It has been a few years since ADCC champ and BJJ black belt Kyra Gracie stated she would be making the transition to MMA, and it may be at least a year before she does.
The multiple time BJJ champ told Tatame.com that she is still working on her striking, and although a her MMA career will eventually happen, it will take some time.
“At the moment I’m training. Boxing I added to my routine, with Claudio Coelho, and always focus on Jiu-Jitsu, which is my root.” Gracie stated to Tatme. “The growth of MMA makes me think about it every day. I am studying the proposals and seeing with my coaches the best time for this transition. The interest has not diminished at all.”
“I have to take one step at a time..In this sport, I’m still a white belt.”
When asked about the Strikeforce champ Ronda Rousey, Gracie had nothing but great things to say.
“She’s pretty sharp with an armbar. It is to be congratulated. I think she is representing the woman very well in MMA. She comes from a very good track record in Judo and has adapted his routine very well to MMA. Every fight is a great evolution in the technical part of the ground and standing.”
“She is training Jiu-Jitsu with my cousin Cesar in San Francisco (USA), I see that is evolving every day.”
As for a possible match with Rousey in the future?
“I have a very good defense to armbar (laughs). I have already put it to the test.”
“Submission is my specialty.”
Gracie also commented about an appending match with Rousey and Cris “Cyborg” Santos.
“I think Cris is more complete because it has a very good standup and is evolving much on the ground, after already twice champion and world (Jiu-Jitsu) in purple,” obsevered Gracie. “Ronda is an Olympic athlete trains since childhood and used to all the suffering of the training.”
“I want to go watch. Difficult to predict a score because fight is a fight.”
