MMA Classics: Gracie Challenge Fights
Long before the UFC and MMA even existed, the legendary
Gracie Challenge was one of the very earliest forms of “vale tudo” style
fighting in the US. The Gracie
Challenge was brought to the United States by the legendary Gracie Family with
the intention of proving the effectiveness and superiority of Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu over traditional martial arts.
An invitation was issued to any and all martial artists to take on a
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu representative in a no holds barred “vale tudo” style fight. In many ways, the Gracie Challenge
served as a precursor to the creation of the UFC.
In the below video, we get a rare look at some of the
original Gracie Challenge fights.
This is a huge part of MMA history and a fascinating look at how modern
day MMA got its start.
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