• UFC RIo

White undecided on Gracie for UFC Rio

ESPN staff
April 28, 2011
Royce Gracie was beaten via TKO against Matt Hughes at UFC 60 © Getty Images
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Dana White has not closed the door on the possibility of Royce Gracie fighting at UFC Rio.

Gracie, the Godfather of the UFC after winning the first ever tournament, is desperate to make one final comeback in his home country, ideally against Matt Hughes.

However, Hughes was the last man to defeat Gracie, and he did so in dominant fashion during the first round of their May 2006 encounter. That one-sided bout left a lasting impression on White, who is hugely reluctant to put on a rematch, instead setting up a clash between Hughes and Diego Sanchez.

Nevertheless, White would not rule out Gracie's return ahead of UFC 129.

"I'll tell you straight up: [Gracie] thinks that his performance against Matt Hughes wasn't what it could have been and thinks he can beat Matt Hughes," White revealed. "He wants that fight again.

"Who am I to say? There's times when I step in - for instance, like Chuck Liddell - and I say, 'Chuck, I think you should retire'. Do I think Royce Gracie [should fight again]? I don't know. He didn't look too damn good against Matt the first time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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