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

The cancellation of the World Extreme Championship 39 main event between champion Carlos Condit and challenger Brock Larson could mark the end of the welterweight division in the WEC.

Condit (22-4) suffered a sprained wrist serious enough that he has pulled out of his scheduled title defense at WEC 39 on March 1 in Corpus Christi, Texas. In their first meeting in August 2007, Condit submitted Larson (24-2) with an armbar in two minutes and 21 seconds.

But the bigger news is that the WEC will wipe out the welterweight division and move the top fighters in the division to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Condit could be transferred to the UFC as soon as April 1 at UFC Fight Night 18.

The welterweight division is the WEC's heaviest weight class. The promotion last month phased out the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. The removal of the welterweight division will leave lightweight as the only division remaining in both the WEC and the UFC.

Affliction: Day of Reckoning came to us all live on January 24, 2009 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Here are the results for the event:

Main Card

• WAMMA Heavyweight Championship: Fedor Emelianenko def. Andrei Arlovski by KO (punch) at 3:14 of Round 1 to retain the WAMMA Heavyweight Title

• Heavyweight bout: Josh Barnett def. Gilbert Yvel by submission (strikes) at 3:05 of Round 3

• Middleweight bout: Vitor Belfort def. Matt Lindland by KO (punches) at 0:37 of Round 1

• Light Heavyweight bout: Renato Sobral def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou by submission (brabo choke) at 2:37 of Round 2

• Heavyweight bout: Paul Buentello def. Kirill Sidelnikov by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 4:18 of Round 3

• Lightweight bout: Dan Lauzon def. Bobby Green by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:55 of Round 1

HDNet Matches/Undercard

• Light Heavyweight bout: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO (knee and punches) at 4:26 of Round 2

• Featherweight bout: LC Davis def. Bao Quach by unanimous decision

• Featherweight bout: Albert Rios def. Antonio Duarte by unanimous decision

• Welterweight bout: Brett Cooper def. Patrick Speight by TKO (punches) at 4:39 of Round 2

• Welterweight bout: Jay Hieron def. Jason High by TKO (punches) at 1:04 of Round 1