MMA legend to hobnob with Cebu fans today

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s fight fans and practitioners will have the chance to meet Mixed Martial Arts legend and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie up-close today during his meet-and-greet session at Bistro Ecila at the third level of the Ayala Terraces.

Gracie will hold a seminar exclusively on Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 10 a.m. at the CJRS Gym, which is located above The Loft at CJRS Point Bldg, Asiatown IT Park.

Fans will then get their chance to meet him in the afternoon at Bistro Ecila and can avail of limited edition souvenir items specially signed by the MMA master, whose visit to Cebu is part of his Royce Gracie Southeast Asia Tour 2009.

In the early to mid-1990s, Gracie shot to MMA superstardom after winning three of the first four UFC tournaments – UFC 1, 2 and 4 – against fighters significantly much bigger than him.

The six-foot one Brazilian fighter, who wowed the crowd with his intelligence, technique and fearless demeanor, once said: “I would fight the devil himself if he stepped into the Octagon.”

With these feats, Gracie not only helped propel the tournament’s popularity to incredible heights, he also revolutionized mixed martial arts, making Brazilian jiu-jitsu as one of the most respected and studied fighting styles on the planet today.

At UFC 45 in 2003, legendary status was bestowed upon the Brazilian, who became the first inductee to the UFC Hall of Fame, along with Frank Shamrock.

To this day, Gracie still holds the most number of submission victories in UFC history, with 11.

       Now, the 42-year-old Gracie, who belongs to a family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu masters, tours the world to spread his craft and to inspire both fans and practitioners of mixed martial arts. —Marigold P. Lebumfacil   (FREEMAN NEWS)