Royce Gracie, MMA founding father, Ultimate Fighting Champion and legend in the sport of mixed martial arts, is considered an icon today. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he began training in his family’s martial arts when he was 8-years-old under his father, Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. At age 16, he received his blue belt, by 18, his black belt. He was the first fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. At 18, he moved to California, teaching private lessons in his brother’s garage, sometimes 10 hours a day before opening the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California, now one of the largest Martial Arts Academies in the nation.

Gracie, now 49, is considered by UFC fans to be the most influential figure in the history of modern MMA, gained recognition for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship being the tournament winner of UFC 1, UFC 2, UFC3 and UFC 4 between 1993 and 1994. After being in semi-retirement since 200, he will be returning to the ring for an upcoming fight to challenge Ken Shamrock, where they fought to a draw in the championship match in the Superfight at UFC 5, which was the longest fight in UFC at 36 minutes. Photographed for ESPN, this is an inside look “in a day of the life of Royce Gracie” on February 10, 2016, preparing for the fight.

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14799392/shamrock-gracie-dada-5000-train-bellator-149

Photography for ESPN: Gail Fisher