reward them for their services over the years.
Those are the reasons for, some of the reasons against it - other than the obvious - would be that firstly, the UFC already went to that well once before at UFC 60, where Royce was pounded out easily by then welterweight champion, Hughes and secondly there isn't really anyone for Gracie to fight. Presumably you would match Gracie up with someone with a big name who doesn't really have the firepower that would send Gracie closer to that great dojo in the sky. Hughes is out of the question as no one in their right mind wants to see that again, you couldn't possibly put him against BJ Penn or GSP as murder is illegal and the rest of the welterweight division are too powerful and too uninteresting to make that match.
The only real option would be the Sinosic/Haseman one, where the UFC brings in another veteran fighter that would make a semi-fair fight.
In the end this could all be a case of the UFC humoring Royce, or Royce humoring MMA fans but regardless I want to know your thoughts on the matter.
Sherdog.com: Can we expect Royce Gracie to fight in Brazil?
Gracie: We are negotiating (laughs).'
Gracie: We are negotiating (laughs).'
There had been some rumblings since the UFC's press conference in Brazil on December 15th announcing their return to the country that Royce was looking to step back into the Octagon at the event. Gracie is currently 44 years old and hasn't fought since a decision victory over Kazushi Sakuraba in 2007, after which he tested positive for steroids.
The idea seems crazy but is not without precedent. Early last year at UFC 112, Royce's cousin, Renzo Gracie made his UFC debut at the ripe age of 43 having also not fought since 2007. A couple of months before that the UFC had scheduled a bout between Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman to take place at UFC 110 in the organization's debut in Australia. Sinosic has a losing record, was on a two-fight slide and hadn't fought since 2007 while his would-be opponent, Haseman is 40 years old and hadn't fought since 2008.
While the Renzo Gracie/Matt Hughes "fight" would have topped my "Worst things of 2010" list if it wasn't for Ashton Kutcher's "Killers" and the proposed SInosic/Haseman fight never materialised due to injury, it showed that the UFC was willing to bring in fighters far past their expiry date if only to reward them for their services over the years.
Those are the reasons for, some of the reasons against it - other than the obvious - would be that firstly, the UFC already went to that well once before at UFC 60, where Royce was pounded out easily by then welterweight champion, Hughes and secondly there isn't really anyone for Gracie to fight. Presumably you would match Gracie up with someone with a big name who doesn't really have the firepower that would send Gracie closer to that great dojo in the sky. Hughes is out of the question as no one in their right mind wants to see that again, you couldn't possibly put him against BJ Penn or GSP as murder is illegal and the rest of the welterweight division are too powerful and too uninteresting to make that match.
The only real option would be the Sinosic/Haseman one, where the UFC brings in another veteran fighter that would make a semi-fair fight.
In the end this could all be a case of the UFC humoring Royce, or Royce humoring MMA fans but regardless I want to know your thoughts on the matter.
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