The complete Renzo Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba Metamoris 5 video is above. Honestly, it was a little boring, but it’s good to see these two old-timers in action again. Full results from the event are after the jump…
The complete Renzo Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba Metamoris 5 video is above. Honestly, it was a little boring, but it’s good to see these two old-timers in action again. Full results from the event are after the jump…
You gotta hand it to the folks over at Metamoris; in two short years, Ralek Gracie & Co. have managed to book some of the most intriguing Jiu-Jitsu matches outside of an ADCC tournament. Bringing guys like Chael Sonnen, Josh Barnett, and Eddie Bravo into the fold has helped the oft overlooked sport a wider audience than it has ever received, and it looks like Metamoris will continue that trend with their fifth event, which features quite possibly their best main event matchup so far.
Yesterday afternoon, the submission-only grappling promotion announced the lineup for Metamoris 5, which goes down on November 22nd, and it looks a little something like this:
Renzo Gracie vs Kazushi Sakuraba
Rory MacDonald vs J.T. Torres
Yuri Simoes vs Rafael Lovato Jr
Vinny Magalhaes vs Kevin Casey
Garry Tonon vs Zak Maxwell
Secret Match
Yes, you read that correctly: Renzo Gracie. Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba. Rory MacDonald. Vinny Magalhay-eyes. Tell them what we think of this lineup, Philip J. Fry.
As any MMA fan with even an ounce of dignity knows, the main event will serve as a rematch of sorts to Sakuraba and Gracie’s Pride 10 match, which saw Sakuraba break Gracie’s arm like a goddamn chicken wing with 17 seconds left in the second round. While both men’s MMA careers have taken something of a downswing in the time since, the heat behind this matchup should be at a fever pitch. Should Sakuraba emerge victorious, expect to see Royce Gracie get all up in his grill backstage like the true professional he is.
After the jump: Sakuraba vs. Gracie at Pride 10. UH-DOI!
You gotta hand it to the folks over at Metamoris; in two short years, Ralek Gracie & Co. have managed to book some of the most intriguing Jiu-Jitsu matches outside of an ADCC tournament. Bringing guys like Chael Sonnen, Josh Barnett, and Eddie Bravo into the fold has helped the oft overlooked sport a wider audience than it has ever received, and it looks like Metamoris will continue that trend with their fifth event, which features quite possibly their best main event matchup so far.
Yesterday afternoon, the submission-only grappling promotion announced the lineup for Metamoris 5, which goes down on November 22nd, and it looks a little something like this:
Renzo Gracie vs Kazushi Sakuraba
Rory MacDonald vs J.T. Torres
Yuri Simoes vs Rafael Lovato Jr
Vinny Magalhaes vs Kevin Casey
Garry Tonon vs Zak Maxwell
Secret Match
Yes, you read that correctly: Renzo Gracie. Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba. Rory MacDonald. Vinny Magalhay-eyes. Tell them what we think of this lineup, Philip J. Fry.
As any MMA fan with even an ounce of dignity knows, the main event will serve as a rematch of sorts to Sakuraba and Gracie’s Pride 10 match, which saw Sakuraba break Gracie’s arm like a goddamn chicken wing with 17 seconds left in the second round. While both men’s MMA careers have taken something of a downswing in the time since, the heat behind this matchup should be at a fever pitch. Should Sakuraba emerge victorious, expect to see Royce Gracie get all up in his grill backstage like the true professional he is.
After the jump: Sakuraba vs. Gracie at Pride 10. UH-DOI!
To purchase Metamoris 5 on internet stream pay-per-view, go here.
Metamoris has been getting bigger pretty consistently over the past year or so. From people who dabble in jiu-jitsu to hardcore grappling aficionados to dudes looking for some hipster fight-sport cred, the submission-only grappling showcase has developed a decent following. As it’s grown, so too has its relationship with UFC competitors looking to bridge the […]
Metamoris has been getting bigger pretty consistently over the past year or so. From people who dabble in jiu-jitsu to hardcore grappling aficionados to dudes looking for some hipster fight-sport cred, the submission-only grappling showcase has developed a decent following. As it’s grown, so too has its relationship with UFC competitors looking to bridge the […]
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has no intention to put the gloves back on at 51 years old, but high-profile grappling matches are still a legitimate possibility. Speaking on Sunday’s edition of Submission Radio, “The Natural” said he’d be interested in competing on a Metamoris card against none other than former Pride FC star […]
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has no intention to put the gloves back on at 51 years old, but high-profile grappling matches are still a legitimate possibility. Speaking on Sunday’s edition of Submission Radio, “The Natural” said he’d be interested in competing on a Metamoris card against none other than former Pride FC star […]
Former three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is still supposed to headline Metamoris 4, an unsanctioned grappling event, on Saturday, but apparently he wanted to make sure promoter Ralek Gracie had a Plan B just in case. The American Gangster reached out to friend and former training partner Randy Couture about possibly filling in for […]
Former three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is still supposed to headline Metamoris 4, an unsanctioned grappling event, on Saturday, but apparently he wanted to make sure promoter Ralek Gracie had a Plan B just in case. The American Gangster reached out to friend and former training partner Randy Couture about possibly filling in for […]
Last month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission smacked Chael Sonnen with a two-year suspension after he tested positive for a pharmacy’s worth of unapprovedsubstances, following two separate random drug tests back in May. As Sonnen and PED-apologist Ralek Gracie see it, that suspension shouldn’t stop the American Gangster from headlining a submission-grappling event in California this weekend. But according to the NSAC, it should stop him from competing, and they’re pretty upset about it.
Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter broke the news that the NSAC is attempting to prevent Sonnen from competing at Metamoris 4, scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, in Los Angeles. As Botter wrote:
“Multiple sources confirm NAC has threatened to fine Sonnen $250,000 per failed drug test violation if he competes at Metamoris. Sonnen has hired Vegas lawyer Ross Goodman to represent him in the case…Sonnen camp’s contention is that grappling is not fighting and suspension shouldn’t cover it.”
A follow-up report from MMAJunkie adds more details:
(Life was so much simpler then.)
Last month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission smacked Chael Sonnen with a two-year suspension after he tested positive for a pharmacy’s worth of unapprovedsubstances, following two separate random drug tests back in May. As Sonnen and PED-apologist Ralek Gracie see it, that suspension shouldn’t stop the American Gangster from headlining a submission-grappling event in California this weekend. But according to the NSAC, it should stop him from competing, and they’re pretty upset about it.
Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter broke the news that the NSAC is attempting to prevent Sonnen from competing at Metamoris 4, scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, in Los Angeles. As Botter wrote:
“Multiple sources confirm NAC has threatened to fine Sonnen $250,000 per failed drug test violation if he competes at Metamoris. Sonnen has hired Vegas lawyer Ross Goodman to represent him in the case…Sonnen camp’s contention is that grappling is not fighting and suspension shouldn’t cover it.”
A follow-up report from MMAJunkie adds more details:
A source close to the commission, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, today told MMAjunkie that the commission sent a letter to Sonnen this past week informing him that the grappling match violated the terms of his suspension, which was handed down in July after a disciplinary hearing on multiple failed drug tests at UFC 175.
In turn, Sonnen’s legal rep, Jeff Meyer, sent a response that challenged the NSAC’s definition of competing. At the time of this writing, it appears Sonnen will meet Galvao as scheduled…Although the grappling competition is not sanctioned by a state athletic commission, as it isn’t considered a combat sport in the same way as are boxing and MMA, the NSAC wants Sonnen to withdraw from the event.
The NSAC’s motivations behind this pursuit are obvious, and fairly logical. Even though submission grappling isn’t technically defined as a “combat sport” — which is bizarre, but whatever — the mere sight of Sonnen participating in any athletic competition directly after a suspension makes the Nevada commission look toothless. In other words, the NSAC needs to drop the hammer in order to send a message that their suspensions should be respected.
But how much jurisdiction does Nevada actually have to regulate what goes on in California? That question might only be settled by a long legal dispute. We’ll keep you posted…
