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.

Wanderlei against Hidehiko Yoshida in Pride. Photo: Susumu Nagao.

Wanderlei Silva really will be facing Yoshihiro Akiyama in his next fight, at UFC 116, says Fighters Only website.

The matchup is set for July 3, the day Silva turns 34 years old.

Nicknamed “Sexyama” for his appearances on the catwalks of Japan, the eminent judoka has only lost once in 16 MMA fights, with two No Contests. In 2005, in his second fight, he was knocked out by France’s Jerome LeBanner.

Since then he has submitted Melvin Manhoef, knocked out Denis Kang and built a solid record. Solid but perfectly suited to the likings of Wanderlei, a knockout-crazy slugger dying to notch some wins and salivating about the prospect of facing a fighter like Akiyama, who made his name in the Japanese ring once Wand’s playground.

Wand has faced judo stars Shungo Oyama, Hidehiko Yoshida (twice) and Kazuhiro Nakamura, but has never lost to a judoka, or to a Japanese fighter. A perfect matchup for the careers of both fighters. Or at least the winner.