Rolles Gracie will return to his roots this weekend and compete in the gi for only the second time in six years! The Gracie family are widely credited with the development of the art of jiu-jitsu in Brazil, and family are practically born and die wearing a gi! 

The New York-based Brazilian, who oversees the Renzo Gracie academy in Manhattan, has been away from jiu-jitsu competition due to his MMA career and also dabbling in freestyle wrestling. He fought professionally in events in the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Poland, amassing 12 fights in total. All eight of his wins were by submission. 

He returns to action this Saturday March 5, and will compete in the +94kg masters black belt division at the New York International Pro, to be held in Brooklyn and streamed right here on FloGrappling. 

This marks Gracie’s second return to the mat in six years, having last competed at the IBJJF NY BJJ Pro in November of 2014. Before that, he competed in the 2006 IBJJF PanAms. 

“It’s a great feeling to get back in the gi and compete. I was away for a while due to the focus on my MMA career but I’m really glad I’m doing this,” says Gracie.  
“I was going to compete at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in LA but I hurt my knee so my return to gi competitions got delayed a bit. I’m planning on competing a lot this year both in gi and no-gi.” 

Jiu-jitsu is my true passion and I’m glad my focus is back on it.

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