https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSXu-7GIt2c
Ryan Gracie would be celebrating his 41st birthday this Friday, August 14.
The most controversial member of the family died on December 15, 2007, in a prison cell in São Paulo, Brazil, due to a mix of illegal and prescription drugs.
To celebrate the great things Ryan did on the ring, here’s a video of him getting ready to fight Shungo Oyama, at Pride 22, in 2002.
The fight was set to avenge Ryan’s brother Renzo, who’d lost to Oyama’s three months before.
In the video, you can see a “light” roll between the two brothers in NYC, during the camp for the Oyama fight.
Ryan had seven MMA fights in his career, ending his run in 2004 with a 5-2 record, with only 30 years old.
Imagine what else he could have achieved if his inner demons had not gotten the best of him.
Eight years after his passing, Ryan is still a strong presence within the Jiu-Jitsu community through the talents that emerged in his academy and also in the hands of the black belts he graduated.
