Rickson Gracie

tat2man5k

tat2man5k

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Guys, I GOTTA know: I know all the "legendary" stories of Rickson, but seriously, how would he have done in the UFC during his days as a fighter? I know, I know, he's 400000-0, except that one time in Sambo, but for real, for the folks that saw him in his prime, how would he have done? I've been a fight fan for a long, long time, but never watched him live, so I don't know. Was he legit, or more of a made up legend?

***In before Rickson by armbar***
***In before Rickson 400-0***
 
tat2man5k said:
Guys, I GOTTA know: I know all the "legendary" stories of Rickson, but seriously, how would he have done in the UFC during his days as a fighter? I know, I know, he's 400000-0, except that one time in Sambo, but for real, for the folks that saw him in his prime, how would he have done? I've been a fight fan for a long, long time, but never watched him live, so I don't know. Was he legit, or more of a made up legend?

***In before Rickson by armbar***
***In before Rickson 400-0***
Click to expand...
Bear in mind that when UFC started, Rickson was realistically out of his physical prime...

Then, when exactly would u want him in the UFC, and btw... why in the UFC...
 
DaPunkMinowaMan said:
Bear in mind that when UFC started, Rickson was realistically out of his physical prime...

Then, when exactly would u want him in the UFC, and btw... why in the UFC...
Click to expand...
Well, because most folks judge EVERY great fighter by whether or not they were in the UFC...see Fedor. I'm just wondering how he'd have done against guys like Ricco R, or Big Timmeh, or Josh Barnett.
 
Rickson did not want to go to Pancrase...The option was there but he's a gracie, a business man
 
tat2man5k said:
Well, because most folks judge EVERY great fighter by whether or not they were in the UFC...see Fedor. I'm just wondering how he'd have done against guys like Ricco R, or Big Timmeh, or Josh Barnett.
Click to expand...
nah. by the time UFC took over Pride, Rickson was already 48 yrs old.
 
manboy<3 said:
Rickson did not want to go to Pancrase...The option was there but he's a gracie, a business man
Click to expand...
hmmm...Early Pancrase was technically less dangerous than the BJJ vs Luta Livre Challenge [1984] (Gracies didnt compete there but sent their best students)...
 
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tat2man5k said:
Well...how about Rickson at 35 vs Couture at 35? How would that have gone?
Click to expand...
Couture was someone who basically got easily armbared by Enoue (respect, though...)... Rickson´s go-to-move...
 
For his day he was absolutely legit. Those were the days where fighters generally only did one thing though.

His best win is Funaki who is a good fighter but also a grappling (catch wrestling) specialist.

Like every Gracie not named Renzo he never really took striking seriously at all or made any serious attempt to learn so by the time the late 90s hit the sport would have already passed him by.

Different era of fighter but all the respect to him. He had the best Jiu-jitsu in a family known for exceptional jiu-jitsu.
 
Rickson was dope because of his philosophy and his approach to training. I dont give a shit how he would have done, one thing I know for sure he was on a higher level of skill than Royce.
 
He would have gotten trashed in MMA but when it comes to BJJ, no one has publicly come out and said he was ever overrated when it comes to that, and usually word will get out in gym circles as to who is getting their ass kicked, who juices, etc

So I have no choice but to believe he's all that in BJJ. But again, he would get smashed in MMA like all the other Gracie's. Did you see him fight in PRIDE 1? Super stiff and purposely puts his chin out.
 
Biggest myth of Rickson for me is he never taught anyone to be a champion except for his own son.

He's taught so many students in Humaita and in LA and we don't know any outstanding student who was made good by Rickson. Unless you consider a little athletic average Joe like Casey a super hero.

Jean Jacques Machado used to train one on one with Rickson back in the days, but his style shows no influence of Rickson. Rickson offered Vitor Belfort coaching but Vitor dumped it.

Great coaches are the ones who are interested in making his guys better than them. Rickson wanted to remain as a fuhrer who has absolute control over people around him.
 
tat2man5k said:
Well...how about Rickson at 35 vs Couture at 35? How would that have gone?
Click to expand...
People are often biased when they do these hypothetical match-ups...

Realistically, Rickson would be a MW today...

The Gracies, and Rickson especially, have lots of haters, for good or bad reasons...

Historically, the dream match-up was always about Rickson vs Ruas...

Was a bit irritating seeing Rickson BSing around with Hugo Duarte...
 
Thanks for all the info and input, guys. I really appreciate it.
 
tat2man5k said:
Well, because most folks judge EVERY great fighter by whether or not they were in the UFC...see Fedor. I'm just wondering how he'd have done against guys like Ricco R, or Big Timmeh, or Josh Barnett.
Click to expand...

Those guys are part of the next generation after Rickson's though. Rickson had decent opponents for his time in those Vale Tudo Japan tournaments that were kind of Shooto's version of the early UFC events (and ended up doing the same; promoting Gracie Jiu Jitsu) and of course fought Funaki in his last bout. I imagine he wouldn't have beaten guys like Coleman, Kerr and Rutten but Rickson was much smaller anyway and was born a bit too late for MMA.

Saku vs. Rickson would have been amazing, too bad Rockson died.
 
Based on the Takada fights and his fights in the Vale Tudo Japan tournaments to me it looked like Rickson was a much more aggressive and reckless fighter than Royce, Takada had multiple opportunities to land significant strikes in those fights(he hurt him with a knee at one point if I remember correctly) but he was too intimidated by the aura and completely folded in both fights. I can see Rickson getting caught against a good striker in the old days. With that said though he was a great athlete, really fast and dynamic, I actually think he could have beaten the wrestlers like Coleman and Kerr due to better stamina and better submission skills, but I think Royce could have beaten those guys too(in a fight with no rounds/time limit or stand ups).
 
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