There is no family in the world of martial arts that has achieved greater renown than the Gracie Clan. Royce Gracie's exploits at UFC 1 are forever immortalized as part of MMA lore. In pursuit of the supposed best martial art in the world, the first UFC event instead uncovered what was then a relative unknown compared to the likes of Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, and more.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, at times called Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, revealed so advanced a grappling system that suddenly, the world of unarmed combat realized it had much to learn. With Royce's shadow looming over them, other Gracies dabbled in MMA, at times achieving success throughout the years. Some Gracies, though, clung to tradition, competing in grappling-only tournaments.
10 Did: Neiman Gracie
Although the Gracies first became MMA royalty by introducing the world to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the first UFC tournaments, Neiman Gracie broke the mold by plying his trade in the UFC's only major North American rival; Bellator.
Following his first two fights, Neiman fought his next twelve for Bellator, finding success and amassing an 11-3 record.
9 Didn't: Rener Gracie
More of a traditionalist than the Gracies who choose to pursue careers in MMA, Rener Gracie devoted his time to becoming a chief Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor at the Gracie University. Known as a popularizer of BJJ due to his online videos illustrating the martial art's effectiveness in self-defense, Rener is more focused on teaching than competition.
Still, his competitive history, albeit short as it lasted only a year, showcased his exceptional skill. While he placed 3rd at the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, he was the winner of the Southern California Pro-Arm Invitational.
8 Did: Kron Gracie
The owner of black belts in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kron Gracie is a submission ace whose quick grappling instincts enable him to force his foes into poor positions from which he can fish for his favorite rear-naked choke.
While he once sported a perfect 5-0 record, all submission finishes with the latest coming in the 2nd round, his recent UFC bout against Cub Swanson added a blemish to his record; a unanimous decision loss owed largely to his bizarre choice to strike with Swanson instead of grapple. Now 5-1, Kron has not fought since 2019.
7 Didn't: Relson Gracie
Older brother to Royce Gracie, Relson's decision not to fight professionally in MMA might have baffled many given his younger brother's initial UFC success. Much was made of the rule change in the sport, as the Gracie Clan claimed it no longer permitted some of Relson's favored techniques.
Still, despite his lack of professional MMA fighting experience, he played a part in prepping Royce for the latter's first four UFC tournaments, training him to success as Royce won the first three of the UFC's four tournaments.
6 Did: Renzo Gracie
While Renzo fought in many a promotion, including the UFC, he is best known for his surprisingly sportsmanlike conduct in the aftermath of his bout with Japanese MMA legend, Kazushi Sakuraba. Succumbing to a kimura lock, Renzo lost the fight, yet upon taking the microphone for his post-fight interview, was complimentary of Sakuraba; behavior considered uncharacteristic of the extremely proud Gracie Family.
Unfortunately, this conduct was but a blip in the radar, as when Renzo later fought Shungo Oyama, he gave in to his frustrations by spitting on his foe. He then capped the night off by complaining that he felt the unanimous decision loss he suffered came only because of his decision to spit on Oyama.
5 Didn't: Kyra Gracie
Instead of pursuing a career in MMA, Kyra Gracie made the decision to focus her abilities purely on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The decision yielded enormous success as Kyra went on to become a world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom, earning gold medals in all but one tournament; the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in which she earned a silver medal.
Kyra has since retired from competition, becoming an instructor at the Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Adventure Camp with the intention of tying her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons to a larger, more international audience.
4 Did: Royler Gracie
A 7th degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Royler is one of the martial art's most highly skilled practitioners. In the world of grappling, he is best known for his feud with Eddie Bravo, to whom he lost at the 2003 ADCC tournament. A rematch followed which saw Bravo attempt multiple submissions on his way to a draw.
Royler, however, is better known for being the first Gracie to face Kazushi "the Gracie Killer" Sakuraba. In an MMA bout that has since become part of mixed martial arts folklore, Royler was brutalized by Sakuraba's kicks before finally being submitted with a kimura lock in what was the first Gracie loss in several decades.
3 Didn't: Carley Gracie
Despite being one of the very few Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to have earned a 9th degree red belt and being touted as one of the most technically gifted grapplers of the Gracie Clan, Carley never competed in professional MMA. The closest he came to doing so was his title run in Vale Tudo.
Instead, Carley focused his energies on teaching the martial art his family founded. He journeyed across the United States, taking part in challenge matches while teaching along the way.
2 Did: Royce Gracie
No Gracie is more famous in the world of MMA than Royce. Behind the visage of an unassuming man in a white gi, Royce Gracie shocked the martial arts world in the early 90s by besting men of much greater size en route to becoming the tournament winner.
While his legacy as a legend and pioneer of the sport lives on, his decision to fight long past his prime brought into question his lasting memory in a sport he helped introduce to the world.
1 Didn't: Clark Gracie
An American member of the Gracie Clan, Clark is a 3rd degree black belt under Carley Gracie. While he is an active Brazilian Jiu-Jits competitor, he often travels the world teaching the martial art.
Furthermore, Clark also owns Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms—under the name Gracie Allegiance Jiu-Jitsu—based in San Diego and La Jolla.