Daniel Gracie announced as first fighter in Bellator's light heavyweight tournament

The Gracie lineage is a long and proud name, passed on from generation to generation.

Royce Gracie first popularized his family’s name with resounding tournament victories in the early days of the sport, as he was heralded as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s champion on three separate occasions.

Now after some years later, there’s a Gracie that has left his mark in nearly every major promotion around the world, and now Daniel Gracie is no different.

Daniel Gracie, an IFL and PRIDE veteran entered the world of mixed martial arts in 2002 with only his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to defend himself in a new and foreign sport. Gracie exited MMA in 2006 after a TKO loss to the hands of fellow Brazilian Allan Goes in the now defunct IFL promotion. Daniel vowed his return, and this past November return he did as he was able to submit Martin Wojcik by rear-naked choke, marking his fifth win as a professional mixed martial artist.

The win his second in his last three fights, bringing his career total to 5-2-1, with his lone losses coming to the hands of the aforementioned Goes and Japanese Judoke, Kazuhiro Nakamura.

His victory over Mojcik marked the Brazilian’s first venture into the 205-pound division after an entire career spent in the heavyweight class.

The acquisition of Gracie entering the light heavyweight tournament is big for Bellator Fighting Championship, and sure enough Daniel should be an early favorite heading into the 205-pound field due to his experience in the sport, however no other participant’s have been mentioned for the light heavyweight tournament.

The tourney is the first in the promotion’s history to feature a light heavyweight class and as such, the winner will be crowned as the promotion’s first inaugural champion.