Ralph Gracie, a mixed martial artist and owner of several Brazilian jiu-jitsu training centers in Northern California, was indicted Friday by an Orange County grand jury after fleeing to Brazil following an alleged assault last year in Anaheim.
Gracie, 39, of Danville, is accused of attacking a fellow MMA fighter during a tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center on Dec. 15, 2018, allegedly knocking out five-time jiu-jitsu champion Flavio Almeida’s front teeth.
In the accompanying video, he is initially seen on the left of frame facing an opponent.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said the assault took place on the sidelines of the 2018 Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championships as Almeida coached one of his athletes during a match.
Investigators said a student of Gracie’s, Lincoln Pereira, joined in on the assault. Pereira later plead guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 80 days in jail for time served.
Gracie, a fifth-degree black belt who owns four training academies in Northern California, including one in Walnut Creek, fled to Brazil. A warrant was issued for his arrest in April.
On Friday, he was indicted by an Orange County grand jury on one count of felony assault with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.
Who would have guessed?
How many martials are they going to send to get that guy?
Yikes.