UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra recently opened up about the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners who left the biggest impression on him throughout his martial arts journey.
When asked who he was most in awe of rolling with, Serra’s answer revealed deep respect for the legends who shaped his game at Renzo Gracie Academy.
“I rolled with so many amazing black belts, especially coming up at Renzo Gracie Academy,” Serra began in a video. “I’ll have to say Master Renzo Gracie because Master Renzo Gracie is someone I, he, listen that guy, we’re gonna have him in here sooner or later. I mean it’s hard to track him down, he travels more than Indiana Jones. He’s all over the world.”
Serra explained how Gracie taught him about pressure in multiple ways.
“He taught me what pressure is as far as literally not only pressure putting me in pressure. Like when he shows up at the PanAm when I’m a purple belt in Miami in 1999, he goes, ‘I came here to watch you get gold. The first place, if you get second place, congratulations, you’re the first loser.’ So that kind of pressure. But he also taught me pressure with smothering pressure, not accepting giving up position.”
The Hall of Famer went on to detail his respect for Ricardo Almeida.
“Ricardo was a big part of developing my game because he’s one of Renzo’s top black belts and he came up with me at Renzo Academy. He came over as he got his brown belt when he came over, if they winning the worlds, and he’s like a brother to me. We had so many battles that he’s one of the top guys I ever rolled with.”
Serra then highlighted a lesser-known name, Nino Schembri.
“He beat Sakuraba with a knee. His Jiu-Jitsu was very good. Nino Schembri, I believe he has a Jiu-Jitsu Academy. It’s either in Florida or somewhere tropical, either Florida or LA. But Nino Schembri is a great Jiu-Jitsu player. He was phenomenal. He was great in competition, but he was very flowy. He came down to Renzo and we rolled and he was all over me, and I had a great time with it. He’s a very humble guy.”
Finally, Serra discussed his unique relationship with John Danaher.
“I never rolled with Gordon Ryan, but I rolled with John Danaher a bunch. When I started out, John Danaher came in underneath me, so I helped teach John. I remember when John, who’s the most brilliant mind on the planet, was a big 220, 230 pound (100-104 kg) New Zealander, the guy with his hair down to his shoulders.”
“Nowadays he wears rashguards back then he wore a mesh NY Giants Jersey. That’s all he’d wear”
The relationship eventually came full circle.
“Later on, he became my coach.”
