Over two years after his assault on Flavio Almeida at No-Gi Worlds, Ralph Gracie has been sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine for his actions.
Though Gracie has publicly said little about the situation throughout the legal process, he has now released a statement ahead of the beginning of his sentence on Friday, making a point to thank Renzo Gracie for his support.
“In the Art of War, Sun Tzu wrote, “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.â€
As warriors, we must never forget this lesson. Unfortunately, this time, I chose to fight the wrong battle. Actions have consequences, and I must face them.
On Friday, I will report to jail on the shoulders of the generations of jiu-jitsu fighters before me. My body may be behind bars for a short time, but my mind will remain free.
I would like to thank Renzo (@renzograciebjj) and our jiu-jitsu family for their tremendous support. I am also very grateful to all of my students for standing with me. I wish I had handled this situation differently, because I strive to set an example for all of you. Nonetheless, you knew what is in my heart and stood by my side. With you next to me, I can never lose. And I love you for that.
I’ll be back with you soon.
Love.
Ralph“
The Jiu-Jitsu Times will continue to follow this story as it develops.
