Yet more results from the world of regional MMA, featuring veterans of the UFC, Bellator, PRIDE, and Strikeforce.
In 1995, Rickson Gracie faced Shinya Aoki mentor Yuki Nakai in the finals of the World Vale Tudo Japan tournament. After six and a half minutes, Gracie forced a half-blind Nakai to submit to a rear-naked choke. In the over twenty years since, no Gracie has captured as prominent an MMA title. That changed at ONE Championship's latest event.
In the night's co-main event, Roger Gracie returned from a year and a half away from MMA competition to face the undefeated Michal Pasternak for the title of inaugural light-heavyweight champion.