In the early days of mixed martial arts, loyalty and honor often mattered more than financial gain. Joe Moreira recently shared a remarkable story about Kimo Leopoldo, the Huntington Beach MMA star who became known for his intense UFC 3 match against Royce Gracie. What many don’t know is that Kimo once walked away from a life-changing payday out of respect for his word.
The story begins with an unlikely alliance. After Kimo’s memorable clash with Royce Gracie— Kimo’s manager, who trained jiu-jitsu with Moreira, wanted to bring the MMA star to Moreira’s Newport Beach school. Initially, Moreira was hesitant. Training someone who had just competed against the Gracie family felt like a betrayal of jiu-jitsu itself.
Everything changed during UFC 7 in Puerto Rico. A confrontation was brewing between Alan Goes, one of Moreira’s instructors, and Tank Abbott. Goes, despite being a slim 170 pounds, had submitted Tank during a training session, embarrassing the tough-talking brawler. Tank returned with eight men, looking for revenge. When Moreira and Goes found themselves outnumbered in a hotel lobby, Kimo stepped in.
Recognizing the tense situation, Kimo and his manager stood alongside Moreira and Goes, evening the odds. Tank retreated. In that moment, a bond was formed. Grateful for Kimo’s intervention, Moreira asked what he could do to repay him. Kimo’s answer was simple: teach him Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
By Monday, Kimo was at Moreira’s school. Before training began, Moreira laid down one condition: Kimo could compete against anyone he wanted except jiu-jitsu practitioners. Moreira didn’t want to be involved in rivalries between competitors and their instructors’ families. Kimo agreed with a handshake—no contract necessary.
That handshake would cost Kimo dearly. When promoters offered him one million dollars to face Royce Gracie in a rematch, Kimo brought the contract to Moreira. His instructor’s response was measured:
“This is a good problem.”
When Kimo asked if it was really a problem, Moreira confirmed it was. Without hesitation, Kimo tore up the million-dollar contract. He wouldn’t compete against Royce.
In an era when million-dollar paydays were rare, Kimo’s decision stands as a testament to old-school values—where a man’s word meant more than money.
