Royce Gracie Says His Issue with Eddie Bravo is His Drug Use, Not His Jiu-Jitsu or Family Feud

Following his recent draw in a grappling rematch with Royler Gracie, Eddie Bravo faced a backstage confrontation with Royler’s brother, the legendary Royce Gracie.

Royce is widely respected in the MMA community because of his family’s contributions through jiu-jitsu, and also because he was the original dominator of the old-school UFC one-night tournament format, winning three of the first four tournaments.

So when Royce tracked down Bravo after the latter’s grappling match with his brother, everyone wanted the lowdown on the showdown.

Royce initially said on The MMA Hour, “I told him that I liked what he said after the fight, but didn’t like the fact that he always talked trash about Royler and my family. He stood up and started yelling, so I also raised the tone of my voice and told him I didn’t like it.”

Royce was recently a guest on Australia’s Submission Radio, however, and explained that his confrontation with Bravo had little to do with grappling or family, but stemmed more from his disrespect for Bravo’s endorsement of the recreational use of marijuana.

“I did what every man should do when he has an issue with a person, talk face to face,” said Royce. “I don’t approve what he represents. You see, it’s nothing to do with the match with Royler. It’s nothing to do with what with his jiu-jitsu. It’s what he endorses; I don’t approve it. It’s disrespectful toward the art of what my father created. We teach kids, so I don’t endorse alcohol and I don’t endorse drugs.”

While most people seemed to think that Royce’s confrontation was perhaps sour grapes because his brother was unable to avenge a loss to Bravo that stemmed back to 2003, Royce now is putting taking umbrage with Bravo being a jiu-jitsu practitioner and instructor that endorses drug use.

“My issue with him is simple. I don’t like him because he endorses (drugs). It’s nothing to do with (which) jiu-jitsu he uses, gi (or) no gi, it’s because of what he endorses. We teach kids. His message out there is ‘it’s ok for you to do drugs’,” Royce declared.

“I don’t care (if) you say it was prescription drugs, well get a pound of pot and walk into a police station. You gonna get arrested.

“Once the guy endorses pot and endorses drinking, to me that’s wrong because I have kids too. I don’t want my kids involved with pot and I don’t want my kids drinking and I did what every man should do if you have a problem, talk face to face with the person.

“What did he do? (Eddie Bravo) went to the Internet saying ‘Oh my God, I saw Royce trying to kick my ass, ohhh he wants to beat me up, poor me’.”