Brazil siblings Gracies headline big MMC card Aug. 31

WHEN he sees action in The ONE FC: Pride of a Nation on Aug. 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Igor Gracie won’t just be concerned about  his opponent, Korean Jung Hwan-cha.

Gracie will also be a keen observer on two other fights: That of his brothers Gregor and Rolles Gracie, who are squaring off with separate foes in what is considered the biggest Mixed Martial Arts card to be staged in the country.

Gregor, a light heavyweight, faces Australian Nicholas Mann, while Rolles, a heavyweight and the eldest sibling, takes on grizzled veteran Tony Bonello of Australia.

It will mark the first time that the brothers from the revered Gracie clan from Brazil will be together in the same card and 32-year-old Igor is relishing the experience.

“People expect big things from us,” Gregor, the youngest of the three at 25, told the Inquirer after the brothers’ open workout at the Elite Gym late Friday.

“We work very hard to give them back what they expect. We push ourselves very hard to be able to represent the family very well.”

“It will be a little difficult to concentrate on their fights because I’m fighting in between them,” said Igor. “But I’m just excited over this experience that we are all fighting in the same card.”

Igor isn’t looking past Jung, whom he considers his toughest opponent yet.

“He’s very good overall and very experienced but I trained very hard for two months without injuries,” said Igor, who has won his last four fights via submission. “My last four fights have given me a lot of confidence and I’d like to keep the momentum going.”

Rolles said the crowd on Friday will be the “biggest winner” because of the star-studded fight card.

“It’s like there’s no undercard. Any fight can be a main event.” Aside from the Gracie brothers, Filipinos Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon are also fighting foreign opponents.

Rolles, who is coming off a submission win over American Bob Sapp in The ONE FC event in Jakarta last March, sees Bonelo as a tough opponent with a lot of experience.”

“I can’t plan far ahead if I don’t beat him. I want to fight for the One FC heavyweight belt,” said Rolles.

Igor would like nothing more than all Gracies winning their fights on Friday. “That would be the perfect ending for us,” said Igor.