mixed-martial-arts-renzo

RENZO GRACIE

“Any Kind of Fighting’s Good.”

September 17, 2006

photos © IFL

The idea of interviewing Renzo Gracie can be a bit daunting – especially when you know he’s a member of the world-famous Gracie Jiu Jitsu family.

Then there’s his own impressive history: World Combat Champion ’95, BJJ titles ’94 and ’95, twice Abu Dhabi winner, three-times PRIDE FC winner, ADC titles in ’99 and ’01…. Renzo has trained such names as Israeli Karate Champion Haim Gozal, UFC stars Matt Serra and Pete Sell, Rodrigo Gracie… The list goes on.

There’s also his immediate family: Renzo’s father, Robson – a 9^th degree blackbelt who shoots straight from the hip, and is the son of the great Carlos Gracie (1901-1995).

You can spend days just researching the Gracie family tree from 1914, when Carlos founded Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And most MMA fans did do that research after Renzo’s first cousin, Royce, started his domination of the early UFCs.

Renzo’s brother, Ryan, also carries a colorful reputation for standing his ground, both inside and outside the ring. Ryan’s notorious street encounters with Wallid Ismail have circulated the internet for some time.

However, the reason I’m calling Renzo is to chat about his meeting with Pat Miletich in their Superfight this Saturday night at The Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline. Also on the same card will be Renzo’s Pitbulls team taking on Pat’s Silverbacks team.

The phone rings and it’s picked up straight away.

“Hello, Mate.”

Not sure if I’m hearing correctly, I ask, “What did you just call me?”

“I said, “Hello, Mate. I heard you’re from Australia,” laughs Renzo. So much for the daunting bit: He continues to bowl me over with his fun and good humor.

Renzo, what were you doing when I rang?

“I just finished having dinner with some friends and I was looking at the phone, waiting for you to call.”

Where are you – in Manhattan or New Jersey?

“I’m at home in New Jersey.”

When you’re in Brazil, is being a ‘Gracie’ like being a member of the Royal Family there?

“No, it’s like being A Boy Named Sue… You know the song from Johnny Cash… You get tough or you die.”

So it’s not like a great privilege having the ‘Gracie’ name in Brazil?

“No, no – it is, definitely. It opens a lot of doors since it’s the backbone of the Jiu Jitsu sport. It helps us a lot and they treat us very well. I was just making a joke.”

(I’m sucked in again).

Is BJJ huge there? Is it something the Brazilian general public is very aware and proud of?

“Oh, after soccer it’s the biggest sport.”

Your father, Robson, is a 9^th degree blackbelt in BJJ, and from what I hear, he likes to stay with the traditional Gracie Jiu jitsu. Is he happy about your involvement in MMA?

“He likes fighting a lot: Any kind of fighting – he admires the fighter, and he always encouraged me to become a fighter. He loves it when I fight, and he’s very proud that I’m a fighter.”

What are your brothers, Ralph and Ryan, doing these days?

“They are both in San Francisco now, training for some upcoming fights. Ryan is already talking to PRIDE: they are looking at a deal to get Ryan back into the ring. And Ralph is going to fight in IFL. We want IFL to be big in America because it’s such a beautiful concept – the way they are organized and the way they are promoting fighters. They are very helpful and we’re very happy to be a part of their competition.”

Are your brothers older than you?

“That’s what I’m talking about: I love you already. They are much younger than I am… But I am better looking.”

How is Bryan Vetell going?

“Oh, man, he’s a machine. He’s in unbelievable shape. I can’t wait to see him fight. He’s very impressive. I wouldn’t like to be facing him – a very impressive fighter. He’s a very smart guy, a philosopher… It’s amazing how such a thinker can be such a bruiser. It hurts just training with him – a very tough guy.”

Bryan said you are a strongly motivated trainer and that you inspire the Pitbulls team to push themselves harder. Do you ever feel like not training and decide to go surfing with Fabio Leopoldo instead?

“No. Even though I love surfing, I just can’t pass by a chance to spar. I place fighting just a little bit ahead of surfing. But every chance I get… I have five surfboards in my garage, and I drag everybody that I can to the beach with me.”

And Fabio is a mad surfer too?

“Yes, he is a good surfer. We’re already making fun of each other. After this weekend’s fight we’re going to the beach, and we’re going to have a competition. We’re going to get our partners to judge who is the better surfer.

“It’s going to be right here in New Jersey. Recently, we had eight-foot waves from the last hurricane, so we’ll be hoping for a hurricane right after our fights so we can test each other in the water.”

The Pitbulls are taking on the Silverbacks this coming weekend. Do you see it as a great opportunity for your team to prove themselves against last season’s victors?

“Yes, definitely, because one of the main things is that last time I brought a lot of amateurs on it, and I wasn’t very worried about picking them and training them. This time, the first thing I did when I signed on for the Pitbulls was I rented a house right here and I brought all the fighters over. I put them here to train, day and night, and a coach, Ricardo ‘Big Dog’ Almeida, to watch over them and make sure they were eating right, training right… So this time they are really tough mentally, physically, and technically everybody is in top condition.”

Are you predicting an upset by the Pitbulls over the Silverbacks?

“We’re going to make sure we walk through them, and it’s possible we will have no defeats this weekend. It’s a possibility. We are so strong, it would be impossible to put a beating on us.”

When you fought Eugenio Tadeu, after 14:45 into the round, the bout was declared a ‘no contest’ because the fans rioted. Why did they riot?

“They rioted because every time I took Eugenio down and started beating on him, they would start hitting me through the fence. They would kick me in the head, kick my hands… Every time I was on the floor, people from outside would strike me. And one of the fans put his face over the fence.

“When he did that, I hit him square in the middle of his face. I recognized him as being one of the guys who had been kicking me. Once I hit him, a guy from the crowd moved in and my brother jumped on him, and the whole riot started.”

Which brother was that?

“Ryan. Then after that there were 4000 people fighting. It was an unbelievable experience – I loved it.”

And you and Ryan got away okay?

“Yes, without a scratch.”

Whereabouts did this take place?

“In Rio de Janeiro – my home town. Unbelievable.”

You and Pat Miletich are both 5’10”, 185 pounds, and about the same age. Once again, I should point out: You’re a little bit younger. What do you think will be the determining factor in your Superfight?

“I’m fighting four-minute rounds – something new for me, and I really want to see how this fight goes, because for four-minute rounds I can push very hard. I plan to put pressure from the beginning to the end, and I want to see how that pans out.”

What will Pat’s strengths be?

“Pat has very strong hands. He’s one of the guys these days in MMA who has the hands of a professional boxer, so you have to be careful of his hands. And he resists takedowns well. He’s a very good overall fighter, but I believe I have a better ground game than he. I plan to drag the fight to the floor and walk out of there victorious.”

You and Pat won’t be causing any riots on Saturday night, will you?

“I hope not. But if it does happen, I think any kind of fighting’s good.”

Your sponsors?

“The IFL, and Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu school in Melbourne. Those guys support me a lot. I also have schools in Ottawa, Ontario, and my base gym is in Midtown, Manhattan.”