Bruce Buffer once got into a sparring session with mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Royce Gracie – and it went exactly how you thought it did. Buffer is better known for being one of the greatest combat sports introducers of all time after his historic run with the UFC. Buffer has been announcing for the Las Vegas-based MMA promotion since 1996.
As for Gracie, he was one of the UFC’s first big-name stars, making a name for himself by dominating opponents during the early days of the promotion against opponents twice his size thanks to his jiu-jitsu ability. He has been the inspiration for many future UFC stars and champions since then.
Bruce Buffer Humbled By Royce Gracie In Sparring
Buffer was recently a guest on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast where he told the story of visiting the Gracie gym and sparring with Royce Gracie himself. Being a kickboxer himself, Buffer was challenged by Gracie to come at him with full force, and Gracie used the opportunity to take Buffer down and tap him out.
“We go to the gym, out comes this six-foot-one, six-foot skinny kid, nice kid, 20 something years old. He goes ‘Hi, my name is Royce, come with me.’ He pulls me in a room, we’re alone, the rooms are padded. He goes, ‘I understand you’re a kickboxer. Come at me, take my head off.’ There’s nobody there. But, you know, the Gracie challenge, so whatever. So I’m game, said ‘You want to put on some gloves?’ He said ‘No, let’s just do this.’ So I go – and I swear to God guys, and I’m not ashamed of this – 45 seconds later, give or take five, I’m on my back, he’s got me in a side choke, he’s choking me out, and he’s going ‘Tap, tap, tap,’ so I tap. And I’ll never forget it, he gets up in the guard, straightens out his gi and says ‘See, isn’t it nice not to get hit in the face?’ Wow.”
There’s no denying Gracie’s legendary status in UFC history. He’s the winner of the UFC 1, 2, and 4 Tournament Championships, and was the first-ever inductee into the UFC Hall Of Fame. He ended his professional MMA career back in 2016 when he defeated Ken Shamrock via first-round TKO under the Bellator MMA banner.
