About Ryan Gracie
Lived 1974 – 2007 (aged 33). Ryan Gracie was a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter.
Ryan Gracie (August 13, 1974 – December 15, 2007) was a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was a member of the Gracie family and a grandson of Carlos Gracie.
Career Ryan trained with his brothers, Renzo Gracie and Ralph Gracie; the latter often served as his cornerman. He also trained Pancrase fighter Gabriel Vella and jiu-jitsu world champion Fabio Leopoldo while in Brazil. In interviews in 2004, Gracie expressed a strong interest in fighting Kazushi Sakuraba and Hidehiko Yoshida. Sakuraba, known as the "Gracie Hunter" for his many victories over the Gracie family, defeated Ryan earlier with a decision win in 2000.
Ryan was the leader and head coach of Gracie São Paulo, one of the largest jiu-jitsu associations in Brazil, with affiliated schools spread over the world. Supported by his cousins Carlos Russo, Daniel Simões, and Renzo Gracie, the academy is home to several world champions.
Personal life He was the youngest son of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Master Robson Gracie. On December 8, 2001, his only son, Rayron Gracie, was born. Ryan's brothers are Charles Gracie, Renzo Gracie, and Ralph Gracie.
On January 30, 2021, Ryan's son, Rayron, released a short documentary titled Letters to my Father, which reveals his experiences growing up without his father through a series of letters he decided to write to Ryan throughout his teenage years.
In October 2005, Gracie suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the leg while reaching into a closet in his sister's house in Rio de Janeiro, according to a report by GracieMag.com. He was hospitalized and returned to stable condition after receiving a blood transfusion.
Death On December 15, 2007, at 7:00 A.M., Ryan Gracie was found dead in a jail cell in São Paulo, Brazil. At approximately 1:30 A.M. that day, Gracie had been arrested for stealing and crashing a car and attempting to hijack a motorcycle. The owner of the motorcycle hit Gracie on the head, and Gracie was detained by several cyclists until police arrived. A toxicological examination at the Medical Legal Institute was conducted, after which Gracie was transported to the police station. While in jail, Gracie's wife called psychiatrist Dr. Sabino Ferreira de Faria to attend to him. The psychiatrist was later accused of medical negligence by over prescribing medication and causing Gracie's death. Ferreira was later sentenced to two years of community service for recklessness. The doctor was with Gracie most of the night, and was notified of Ryan Gracie's death as he was driving home. Gracie was found alone and slumped into a corner when police were doing a routine check of the jail cells.
Mixed martial arts record Win
Yoji Anjo Submission (armbar) PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Saitama, Japan Win
Ikuhisa Minowa Decision (split) PRIDE Bushido 3
Yokohama, Japan Win
Kazuhiro Hamanaka KO (soccer kicks) PRIDE Bushido 1
Saitama, Japan Win
Shungo Oyama Technical Submission (armbar) PRIDE 22
Nagoya, Japan Loss
Tokimitsu Ishizawa TKO (injury) PRIDE 15
Saitama, Japan Loss
Kazushi Sakuraba Decision (unanimous) Pride 12 - Cold Fury
Saitama, Japan Win
Tokimitsu Ishizawa KO (punches) Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors
Tokorozawa, Japan
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Important facts
People in Ryan Gracie's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ryan Gracie's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ryan Gracie?
Brazilian martial artist (1974-2007)
When was Ryan Gracie born?
Ryan Gracie was born on 14 August 1974 in Rio de Janeiro.
When did Ryan Gracie die?
Ryan Gracie died on 15 December 2007 in São Paulo.
What was Ryan Gracie's occupation?
Ryan Gracie was a mixed martial arts fighter.
What nationality was Ryan Gracie?
Ryan Gracie was Brazilian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ryan Gracie. https://biography.guide/ryan-gracie/
MLA: "Ryan Gracie." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ryan-gracie/.
Chicago: "Ryan Gracie." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ryan-gracie/.
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