Royce (photo) will be an ambassador for Bellator. Photo: Disclosure
Bellator has officially signed another member of the UFC Hall of Fame. After Tito Ortiz e Stephan bonnar, this time it was Royce gracie who joined the organization that is considered the second largest in the world in MMA.
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Gracie will fill the role of Bellator's brand ambassador, whose role is described by the organization as “giving seminars, signing autographs and making promotional appearances, as well as helping Bellator expand internationally around the world.” In addition, the partnership also consists of creating a brand that will be launched next year.
“I have known Scott [Coker, Bellator president] for a long time and have always respected him, not only as a promoter but also as a martial artist, who has always treated fighters with respect and understands their value. Bellator wants to give fans exciting fights and allow fighters to grow, and that's something I want to be a part of. The UFC has done a great job over the last 20 years of building the sport and taking it global, and I'm happy to have been a part of that. But Bellator is a growing organization and I'm honored to be a part of it,” explained Royce.
Gracie's debut in the role will be at Bellator 131, which will be held on November 15th and will feature fights between Tito Ortiz x Stephan bonnar e Michael chandler x Will Brooks.
Now 47 years old, Royce gracie He ended his career with a record of 14 wins, two defeats and three draws. The Brazilian remained undefeated in the first four editions of Ultimate, when the event was played as a tournament and there were no time, weight or rules limits. In the organization's first years, he won three editions and withdrew before the UFC 3 semifinals – due to a lack of physical condition to continue in the contest. Royce had his last fight as a professional in 2007, when he won a rematch against Japan's Kazushi Sakuraba, responsible for his first defeat years earlier.
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