Renzo Gracie

Status: Former ONE Athlete

Being from the first family of martial arts, it should come as no surprise that living legend and sixth-degree BJJ black belt Renzo Gracie started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu before he could walk. Along with his 11 brothers and sisters, he trained with many BJJ pioneers, but Rolls Gracie and Carlos Gracie, Jr. had a particular influence on him, with Carlos Jr. eventually awarding Renzo with his black belt.

Drawn to testing his skills in real-life situations, Gracie took part in his first cage bout in 1992, a vale tudo-rules match in Brazil. He then relocated to the United States a few years later, determined to represent the Gracie name well in the fledgeling sport of mixed martial arts. He also established his own BJJ academy in New York City – the famed Renzo Gracie Academy.

Gracie was active in mixed martial arts throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, facing an impressive list of fellow legends in organizations all around the world to great success. Along the way, he also became a two-time ADCC World Champion, and has produced several superstar World Champions in both BJJ and mixed martial arts to leave an immortal legacy.

In July 2018, he extended that legacy even further when he entered the ONE Championship Circle to fight fellow mixed martial arts icon Yuki Kondo. Despite being 51 years old, Gracie emerged victorious in this battle, as he submitted Kondo and inspired people everywhere with his extraordinary performance.