Building the UFC From the Gracie Legacy

The Gracie family has created waves throughout the world of martial arts. The style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu passed down from the original Carlos Gracie continues to be taught in dojos throughout the world like our own gym, Gracie Barra – Ahwatukee. You can still see this style being used in the octagon during the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) and other popular MMA fights.

But that’s not the only impact the Gracie family had on the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Find out how the Gracies impacted the martial arts community with one of the largest fighting competitions to date.

Developing the Gracie Style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Without Carlos Gracie’s hand in shaping Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the UFC wouldn’t be what it is today. With years of training under Mitsuyo Maeda and his disciples, Gracie was able to develop a unique fighting style that has continued to evolve throughout the world. The origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the spread of its popularity can be clearly traced back to Carlos Gracie and his brothers, including the famous Helio Gracie.

After years of spreading Gracie Jiu-Jitsu throughout Brazil, the second generation of Gracies decided to take their mission to the United States. It was in the state of Colorado that one of the Gracies would have a grand idea that would greatly impact the world of martial arts.

The Ultimate Fighting Championships

Rorion Gracie decided the easiest way to bring Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the United States was to offer classes out of his garage. He invited not only students but teachers of different disciplines to train in his garage where he was able to showcase the benefits of Gracie jiu-jitsu. He was successful in training several martial artists, including Chuck Norris.

Unfortunately, this didn’t fulfill Rorion Gracie’s vision to spread Gracie’s jiu-jitsu throughout the nation. To this, he had to create something worth televising. So, he shared his idea to create the ultimate fighting tournament with one of his students, John Milius.

With the approval of his father, Rorion Gracie and John Milius set out on their plan to create the famous octagon seen in every UFC fight today. On November 12, 1993, the first UFC fight took place in Denver, Colorado. Despite plenty of people advising Rorion Gracie to choose Rickson Gracie to fight, Royce Grace took the tournament with a rear naked choke hold and became the first UFC Champion, elevating the popularity of Gracie jiu-jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UFC

Rorion Gracie’s vision to spread the art of jiu-jitsu through television continues to live on through the UFC. Several Gracie family members and students excelled in the octagon throughout the years, utilizing their superior grappling skills to dominate opponents.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu continues to be showcased in the UFC and other popular MMA competitions as fighters throughout the world integrate the style into their training. Here are some of the notable Brazilian UFC fighters that have received training and guidance from the Gracie family:

Royce Gracie

Royce Gracie was handpicked by Rorion Gracie to showcase the effectiveness of Gracie jiu-jitsu in the first Ultimate Fighting Championships. He won the tournament with a rear naked choke and continued to win the competition two more times. The three-time champion successfully displayed the art of jiu-jitsu and helped his older brother bring his vision to life.

Renzo Gracie

Renzo Gracie was another legend to step into the octagon, competing in the welterweight division in the UFC. Though most of his success was seen in other MMA competitions, continued the Gracie legacy by training several other UFC fighters. Renzo Gracie trained famous names like Georges St-Pierre, Matt Serra, and other popular MMA fighters.

Rickson Gracie

Rickson Gracie has never officially fought in the UFC; however, he still holds a strong influence on the competition after training a number of UFC fighters including his sons, Kron and Rockson Gracie. He’s also widely known as one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in the world.

Roger Gracie

Roger Gracie was another member of the Gracie family that competed in the UFC winning 4 fights in the octagon. He’s known for his exceptional grappling ability and holds several BJJ titles. He’s also been very successful in other MMA and jiu-jitsu competitions.

Kron Gracie

Kron Gracie was trained by his father Rickson Grace and made his debut in the UFC in 2019. He continues to fight in the UFC showcasing his skills in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and representing the Gracie family.

Charles Oliveira

Though not trained by any of the family members, Gracie jiu-jitsu was incorporated into Charles Oliveira’s fighting style from trainers connected to Rickson Gracie. The Brazilian MMA fighter held the title of UFC lightweight champion and continues to fight in the octagon today.

These fighters have shown the Gracie family’s influence on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and the UFC. Their training and use of Gracie jiu-jitsu techniques has spread popularity for the unique fighting style and continues to bring Rorion Gracie’s vision to life.

The Gracie Legacy

The Gracie legacy continues to flourish through their contributions to BJJ, the MMA community, and the UFC. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has become a fundamental training point for MMA fighters across the globe and has helped elevate world-class fighters like Anderson Silva, Demian Maia, and more.

The Gracie family has also opened several Brazilian jiu-jitsu academies worldwide. Become part of the Gracie legacy by signing up for one of our programs at Gracie Barra – Ahwatukee. We offer classes in Ahwatukee to help kids and adults learn unique self-defense techniques that work for everyone.

Our gym is part of a long line of dojos started by Carlos Gracie Jr. who continues to carry on his father’s legacy by spreading the art of jiu-jitsu. Find out more by calling us at 480.757.6801 or visit us at our gym in AZ.