Just hours before VFL’s “Road to Redemption” event, the promotion announced that former UFC competitor Kron Gracie has been pulled from Friday night’s main event against Tom Picciano. They claim it was due to a lack of medical clearance from the New York State Athletic Commission.
The announcement was posted via Instagram stories on December 11, 2025. It stated that Kron would not compete on Friday and that the grappler had not received medical clearance from NYSAC. According to VFL CEO Dan Anderson‘s statement, the promotion expressed appreciation for fan patience and support during the matter. They promised to have Kron reappear to compete in the new year.
The revised main event will now feature TJ Brown versus Dylan Mantello. The co-main event shifts to Ashiek Ajim versus Daniel Lacerda.
Shortly after the announcement, Gracie took to social media to express his frustration with the situation. The 37-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon revealed he was ready and able to compete. He claimed to be cleared to compete with all his doctors.
“I’m cleared to fight with all my doctors! NYSAC has been very difficult in many ways! I am very ready and able to fight! I appreciate all my fans and friends who came out, I trained for 5 months and spent alot of money on this camp, this sucks,”
Gracie wrote on his Instagram story.
The cancellation marks yet another setback for the Gracie family heir. He was looking to rebound from a difficult UFC tenure. After being released from the UFC earlier this year following a 1-3 record that included three consecutive losses, the VFL bout represented his opportunity for redemption on the regional circuit.
Gracie‘s last appearance came at UFC 310 in December 2024. He was knocked out by Bryce Mitchell in the third round. The loss combined with his controversial guard-pulling strategy throughout his UFC run led to his release from the promotion five months later.
NYSAC requires the following tests:
The December 12th title bout at Terminal 5 in New York City was supposed to mark Gracie‘s return to competition after nearly a year away from the cage. The bout carried special significance as it would have crowned the inaugural VFL featherweight champion.
The nature of NYSAC’s medical concerns remains unclear. Neither the commission nor Gracie‘s team has elaborated on the specific reasons for the denial of clearance. NYSAC is known for its stringent medical requirements for professional competitors. This includes comprehensive pre-bout medical examinations, neurological assessments and various health screenings.
For Gracie, this represents yet another frustration in what has been a challenging period of his career. Despite training for five months and making significant financial investments in the camp, he now finds himself on the sidelines once again.
VFL has indicated that they plan to reschedule Gracie‘s bout for early 2026.
Tom Picciano, who was preparing to face Gracie for the vacant VFL featherweight title, will now have to wait for his championship opportunity.
