MMAPredictions

Rickson Gracie, the “lion of the Gracie family” who enjoys an MMA record of eleven wins and no losses, stated that he is in negotiations to fight on New Years Eve this year while he was at the 2007 Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship in Los Angeles.

The news immediately spurred buzz around the internet debating whether another fight with Rickson Gracie was actually going to take place. Rickson has not fought in mixed martial arts since 2000 and will turn forty-nine years old this coming November. Those details, coupled with rumored returns to action for Rickson swirling for several years but not resulting in a fight has lead many to believe that this year will be no different.

Still, if Rickson’s own statement that he is in talks with MMA organizations to find a fight for New Years Eve is accurate, who will he fight? The list of appropriate opponents to chose from is not a long one. Some had suggested that Rickson would likely face Kazushi Sakuraba, who earned the nickname “Gracie Hunter” for his defeats of Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royler Gracie. However K-1 Hero’s has announced that their New Years Eve card, titled K-1 Hero’s Dynamite Fields Premium will include a fight between Sakuraba and another MMA veteran, Masa Funaki.

Another name that has been put forward as a possible opponent on New Years for Rickson Gracie is Hidehiko Yoshida. Yoshida is in his mid-forties and also has competed against Gracie brothers in the past, fighting to a draw against Royce Gracie on a 2003 New Years Eve show. With November around the corner, fans will learn soon enough whether the year of 2007 can still hold a fight with Rickson Gracie.

- Caleb

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