Renzo spoke to the Japanese audience at a One Championship press conference. Courtesy of Renzo Gracie
After winning by submission in his return to the ring, Renzo Gracie now hopes to ride that momentum into a new MMA fight. Renzo confirmed exclusively to Graciemag that he will return at One Championship Japan, which this week was scheduled for March 31st, 2019.
One Championship held a press conference in Tokyo this Friday to announce that they are landing in Japan. The events confirmed so far will take place in March and October.
For Renzo’s opponent, the names being thrown around are Kazushi Sakuraba and Wallid Ismail. A legend of Pride FC, Sakuraba became notorious when he beat Ryan and Renzo Gracie in Japan’s most famous MMA ring of all time. The rematch with Renzo had been planned for last year, but it may finally materialize in 2019. Wallid, a former UFC and Pride fighter, hasn’t done an MMA fight since 2012, but he’s been training hard for at least the last few months.
Another big name about to step into the One FC ring is Ralph Gracie. The teacher, who is also an MMA veteran, will make his return after a pretty far-along negotiation took place this week in Japan. To face him, Takanori Gomi, a famous Japanese fighter with a history of making noise in Pride and the UFC, is being considered.