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[bZa_305]

I know I'm looking for trouble, but here it goes.....I think Royce Gracie is overrated. Don't get me wrong, I love Royce and I appreciate everything he's done in this sport, but when people go around saying "Royce in his prime would dominate anyone in the game today", I say bullshit.
Here me out. Royce dominated everyone in the old UFC days, but the reason why he dominated is because not too many fighters could compete with his technique. Jujitsu wasn't widely used back then. When these slugger and kickboxer got taken to the ground, they were helpless. He wasn't fighting worthy opponents.
Today, grappling is a staple in mma training. Gracie is a master at it, but he's not a great athlete. Fighters today are in professional athlete shape (not all of them, but most). You combine Jujitsu with worldclass strength and conditiong and you've got today's fighters. Now I'm not saying Royce wouldn't be competitive, but I don't think he'd be one of the elite. Matt Hughes, Penn, GSP and fighter of that caliber dominate him all day.
Now I know I'm gonna take heat for this and I'm expecting hostile responses, but it's just my opinion. Convince me otherwise.

[bmore_aki]

I don't see what you've said as heresy or anything...

The sport of MMA has definitely evolved. It was obvious from Gracie's match with Hughes that there has been a lot added to Gracie game over the years.

He's submissions skills are so seriously wicked, he can not be counted out of any matchup but I would have to agree with you that during his prime with the singular skill set he had then (now) in TODAY's MMA game its jut not enough to put him on the upper echelons.

Much respect to him for what he's brought to the game and I will always root for him in all that he does!

[alahyousious]

I would love to see Royce train with Miletich fighting system and gain some stand up. Even with mediocre stand up he would look ten times better then he did against Hughes.

[killerinstinct]

Royce Gracie was the best in his prime and is still a brazilian jui jitsu god ,but he would have trouble against some of the elite fighters today.I still wouldn't be overly shocked to see him pull off an upset or two though.

[ortiz#1]

Originally Posted by killerinstinct

Royce Gracie was the best in his prime and is still a brazilian jui jitsu god ,but he would have trouble against some of the elite fighters today.I still wouldn't be overly shocked to see him pull off an upset or two though.

ROYCE IS A GOD IN AMERICA NOT IN BRAZIL HE HAS LOST LOTS OF JIU-JITZU TOURNEMENTS DE LA RIVA TAPPED OUT ROYCE AND SO DID PASCHOAL , RICKSON IS THE GOD OF THE FAMILY , BUT ROYCE WAS THE ONE THAT CAME TO AMERICA AND SHOWED US WHAT SUBMISSIONS WERE ALL ABOUT HE IS A LEGEND IN MY BOOK MMA IS WERE IT IS TODAY BECAUSE OF THE GRACIE FAMILY. THANK-YOU JIU-JITZU IT IS AN AMAZING ART!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Masscore]

I agree with you 100% and was acctually having this convo with my BJJ club in college. Many of them think that if he was in his prime he would dominate everyone. But I tend to agree with you, all fighters now know BJJ and have some grappling background. A good wrestler with some stand up will always beat a guy that is just a BJJ fighter. Because as I have learned BJJ guys have a hell of a time trying to takedown wrestlers. I learned this in my club when I go against a guy that has been doing BJJ for about 5 years and he has a hard time with me because my wrestling is on a much higher level then his. So even with my little expierence (I have been doing BJJ for about a year now) I have been able to submit him a couple of times because I am able to deciate the match and when it goes to the ground.

So yea, I would have to say that Royce would still be good, but I dont think he would be as dominate as he was in the early days of the UFC.

[prophet665]

Originally Posted by Masscore

I have been able to submit him a couple of times because I am able to deciate the match and when it goes to the ground.

Deciate: verb
1. To decide and dictate at the exact same moment in time. Used specifically during free style wrestling matches.



For the record I agree that without a striking background, Gracie Ju Jitsu is fast becoming one dimensional.

[Kimuras"R"Us]

No heat from me. I actually had almost that exact argument before UFC 60. People know BJJ now, there's no surprising anyone. Royce is an MMA legend, but fact of the matter is he punches like a girl. That actually hurt to type.