Rivalry · 3 recorded meetings
Head-to-head record
1
Roger
2
Ronaldo
Did you know?
- All 3 of their recorded meetings were finals, and Jacare took 2 of them to Roger Gracie's 1.
- Both of Jacare's wins in the rivalry came by points, while Gracie's only win came no-gi at the 2005 ADCC World Championship.
- Gracie finished 75% of his recorded wins by submission compared to 36% for Jacare, a gap that shows in a rivalry decided on points rather than finishes.
- They faced common opponents including Robert Drysdale, Marcelo Garcia, Demian Maia Baptista, and Saulo Ribeiro.
- Their meetings bookend a full decade, from 2005 all the way to 2015.
The rivalry
Roger Gracie and Ronaldo Jacare Souza met 3 times on record, all in finals, and Jacare holds the edge at 2 wins to 1. What stands out is that both of Jacare's wins came on points at the 2005 IBJJF World Championship and again at the 2015 IBJJF World Championship, both in the gi. Gracie's lone win came at the 2005 ADCC World Championship final, no-gi. So the pattern is clear: in the gi, on points, Jacare found a way past him, while Gracie took the no-gi meeting.
Their games sit at different ends of the spectrum. Gracie built his record around finishing, with a 75% submission rate on his wins and a favorite in the Gi Choke From Back that accounts for 14 of them. Jacare wins at a similar clip overall, 83% against Roger Gracie's 86%, but he closes far fewer by submission, 36%, with the Armbar his most common finish at 3. Against a submission specialist like Gracie, Jacare's wins coming by points rather than by finish fits the profile.
The two also share several opponents, which gives some context to the level they were competing at. Both have recorded wins over Robert Drysdale, Marcelo Garcia, Demian Maia Baptista, and Saulo Ribeiro, though Jacare split his two meetings with Saulo Ribeiro at 1-1.
Career stats
| Stat | Roger | Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded matches | 80 | 30 |
| Record (W-L-D) | 69-10-1 | 25-5-0 |
| Win rate | 86% | 83% |
| Submission rate (of wins) | 75% | 36% |
| Favorite finish | Gi Choke From Back (14) | Armbar (3) |
Their matches
Ronaldo Souza def Roger Gracie
by Points · 2015 IBJJF World Championship · May 2015
Ronaldo Souza def Roger Gracie
by Points · 2005 IBJJF World Championship · May 2005
Roger Gracie def Ronaldo Souza
by Unknown · 2005 ADCC World Championship · May 2005
