The professional grappling promotion, Metamoris, and most notably its founder Ralek Gracie has been under fire for the past few months for various reasons.
The main ones are:
-Scheduling events on the same weekend as EBI and the same day as Copa Podio
-Disrespecting Female Competitors
-Untrustworthy Online Site and Automatic Renewals
-Not paying Metamoris Challenger/Underground Competitors, and staff.
BJJ black belt AJ Agazarm faced ex UFC fighter Karo Parisyan at Metamoris Underground last August. Agazarm announced that he still hasn’t been paid by Metamoris for that match. Earlier this week, Agazarm hijacked the Metamoris Instagram account and wrote an open letter to Ralek Gracie, where he stated that he and all the athletes of Metamoris Underground, and the recent Metamoris Challengers had still not been paid what they were owed.
Ralek Gracie responded, assuring that the athletes will be paid in due time. He also didn’t appreciate Agazarm’s actions and has threatened him with legal action and according to Agazarm has called in the FBI, through his older brother Ryron Gracie’s contacts.
Agazarm stated on his Facebook page:
Good evening Jiu Jitsu.
There are some things that need to be made known. I did not hack the Metamoris Instagram account as has been alleged. It was voluntarily given to me as a ‘takeover’. During the account takeover, Ralek has chosen not to correct what he has done, but Instead I have received threats of a lawsuit, and a phone call on behalf of Rener in an attempt to bully me for the account back. Ralek blames his actions on a series of accidental failures that come with beginning a business, or being a visionary. New ventures often struggle but no other business would get away with failing to pay its financial obligations or by not providing services for which it is charging customers. Compromising credit cards along with the non payment of athletes is no accident. That is a choice.
I don’t think we should sit idly by and let Metamoris continue, but for some, fear has gotten the best of you. You believe you need Metamoris and in your panic you have turned to defend Ralek in hopes of one day being back on Metamoris, or seeing another event. I know why you are afraid, but you were robbed you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you. He promised you money, exposure, incredible matches, and all he demanded in return was your silent obedient consent.
5 days ago I sought to end this silence. So I used the Instagram takeover to inform everyone of Ralek’s actions, and remind this community of what it has forgotten. Master Carlos Gracie’s hope was to bring Jiu Jitsu to the world and let it flourish. Since then, Jiu Jitsu has changed tremendously, and what was once a single family venture is now a global enterprise.
So, if you see nothing wrong with Ralek’s lack of integrity, if you remain indifferent to his greedy and fraudulent actions, then I would suggest you carry on as you already were. But if you find the lack of professionalism unacceptable then I ask you to stand beside me in no longer supporting this company as long as Ralek is behind it.
Ralek, you shouldn’t hold another event if you don’t have the money to pay for the previous events obligations. Schemes like this are illegal.
Below are the emails Agazarm received from Ralek Gracie and from his lawyer (posted on Agazarm Instagram):
