Gracie: I have nothing to prove [in rematch with Bravo]
Royler Gracie: “Well, I don’t think I need to prove nothing. I’m more than happy to be there and I’ve trained well. I do my homework like everybody else.”
This weekend grappling legend Royler Gracie will rematch Eddie Bravo, a match ten years in the making since Bravo defeated Gracie at ADCC 2003.
That match was the first time Gracie had ever been defeated in competitive grappling and help Eddie Bravo launch himself into a career.
Both are a bit older now, and neither really compete at a professional level, but the rematch has garnered a lot of interest from hard core fans and jiu-jitsu students. So much so that the live event has even sold out.
Royler Gracie believes that the match will be fun, but really he has nothing to prove in beating Eddie Bravo:
Your rematch with Eddie Bravo is a week away. How do you feel about it? Are you looking to prove something, have fun or just get it over with?
Well, I don’t think I need to prove nothing. I’m more than happy to be there and I’ve trained well. I do my homework like everybody else. You’re talking about the high-level athlete and that’s how I train my life every time I’ve been in a competition. It’s not going to be different. Be conservative. Pay attention. Go forward, but if you need to back up, you back up. And that’s how the fight’s going to be.
I think in my fight, not his fight. Make sure you have two tanks of the gas behind your back, you can go forward all day long. Yeah, just be ready. No pressure, like the old times.
People sometimes, they say, ‘Hey, Royler, man, you’re world champion. You’re going to fight again. It’s not too much?’ Hey, I have a beautiful sleep the night before and that’s amazing. I’m not worried about it. Whatever happens, it happens. If you don’t like to lose, don’t compete.
That’s my thing. Everything can happen. I know I do my best and like I said, do my homework and then I put on my money on Royler today and the day of the fight.