Kron at Real Fight Championship. Photo: Kinya Hashimoto/Jiu-Jitsu nerd
It was only natural that the event who intends to be Pride FC’s sequel signed the son of Rickson Gracie, the man who starred Pride’s first events.
Rizin Fighting Federation announced this Monday that Kron Gracie is under contract and his first fight will be against Asen Yamamoto at the New Year’s Eve event.
Rickson was present at the announcement in Tokyo and said a few words about the opportunity for his son: “I would like to thank Mr. Sakakibara for giving me, Kron and the Gracie family to participate with Rizin. And I am very happy that Kron was given an opportunity to fight Asen. Kron is training hard and is in great shape so he will bring 100% to the ring. This fight will be a fight that will determine the future of MMA. The modern MMA rules take away the Bushido Spirit from the fighters by their short rounds and point system. And the cage becomes the 3rd element and takes away from realistic fighting situation. But Rizin will bring back the longer rounds and the ring with ropes. This will emphasize the fighters to finish which will bring back the true warrior spirit to the fighters and I am very happy for that.”
Kron could not go to Japan, but a life size cardboard of him posed for pictures besides Asen.
Asen, who is the nephew of MMA legend Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, was there and had this to say about the match up: “Spectators may just think that this is a fight between two families, but for me, I don’t want to lose as a Japanese fighter, so my plan is to beat him up and get my hand raised.”
Kron sent a video message for the event: “Asen is a tough wrestler, he’s a young up and coming kid. Kind of like me. But the opponent really doesn’t matter, because my opponent is always the same, which is my mind.”
Asen will be making his MMA on December 31.
Kron Gracie fought once at Real Fight Championship, on Dec. 23, 2014, when he beat Hyung Soo Kim via armbar on the first round.
