BJJ legend Renzo Gracie had his say on the UFC 196 co-main and main events on popular weekly MMA podcast, the MMA Hour, hosted by Ariel Helwani.
Renzo who gained notoriety in the MMA world when he refused to tap out to Kazushi Sakuraba and had his arm broken at Pride FC 10, feels that it definitely reflects the mentality of the fighter when they choose to tap out to a submission hold.
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He was addressing Conor McGregor’s loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, when the Irishman tapped out to a rear-naked choke and juxtaposing it to how Holly Holm passed out to Miesha Tate’s attempt of the same submission instead of tapping.
MMAfighting.com highlighted excerpts of the interview that he gave Ariel Helwani, with Renzo going on to claim that not tapping out to an opponent’s submission attempt registers as respect towards them; as an ode to the fact that they fought a “greater fight.”
Being the global icon that he was, McGregor’s loss to Diaz in the UFC 196 headliner sparked off furious debate amongst MMA circles if not tapping out was reflective of the mentality of the fighter, over his or her concern for their own safety.
Renzo Gracie’s comments may do nothing to calm the furore.
