Royce Gracie is one of the men that built MMA, and has a very zen-like approach when it comes to discussing the sport. In the second part of this two-part interview (the first installment being where Royce said “acting is harder than fighting”), Gracie talks about some current events in the sport, as well as some old school history.
As a brand ambassador for Bellator MMA, Royce told us he was looking forward to seeing Georgi Karakhyan fighting soon, as well as the entire upcoming “British Invasion card” in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. On the topic of Bellator, Royce felt that Quinton Jackson may have jumped the gun too quick when he recently signed with the UFC while also still having a deal with Bellator. “I’m not sure about his contract deal… but he has two fights left in Bellator. He should finish that, get rid of your contract and then move on.”
When it came to the topic of CM Punk in the UFC, Royce has a wait and see mentality about the former WWE champion. “Well, we will find out, we will find out. I mean, it’s a little different, i mean he is going to get punched in the face for real now, i know those guys they connect with each other when they slap with open hands, but this one is for real. We are going to see. He might come in and beat everybody up, not even take a punch. But if he comes in and takes a beating, we will see where his heart is at, if he wants to continue in that or just go back to the WWE.”
Gracie also gave us his thoughts on the UFC’s new deal with Reebok, and told us who his toughest opponent was in the early days of the SEG-era UFC (this answer might surprise a lot of you, and make others groan), and explained what happened during the time he left the UFC in 1995 and before he went to Pride FC to enter the Pride FC Grand Prix.
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