De La Riva against Yuki Nakai, in one of his last performances in a gi, in Japan
“How can I say no to an invitation like that?” replied Renzo Gracie, 43, in his usual exhuberant manner, upon receiving the call inviting him to to take part in a match against Ricardo De La Riva, 45.
That’s how two legends of the martial arts candidly agreed to face off – a rematch to mark the creator of the De La Riva guard’s farewell to sport Jiu-Jitsu.
The dream matchup is being planned for October 16, a Sunday, in Rio de Janeiro. The venue for the event is none other than the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, the very stage where Ricardo’s late master and Renzo’s uncle, Grandmaster Carlson Gracie, used to fight.
