Rolles Gracie will return to action on April 17 at Ring of Combat XXIV at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The son of Rolls Gracie's previous and only mixed martial arts fight was for his cousin Renzo's New York Pitbulls team in IFL Team Championship Final in September 2007 when he submitted Sam Halloway with a rear naked choke in first round's 1:49.

Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and won a silver medal at the 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships in the over 99 kg division. His compatriot, UFC veteran Fabricio Werdum, came in first place.

On April 17, Gracie (1-0) will take on the promotion's 2007 "Beast of the Northeast" Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Ricardo Romero (6-1) in a heavyweight bout.

Ring of Combat XXIV also features "The Ultimate Fighter" competitor Dante Rivera and UFC veteran Sean Salmon.

29.01.2009
Master Helio Gracie (1913-2009)
Jiu-Jitsu loses its icon

It is with great sadness that GRACIEMAG.com announces the passing of Grandmaster Helio Gracie. At 95 years of age, the great icon and one of those most responsible for Jiu-Jitsu's success in Brazil and the world died this morning, at Beneficencia Portuguesa Hospital, in Petropolis, mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.

"I created a flag from the sport's dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood," said the Professor, as his last worlds.

The Master will be buried this Thursday afternoon, at 5 pm, at the Chapel of the Petropolis municipal cemetery.

Helio Gracie's last public appearance occurred in December of last year, during a belt-promotion ceremony held by Gracie Humaita at the Guanabara Yacht Club.

In October, Helio Gracie celebrated his 95th birthday at the Gracie Humaita academy, in Rio de Janeiro. Click here to see how the party went.

In one of his most famous interviews, published in the special 100th issue of GRACIEMAG, the professor had declared: "I've already told my sons that when I die I want there to be a party. No drinking, no debauchery."

All workers at Gracie Publishing, the company responsible for GRACIEMAG, NOCAUTE and GRACIEMAG.com are in mourning and express their condolences and sadness to the bereaved family, his wife Vera, sons Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Rolker, Royler, Royce, Rherica, Robin and Ricci.

We will be back with more information shortly.

Source: GRACIEMAG.com

Dojo Fightgear sent out the following press release today:

Dojo Fightgear, the Official Sponsor for Ultimate Womens Combat!

Dojo Fightgear Inc, based in Oxnard, California is pleased to announce the release of our Series 2 collection of Mixed Martial Arts apparel. Along with being an official sponsor for the TV reality show Fight School, based in Lakewood, CA. Dojo Fightgear is also pleased to announce the proud sponsorship of a NEW Reality Show called Ultimate Women's Combat. This show will be hosted by none other than the MMA Legend Bas Rutten and the world's sexiest supermodel Joanna Krupa. The coaches selected for this groundbreaking show will be Cesar Gracie from the world famous Gracie Family, MMA sensations Tara LaRosa and Dr. Rosie Sexton. The show will cover the fastest growing sport and will mainly focus on showcasing the skills of Women's Mixed Martial Arts! In conjunction with Lyle Howry Productions, Ultimate Womens Combat along with Dojo Fightgear will be televised on a major network channel. So check us out www.dojofightgear.com for the latest news and apparel!.

Dojo Fightgear Inc. is a Mixed Martial Arts apparel company that supports the hard work and dedication that these Mixed Martial Artist's display in and out of the ring. We focus on discipline, determination and dedication. We believe that anything in life can be achieved and support the individuals that display this type of work ethic.

Representatives from the State Council on the Rights of the Human Person (Condepe) have asked São Paulo's secretary of public security to investigate the death of Ryan Gracie.

Gracie was arrested last Friday afternoon and charged with car theft and the attempted theft of a motorcycle. The same day he went through an examination of evidence in the Medical Legal Institute.

Called by the family, psychiatrist Sabino de Farias Ferreira Neto accompanied the fighter and took a urine sample, which indicated the presence of drugs in Gracie's body. The doctor said he provided at least six types of medication. Gracie, who was alone in his cell, was found dead Saturday around 8 a.m.

The Condepe questioned the procedure of the police to allow a doctor to monitor the fighter at the station. The Gracie family has said it will inquire about the doctor and the State over the death.

"Doctor Sabino is crazy, a murderer," Flávia Gracie, sister of the fighter, said in statements to the Brazilian press. "I told him to stop giving medicine to my brother. He said it was to prevent Ryan from being aggressive at the station. I argued that too much medicine would hurt, and the doctor replied that any remedy hurt, even aspirin."

"Ryan, although wrong, had to be arrested and charged for crimes," said Robson Gracie, Ryan's father. "But his death is another thing. I will inquire about that quack doctor."

Neto denied that the cocktail of drugs he gave Gracie is responsible for his death. "As I told a colleague, the dose that was applied was so little," he said. "I have the greatest regret for what happened, but I fought against this with all I know."

Neto said he understands the pain of the family when they announced that they would inquire about him. "It is a right of anyone," he said. "I understand and respect the emotional experience for them at this time."

The Condepe also wants to investigate the conduct of police and the Medical Legal Institute because Gracie was not taken to an emergency room, even though he had "suffered blows to the head and was under the influence of drugs."

Gracie was buried Sunday in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 33. He was wearing a gi and his black belt. Several family members attended, including his parents, Robson and Vera; his brothers Renzo, Ralph and Flávia; his cousins Royler and Kyra; and Murilo Bustamante, Vinicius Magalhaes and Roberto "Gordo" Correa.

"For those left behind is much worse than for those who go away," Royler Gracie told the Tatame Web site. "I am sure that Ryan, like Carlson, like all others who have died in the family, are well now, are resting, are reposing. Those who are here will suffer a bit more to continue this, our everyday war. It is the time of rest for the warrior."

A report on the cause of death should be ready in 30 days. One possibility doctors have suggested is cardio-respiratory failure due to a cocaine overdose. The police will also investigate whether the use of drugs combined with medication may have caused the death.

Taken from: sherdog.com

Ryan Gracie was found dead Saturday in a jail cell at the 91st police station, in Vila Leopoldina, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 33-year-old Gracie, who fought as a mixed martial artist exclusively for the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships and was the brother of Renzo Gracie, was arrested on Friday for stealing a car and trying to steal a bike. The fighter had been transported to the station after a toxicological examination held in the Medical Legal Institute. According to the Secretary of Public Security, the body of Gracie was found around 7 a.m. when police were checking the cells of prisoners. Gracie was alone and was found fallen into a corner. Experts of the Medical Legal Institute could not be reached Saturday to make the necessary examinations and direct the body of the fighter to the institute. According to his lawyer, Rodrigo Souto, the cause of death has not been disclosed by police. Gracie was 5-2 as a mixed martial artist. After starting 1-2, including a decision loss to Kazushi Sakuraba in December 2000, Gracie went 4-0. His last win -- and fight -- came on Dec. 31, 2004, when he defeated Yoji Anjo by armbar.

Taken from: sherdog.com

The Gracie family refers to the lineage of Brazilian businessman and politician Gastão Gracie. They are known as the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and for their success in mixed martial arts, vale tudo, and submission wrestling competitions. As a family, they uphold the Gracie challenge. The Gracie family heritage came from Scottish ancestors.

Gastão Gracie founded the family as it is now known in the early 1900s while living in Brazil. He befriended Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese prize fighter while assisting Japanese immigrants in their move to the country. In exchange for his friendship and hospitality, Maeda offered to teach Gracie's son Carlos the Japanese martial art Jiu-jitsu. Carlos along with his oldest son Carlson and brother Helio Gracie founded "Gracie Jiu-jitsu".

Carlos Gracie, the first Brazilian to learn jiu-jitsu, in turn taught his brother Helio Gracie. This marked the founding of what is now called "Gracie Jiu-jitsu." He founded a martial arts academy to pass on this knowledge, and taught the fighting style to his family.

The most recent family champions have been Rolls Gracie and Rickson Gracie. The most successful current active Gracie is Roger Gracie, who holds the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu World Super Heavyweight and Pan-American Open Weight titles and the ADCC heavy weight and openweight champion. The most famous member of the Gracie family may be Royce Gracie, winner of three UFC tournaments.

Taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_family