i've read an interview with Helio Gracie and some of what he said sounds really interesting to me. excuse my english i have to translate this from german in enlish.

Magazine: Could Rickson beat Minotauro?

Helio: Easily! Rickson and Royce would have no problems with him. My sons would never tap because of their special ground fighting technique. Maybe if they get a lucky punch but they will never tap.

M:Do you also think that they can beat Vanderlei Silva the Mike Tyson of lightheavyweight?

H: That's one and the same. The only possibility to win for Vanderlei is with a punch or kick technique. If the fight wents to the ground he wouldn't last long. He hasn't the ability to compete with Royce or Rickson on the ground. He wouldn't even beat me!!!
(Imagine Helio vs. Vanderlei very interesting hahahaha!)

Helio Gracie also said that Royce and Royler wasn't defeated by Sakuraba. Royce was the better man until he broke his feet, because he kicked Saku so many times. It was an accident Saku didn't cause the damage so Saku didn't win, he said.
About the Royler Vs. Saku fight he said: "That was a mean thing by the japanese. The contract said that the only way to win is a tap or a knockout and Royler didn't tap so it was against the rules. I would get out of that hold and it doesn't matter who is the opponent.
But Saku has earned this victory even he had luck. After that Saku was knocked out two times. I would like to challenge Saku to knock me out with a technique that didn't come from Jiu Jitsu. I would let him start from any position and he will not get it.

In Helios opinion there's a difference between losing a fight and bein defeated and he said that Royce and Royler lost the fights against Saku but they were not being defeated!

I got nothing but respect for the Gracies but they are sore losers if you know what Im sayin. Nog would beat Rickson or Royce, and everyone knows it.....

Sometime's your just not the better man that night, all you can do is give credit where cridit is do.

Originally posted by kaps
I got nothing but respect for the Gracies but they are sore losers if you know what Im sayin. Nog would beat Rickson or Royce, and everyone knows it.....

100% agreed

BTW Mitch78 good read thanks

Could not have said it better myself Kaps. Remember in PULP FICTION when Marcellus Wallace says "Pride, it doesn't help, it only hurts." That reminds me of the entire Gracie Clan, they are living off of past glory. Don't get me wrong, I love Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and MMA wouldn't be where it is today without the Gracies. But if any one of them were as good as they all claim, they would be holding a belt in some organization. They start BJJ at about the same time they learn to walk. BJJ is an incredible art, but until they realize it does not make you a complete MMA practitioner, they won't be at the top any longer. There is a new generation of Gracie's on the horizon, and only time will tell how they will fare in the MMA world. Helio, I love you to death, but get over yourself.

Reading that kind of statement from Helio makes it hard for me to maintain the level of respect I used to have for him.

I think standing up for your own is well and good but giving some credit/respect where it is due is also a sign of character and class.

If it were any other name attached to those "bold statements" ,to keep in the Pulp Ficiton reference , there would be some very harsh rebutals being made towards them.

In short the Gracies do seem to come off as sore losers.

thanks Mitch78!!! Good read for sures.

I agree with Kaps, however there is a difference between defeat and a loss, like Helio said.

Also a good interview with Helio is in the old Grappling magazine, it was a month or two ago i believe.

MMA has evolved beyond tthe gracies
they need to get over themselves

It is things said like this that make people forget how much the Gracies have done for MMA and only think of the Gracie whinge after any controversial loss.