Letter from Royler Gracie to ADCC
From Royler Gracie:
To all my Fans.
Here is the truth regarding my potential participation in an ADCC Super Fight: I received a call from my cousin, Renzo, who told me that ADCC was interested in having me participate in their September event. I told him that it would be a pleasure for me to once again compete for the ADCC organization. Renzo said that ADCC Vice President Guy Nievens would contact me to negotiate the terms of my contract, including the purse for the match. The following day, the ADCC website reported the match and several media outlets contacted me. I stated that it would be great to once again train hard for a grappling match and that I was confident that we would be able to enter into a contract. At that point no details had been discussed nor had I even spoken with anyone from the ADCC organization regarding this match.
Guy Nievens called me several days later to negotiate the contract terms for the match. In my experience, these negotiations are always confidential. The very next day, I was shocked to learn that Mr. Nievens had disclosed certain details of our conversation to the public. Perhaps Mr. Nievens was attempting to trick me into entering into an unfair contract? Regardless of his motivation, it is deplorable that someone working for Sheik Tahnoon would, in my opinion, behave in such an unethical, unprofessional and disrespectful manner. The Sheik is a distinguished man who has been instrumental in the growth of submission wrestling throughout the world. Mr. Nievens’ actions show, in my opinion, an inability to perform his duties as VP of ADCC and unworthiness to represent the Sheik.
Everyone knows that I am a fighter. I have never shied away from a challenge. Since I was 6 years old, I have fought hundreds of matches for free, just for the love of the sport. I have fought under sport jiu-jitsu rules, judo rules, submission wrestling rules, MMA rules and many times without any rules. I have faced opponents sometimes twice my size. Cowardice is not a word in mine or my family’s vocabulary. Throughout my almost 40 year career, I achieved the pinnacle of my sport, including seven world titles. When fighting in a professional event, after years of dedication, it is only fair and appropriate for me to ask for a reasonable purse that reflects my successful career in the ring and my unimpeachable conduct as a professional athlete. Everyone who knows me understands that I will show up to any event well prepared. This entails me having to stop teaching classes and seminars for approximately two months with great financial cost to my family and me. All I am asking is for the ADCC organization to cover these expenses. I am still confident that the Abu Dhabi organization will treat me with the respect that I have earned and will come through with this match in the name of all our loyal fans and supporters
Royler Gracie
From Royler Gracie:
To all my Fans.
Here is the truth regarding my potential participation in an ADCC Super Fight: I received a call from my cousin, Renzo, who told me that ADCC was interested in having me participate in their September event. I told him that it would be a pleasure for me to once again compete for the ADCC organization. Renzo said that ADCC Vice President Guy Nievens would contact me to negotiate the terms of my contract, including the purse for the match. The following day, the ADCC website reported the match and several media outlets contacted me. I stated that it would be great to once again train hard for a grappling match and that I was confident that we would be able to enter into a contract. At that point no details had been discussed nor had I even spoken with anyone from the ADCC organization regarding this match.
Guy Nievens called me several days later to negotiate the contract terms for the match. In my experience, these negotiations are always confidential. The very next day, I was shocked to learn that Mr. Nievens had disclosed certain details of our conversation to the public. Perhaps Mr. Nievens was attempting to trick me into entering into an unfair contract? Regardless of his motivation, it is deplorable that someone working for Sheik Tahnoon would, in my opinion, behave in such an unethical, unprofessional and disrespectful manner. The Sheik is a distinguished man who has been instrumental in the growth of submission wrestling throughout the world. Mr. Nievens’ actions show, in my opinion, an inability to perform his duties as VP of ADCC and unworthiness to represent the Sheik.
Everyone knows that I am a fighter. I have never shied away from a challenge. Since I was 6 years old, I have fought hundreds of matches for free, just for the love of the sport. I have fought under sport jiu-jitsu rules, judo rules, submission wrestling rules, MMA rules and many times without any rules. I have faced opponents sometimes twice my size. Cowardice is not a word in mine or my family’s vocabulary. Throughout my almost 40 year career, I achieved the pinnacle of my sport, including seven world titles. When fighting in a professional event, after years of dedication, it is only fair and appropriate for me to ask for a reasonable purse that reflects my successful career in the ring and my unimpeachable conduct as a professional athlete. Everyone who knows me understands that I will show up to any event well prepared. This entails me having to stop teaching classes and seminars for approximately two months with great financial cost to my family and me. All I am asking is for the ADCC organization to cover these expenses. I am still confident that the Abu Dhabi organization will treat me with the respect that I have earned and will come through with this match in the name of all our loyal fans and supporters
Royler Gracie
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Royler critica braço direito do Sheik Tahnoon
Escalado para fazer a uma super luta no ADCC 2011, em uma revanche contra Eddie Bravo, Royler Gracie se demonstrou muito decepcionado com algumas atitudes do braço direito do Sheik Tahnoon. O faixa-preta não gostou quando ficou sabendo que Guy Nieves havia divulgado detalhes de sua conversa sobre a negociação da super luta. Royler ficou indignado com a situação e divulgou uma carta aberta a imprensa, que você confere abaixo na íntegra.
A todos os meus fãs,
Aqui está a verdade sobre o potencial da minha preparação para a super luta do ADCC: eu recebi uma ligação do meu primo, Renzo, que me contou que o ADCC estava interessado em me ver participando da edição de setembro do evento deles. Eu disse a ele que seria um prazer para mim competir na organização do ADCC. O Renzo disse que o vice-presidente, Guy Nieves, iria entrar em contato comigo para negociar os termos do contrato, incluindo o propósito da luta. No dia seguinte, o site do ADCC anunciou a luta e diversas outras mídias entraram em contato comigo. Eu falei que seria ótimo ter a chance de treinar fortemente Grappling de novo e que eu estava confiante de que seria capaz de firmar um contrato. Nesse momento, nenhum detalhe tinha sido discutido ou eu falado com alguém da organização do ADCC sobre essa luta.
Guy Nieves me ligou dias depois para negociar os termos do contrato para essa luta. Na minha experiência, essas negociações são confidenciais. No dia seguinte, eu fiquei chocado ao saber que o St. Nievens tinha divulgado alguns detalhes de nossa conversa para o público. Talvez o Sr. Nievens queria me botar numa cilada e me fazer assinar um contrato injusto? Independente de sua motivação, é deplorável que alguém que trabalhe para o Sheik Tahnoon agiria, em minha opinião, de uma maneira tão anti-ética, tão não profissional e desrespeitosa. O Sheik é um homem distinto que tem tido importantíssimo no crescimento do Wrestling e Submission mundo afora. As ações do Sr. Nievens mostram, em minha opinião, uma incapacidade de cumprir seus deves como vice-presidente do ADCC e desvaloriza a representação do Sheik.
Todos sabem que eu sou um lutador. Eu nunca me esquivei de um desafio. Desde que tinha 6 anos de idade, eu lutei centenas de lutas de graça, só pelo amor ao esporte. Eu lutei sob as regras do Jiu-Jitsu, do Judô, do Grappling, do MMA, e muitas vezes sem nenhuma regra. Eu já encarei adversários que eram o dobro de mim. Covardia é uma palavra que não está presente no meu dicionário e nem no da minha família. Pelos meus quase 40 anos de carreira, eu cheguei ao meu auge no esporte, inclusive tendo setes títulos mundiais. Quando eu luto em um evento profissional, depois de tantos anos de dedicação, é justo e apropriado para eu pedir uma quantia razoável, que reflita o sucesso da minha carreira e minha impecável conduta como atleta profissional. Todo mundo que me conhece, sabe que eu sempre estarei presente nos eventos bem preparado. E isso significa que eu tenho que parar de dar aulas e seminários por aproximadamente dois meses, com grande custo financeiro para a minha família e para mim. Tudo que eu estou pedindo é que a organização do ADCC cubra as minhas despesas. Eu ainda confio que a organização de Abu Dhabi vai me tratar com o devido respeito que eu mereço e que eu farei essa luta em nome de todos os nossos fãs e apoiadores,
Royler Gracie
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