Issue 109
December 2013
Muay Thai coach Jamie Crowder wraps Neiman Gracie’s hands backstage ahead of the 24-year-old’s pro debut at World Series of Fighting 5.
When you’re a member of the famous grappling Gracie family you don’t get the chance to make a quiet first venture into fight sports. And clearly it was no different for the Renzo Gracie-trained Neiman, who stepped into his inaugural professional contest on the preliminary card of a WSOF event televised into millions of homes.
But if Neiman (son of Robson) had any nerves you wouldn’t have noticed with his first-round ‘W’ over Darren Costa. How did he win? How else? Submission. Armbar, to be exact. And he was the only one of three Gracies to have his hand raised on the night. Beginner’s luck, or the sign of things to come?
Date: September 2013
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey
