Neiman Gracie talks move to California and fighting in his DNA
Bellator welterweight Neiman Gracie is ready to get back in the cage for the first time in six months. Gracie will be facing off against Jason Jackson at Bellator 255 on April 2. Gracie is one of the top welterweights on the Bellator roster and he is hoping that with a win over Jackson he will find himself in a title fight next. Formally based in New York, Gracie made the decision to move to California for this training camp and explained the reasons behind the relocation.
“What prompted it was the pandemic, you know,” Gracie explained. “I used to live in New York City so I think the city got a little bit too crazy with the pandemic. I have a little daughter and it was really hard raising her in that environment. I think it couldn’t be better. I chose a great place. I have a great team to train with so that’s why I moved.”
That great team he is referring to is the team at Kings MMA in Huntington Beach CA. An amazing gym with a legendary coach that is the home for many UFC and Bellator fighters. Gracie explained why he chose to train at this location.
California cross country moving companies were readily available for Gracie to make the move.
“I had trained at King’s before,” Gracie said. “Before my move, like two or three times already with Master Rafael Cordeiro. So what made me move was Master Rafael Cordeiro, he is an amazing master and coach so when I saw that I had the chance to learn from him every day, I couldn’t let that pass by.”
Neiman Gracie is of course part of the famous Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family from Brazil. He grew up around fighting and learned from some of the best the sport has ever seen. When asked if fighting is something he was born with as part of his lineage, Gracie agreed wholeheartedly.
“It is definitely in my DNA,” Gracie explained. “I think that is true when you see fighters I think it is definitely in their DNA because if we choose to do this it is because life brings us here. I see a lot of people in my family, which is a family of fighters, choosing not to be a fighter, so when I see someone wanting to be a fighter I can say that definitely he was born to do that.”
Bellator 255 will be taking place on April 2 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville CT. This event will be the first Bellator event to air live on Showtime as part of the new network deal. The event will be headlined by a featherweight bout between champion Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez.
