Roger Gracie, Coach Josuel Distak and Ronaldo Jacaré in Oklahoma on the days leading up to weigh-ins (personal archive photo)
Former rivals from their days in competition Jiu-Jitsu, where they made their mark on the sport’s history, Roger Gracie and Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza fought for the same dream: to become absolute champion of the world. Both of them succeeded.
With time the two aces decided to migrate to MMA, where they carry on in their battle to the top. And both are already knocking on the door of the world’s premier MMA promotion, the UFC, as their tenure at Strikeforce ends with their participation on the company’s farewell card this Saturday, Jan. 12, in Oklahoma.
This Thursday, the two champions met up amicably, despite the pre-weigh-in hunger they were feeling. Alongside boxing coach Josuel Distak, Gracie and Jacaré sat down at the same table and exchanged pleasantries.
Five matches between Roger Gracie and Ronaldo Jacaré
Roger and Jacaré have faced each other in Jiu-Jitsu on five occasions, one of them without the gi—the absolute final at the 2005 ADCC. The one that caused the biggest hoopla came before then, though, in the absolute division at the 2004 World Championship.
Gracie and Jacaré made it to the final of the black belt absolute and starred in an epic duel where Jacaré had his arm dislocated by a Gracie armbar. Nevertheless, he held out till the end to win his first gold medal as a black belt.
On weight
The two aces have a date with the scale today, when official weigh-ins for the last Strikeforce event go down at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 12, 2013
- Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine
- Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
- Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino
- Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
- Ronaldo Jacaré vs. Ed Herman
Under card (only on Showtime Extreme)
- Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh
- Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
- Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
- Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons
Under card (not broadcast on TV)
- Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
- Michael Bravo vs. Estevan Payan
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