K-1 Hawaii Preview: Penn Versus Gracie
A look at Renzo
Jul 28, 2005
RENZO GRACIE (11-5-1): Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt,
trains with Ralph and Ryan
Gracie (Pics,
Vids), Ricardo Almeida (Pics, Vids), Matt Serra and members of the
Renzo Gracie (Pics, Vids) Team.
Abbreviated History: Renzo got his black belt from Carlos “Carlinhos” Gracie Jr. and is the cousin of Royce Gracie (Pics, Vids). He is a fifth degree black belt and has long been considered the best-rounded fighter of all the Gracie cousins.
Renzo is also the one who is willing to just fight. He fought
numerous closed-door challenge matches, but began his professional
fighting career in the Desafio: Gracie Vale Tudo event in 1992.
Renzo won the World Combat Championships in 1995, fought a
super-fight at the Martial Arts Reality Superfighting (M.A.R.S.)
and competed in the Pentagon Combat event before debuting in Pride
1 in 1999. He competed in the RINGS King of Kings tournament in ’99
and ’00 but returned to PRIDE and has fought sporadically for the
organization since through 2003.
Below are some of Gracie’s more significant contests:
Gracie-Oleg Taktarov: The infamous knockout from the ground at the M.A.R.S. event that showed it could be done. Murilo Bustamante (Pics, Vids) repeated the feat 10 months later (having been shown the move by Renzo … so says Renzo), knocking out Jerry Bohlander (Pics, Vids) in the Pentagon Combat show.
Gracie-Eugenio Tadeu (Pics, Vids): This bout will always be remembered because no winner was determined. A riot broke out between the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre camps and the place went nuts. There were fights, stabbings, gunfire and everything you’d expect from a legendary event. It seemed as though Gracie was winning before the melee but we’ll never for sure.
Gracie-Maurice Smith (Pics, Vids): It was Renzo’s first event fighting under RINGS rules. He had beaten Japanese submission fighter Wataru Sakata (Pics, Vids) earlier in the evening and wasted little time with the accomplished kickboxer, submitting him via armlock in less than a minute.
Gracie-Kiyoshi Tamura (Pics, Vids): All good things must come to an end and when Renzo met Tamura in the quarterfinals of the tournament, he lost a unanimous decision to the hometown boy. Tamura lost in the semis to current top Brazilian light heavyweight Renato Sobral (Pics, Vids).
Gracie-Kazushi Sakuraba (Pics, Vids): Renzo was Gracie fighter number three of four on Sakuraba’s “I Can Take Apart A Legendary Fighting Family By Myself” tour. It was late in the second round at PRIDE 10 when Renzo’s elbow was dislocated in brutal fashion and it left no room for controversy.
Gracie-Dan Henderson (Pics, Vids): Not much to say about this one. Renzo shot for a takedown and Henderson’s counter was expertly timed, knocking out Gracie with a short uppercut that put him to the floor.
Gracie-Carlos Newton (Pics, Vids): Renzo’s last MMA bout to date took place at PRIDE Bushido 1 in 2003. The Brazilian fought well and didn’t make it easy for the former UFC welterweight champion. Newton took home a split decision that day but he hasn’t won a bout since.
Also worthy of note: Gracie battled Akira Shoji (draw), Sanae Kikuta (Pics, Vids) (win/submission), Alexander Otsuka (Pics, Vids) (win/decision), Wataru Sakata (Pics, Vids) (win/submission) and Shungo Oyama (Pics, Vids) (win/decision)
Strengths And Weaknesses: Renzo’s ground game is his key to success. He is so diligent about securing a submission victory that history shows if the bout doesn’t go the distance, Renzo finds a way to submit his opponent. There is no doubt Renzo will continue to work.
He’s a Gracie defending his family’s name and he is not going to hand anyone a victory. As for a weakness, the stand-up game has never been Renzo’s forte. At times he will bang, but usually only to set up a takedown.
How He Can Beat Penn: By going the distance. If Penn is looking past him and Renzo can outwork B.J., he may be able to get a favorable decision. Renzo is fighting someone his own size so it is unlikely he will be overpowered or dominated physically. Some of this will come down to desire and strength of will to overcome.
Abbreviated History: Renzo got his black belt from Carlos “Carlinhos” Gracie Jr. and is the cousin of Royce Gracie (Pics, Vids). He is a fifth degree black belt and has long been considered the best-rounded fighter of all the Gracie cousins.
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Below are some of Gracie’s more significant contests:
Gracie-Ben Spijkers
(Pics, Vids): This may have been the first time
many fans saw Renzo and he was not the consummate sportsman,
stepping on Spijkers after choking him out. Gracie went on to
defeat wrestler Phil
Benedict (Pics,
Vids) and former pro boxer James Warring (Pics, Vids) to take the first and only World
Combat Championships tournament title.
Gracie-Oleg Taktarov: The infamous knockout from the ground at the M.A.R.S. event that showed it could be done. Murilo Bustamante (Pics, Vids) repeated the feat 10 months later (having been shown the move by Renzo … so says Renzo), knocking out Jerry Bohlander (Pics, Vids) in the Pentagon Combat show.
Gracie-Eugenio Tadeu (Pics, Vids): This bout will always be remembered because no winner was determined. A riot broke out between the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre camps and the place went nuts. There were fights, stabbings, gunfire and everything you’d expect from a legendary event. It seemed as though Gracie was winning before the melee but we’ll never for sure.
Gracie-Maurice Smith (Pics, Vids): It was Renzo’s first event fighting under RINGS rules. He had beaten Japanese submission fighter Wataru Sakata (Pics, Vids) earlier in the evening and wasted little time with the accomplished kickboxer, submitting him via armlock in less than a minute.
Gracie-Kiyoshi Tamura (Pics, Vids): All good things must come to an end and when Renzo met Tamura in the quarterfinals of the tournament, he lost a unanimous decision to the hometown boy. Tamura lost in the semis to current top Brazilian light heavyweight Renato Sobral (Pics, Vids).
Gracie-Kazushi Sakuraba (Pics, Vids): Renzo was Gracie fighter number three of four on Sakuraba’s “I Can Take Apart A Legendary Fighting Family By Myself” tour. It was late in the second round at PRIDE 10 when Renzo’s elbow was dislocated in brutal fashion and it left no room for controversy.
Gracie-Dan Henderson (Pics, Vids): Not much to say about this one. Renzo shot for a takedown and Henderson’s counter was expertly timed, knocking out Gracie with a short uppercut that put him to the floor.
Gracie-Carlos Newton (Pics, Vids): Renzo’s last MMA bout to date took place at PRIDE Bushido 1 in 2003. The Brazilian fought well and didn’t make it easy for the former UFC welterweight champion. Newton took home a split decision that day but he hasn’t won a bout since.
Also worthy of note: Gracie battled Akira Shoji (draw), Sanae Kikuta (Pics, Vids) (win/submission), Alexander Otsuka (Pics, Vids) (win/decision), Wataru Sakata (Pics, Vids) (win/submission) and Shungo Oyama (Pics, Vids) (win/decision)
Strengths And Weaknesses: Renzo’s ground game is his key to success. He is so diligent about securing a submission victory that history shows if the bout doesn’t go the distance, Renzo finds a way to submit his opponent. There is no doubt Renzo will continue to work.
He’s a Gracie defending his family’s name and he is not going to hand anyone a victory. As for a weakness, the stand-up game has never been Renzo’s forte. At times he will bang, but usually only to set up a takedown.
How He Can Beat Penn: By going the distance. If Penn is looking past him and Renzo can outwork B.J., he may be able to get a favorable decision. Renzo is fighting someone his own size so it is unlikely he will be overpowered or dominated physically. Some of this will come down to desire and strength of will to overcome.
