Chatri Sityodtong, founder and CEO of ONE Championship, has been promoted to the rank of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt…
By none other than Renzo Gracie!
The surprise promotion took place during the ONE 168 broadcast, with Renzo promoting Chatri on spot.
The ONE Championship founder was visibly emotional, sharing the story of how he met Renzo and his appreciation for the BJJ legend:
In 2005, when I was living in New York City, I ran into the Renzo Gracie Academy, the Blue Basement.
Before that, he’s been an idol of mine…I got my blue belt in 2007, I kept training, [but] I never thought this day would come – and I never thought…
There would not be ONE Championship without Renzo.He came for the very first show, he came all the way from New York… He was in Switzerland yesterday, flew in to here…
He is not only a legend, a superstar, a hero to billions of people around the world – incredible fighter and philosopher – but truly…I don’t know if you guys know, but my son’s name is Renzo!
Renzo then told the audience that, more than anything else, Chatri cares about the sport:
You know what he told me? What really matters was you guys [the audience], sitting here, supporting this amazing sport!
Sityodtong has been training martial arts his entire life, from Muay Thai to Jiu-Jitsu.
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Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.
