Royce Gracie will be in son Khonry’s corner this Saturday at Bellator 192, when the latter makes his professional MMA debut.
Royce Gracie is a UFC Hall of Famer, a legend of mixed martial arts (not to mention BJJ), and quite frankly, part of the reason the sport as we know it today exists. Winner of the first UFC tournament, and a three-time UFC tournament winner (UFC 1, 2, and 4), the name Gracie is synonymous with MMA.
In recent years, however, Royce Gracie has transitioned from a fighter best known for his association with the UFC, to an ambassador (and fighter) for Bellator MMA. After defeating Ken Shamrock at Bellator 149 in 2016, Gracie has focused on appearances outside the cage. On Saturday night at Bellator 192, however, it’s another Gracie who will enter the cage: son Khonry.
Royce took some time out Wednesday to chat with Cageside Press about Khonry Gracie’s big debut, as well as what he’s up to these days, and whether it’s mandatory that all Gracie’s get their black belt in BJJ.
When it comes to Khonry’s fight, what emotions are the proud pop experiencing? “I understand the game, and I already told him, it doesn’t matter what happens” he told Cageside’s Gabriel Gonzalez. “It’s a fight. He trained to win, he did everything, he sacrificed the time, the discipline was perfect. But again it’s a fight, anything can happen.”
As far as his son’s training, what role did the MMA legend take?
“All of it. I was the one who set up his schedule, introduced him to the coaches and trainers” Gracie said. And he’ll be in Khonry’s corner on Saturday. In fact, it’ll be an all-Gracie affair.
On what Khonry will bring Saturday, in his pro debut (after winning his first amateur bout), Royce told us that “Preparation was good. He did a lot of jiu-jitsu, that’s in the blood, but he’s been training some standup, working hard with Freddie Roach.”
“He did some wrestling with Mark Munoz at King’s MMA” he continued. “Conditioning, we got the best guy in the game, James Strom, he used to be the UFC strength coach, so the guy knows what he’s doing. I’ve been with him the last 17, 18 years. That’s endurance – the name of the game.”
On a lighter note, is it mandatory that all Gracie family members earn their black belts? “Yes” Royce said with a smile. Somewhat more serious, he added that “you don’t have to be a black belt, but I tell my kids the same thing: you don’t have to be a fighter, you don’t have to teach jiu-jitsu, but you have to know, because you’re my son. People will challenge you on that.”
Royce Gracie’s son Khonry will see his first challenge as a professional at Bellator 192 on Saturday when he takes on Devon Brock. Brock will also be making his professional debut. The bout airs as part of the night’s preliminary bouts, airing free on bellator.com
Check out our full chat with the legendary Royce Gracie below!
