Roger Gracie didn’t lose a lot of matches…
But the ones he did – in his opinion – he lost not due to a lack of skill. But due to his own stubbornness or arrogance.
Speaking with his cousin and five-time world champion, Kyra Gracie, in a recent podcast, Roger shared his thoughts on what took place during these few bouts:
I would do some things differently in my career if I went back.
Some fights I lost were due to stubbornness.
With the exception of my first defeat, in the fight against “Pé de Pano” (Márcio Cruz), when he passed my guard.Other than that, all my defeats were due to stubbornness or arrogance.
Roger continued:
There were defeats that I don’t consider, because for me I won the fight.
I think I had no doubt that I would win to the point of being arrogant.In 2003, when I lost to Jon Olav Einemo, I went into the fight thinking I had won.
It was the only time I underestimated an opponent. I made a plan and lost.
Now 42 years old, Roger Gracie is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame and the ADCC Hall of Fame.
He had last competed back in 2017 – when he submitted Marcus Buchecha in the main fight of the Gracie Kore event.
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