Kron Gracie has been removed from the UFC’s active roster, marking the end of his tenure with the premier mixed martial arts organization.
The news broke on Thursday when Borrachinha Depot reported on social media that Gracie, along with Hakeem Dawodu and Connor Matthews, had been removed from the UFC’s online database, signaling their departure from the promotion.
UFC api is maintained by several accounts, which basically report on any athlete registrations in the official database.
Gracie, the son of legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Rickson Gracie and nephew of UFC pioneer Royce Gracie, leaves the organization with a 1-3 record, having lost his last three bouts in succession.
The BJJ star entered the UFC with considerable fanfare, boasting a perfect 4-0 professional record. His promotional debut in 2019 was impressive, securing a first-round submission victory over veteran Alex Caceres. However, his career trajectory took a downward turn from there.
Following his debut victory, Gracie faced Cub Swanson later that year, losing via decision but earning a “Fight of the Night” bonus for his efforts. After a lengthy four-year hiatus, he returned to the octagon in 2023 only to suffer another defeat at the hands of Charles Jourdain. His final UFC appearance came at UFC 310 last December, where he lost to Bryce Mitchell by TKO.
The Mitchell loss was particularly criticized after Gracie repeatedly pulled guard during the bout, a strategy that ultimately led to his demise as Mitchell capitalized with punishing elbows. Following the bout, Gracie admitted to his shortcomings, stating, “It was a really bad performance.”
In a candid revelation, Gracie shared that he had been instructed to rely exclusively on his family’s jiu-jitsu pedigree rather than engage in striking exchanges. “I was under strict orders to not punch, so that was a bad idea,” he confessed, highlighting what many saw as a tactical error in modern MMA competition.
His uncle, Cesar Gracie, offered a blunt assessment after the Mitchell defeat: “Never a good idea to pull guard in MMA like that. Never.”
The MMA community’s reaction to Gracie’s removal has been largely unsympathetic, with many fans expressing disappointment in his overall UFC performance. Comments on social media ranged from “Very disappointing UFC run” to more critical assessments of his MMA approach.
Some fans questioned whether Gracie should have been given another opportunity to showcase his skills, while others suggested his one-dimensional approach made his exit inevitable in today’s evolving MMA landscape.
Despite this news, Gracie appears to be in good spirits and just recently made comments regarding promotions in BJJ. He’s also actively working on his strength and conditioning which hints at involvement with CJI. Gracie was rumored to be negotiating appearance on CJI 1 last summer however things fell through.
As the last remaining Gracie in the UFC roster, Kron’s departure marks the end of an era for one of MMA’s most storied families, at least for the time being.
