Royce Gracie

Royce Gracie ( Portuguese: ; born 12 December 1966) is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist . Gracie gained fame for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a member of the Gracie jiu-jitsu family , a UFC Hall of Famer , and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA). He also competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships , K-1's MMA events, and Bellator . In 1993 and 1994, Gracie was the tournament winner of UFC 1 , UFC 2 and UFC 4 , which were openweight single-elimination tournaments with minimal rules. He used his skills in submission grappling to defeat larger and heavier opponents. He was also known for his rivalry with Ken Shamrock , whom he beat in UFC 1 and then fought to a draw in the rematch for the Superfight Championship at UFC 5 . Royce later competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships , w