GRACIE: Royler Gracie, 5’8 150lb brother of Royce, brings a professional MMA record of 3-1-1 to the ring of K-1. The four-time BJJ World Champion and three-time Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Champion (in 3 consecutive years) has been winning grappling titles since the age of 7 but did not begin fighting MMA until 1996. In addition to his professional fighting career, Royler is also known for his hotel brawl with Luta Livre fighter Eugenio Tadeu (who also tangled with Wallid Ismael and was scheduled to meet Ralph Gracie in Extreme Fighting). Recently Royler has been working boxing with Claudio Coelho and sharpening his ground game with BJJ black belt Vinicius Aieda.
SUDO: K-1 veteran and Kyokushin Karate stylist Genki “The Neo Samurai” Sudo is 5’7 155lbs. Sudo, a Pancrase, RINGS and UFC veteran, is 1-3 under K-1 rules but 9-4-1 in MMA and has been enjoying tremendous success of late, winning two in a row and 6 out of 7, with all wins coming via submission. In 1996 Sudo became the All Japan Junior Olympics Champion while attending Takushou University and took part in the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships. Sudo studied fine art in the U.S. and began training at the Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club under the guidance of Bas Rutten and Marcus Vinicius. In 1999 he began fighting on the Pancrase circuit in Japan. In 2001 he made the move to RINGS and competed in the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Championships against Pride veterans Rodrigo Gracie and Vitor Belfort. 2002 was also a huge year for Sudo as he debuted in both the K-1 and the UFC. He has been training at the K-1 Gym and the Wajyu-kenshukai Dojo in Japan.
MY PICK: Although he hasn’t been fighting, Royler has been in and around the sport the entire time. He’s very familiar with Sudo’s skills and his unique tactics. All of that will help but if Genki is smart, he treats this like a statement fight. Now is the perfect time for Sudo to score his marquee win. It will be very competitive throughout but I feel it will be Sudo by decision after the 3rd Rd.