Martial Arts Pro Indicted After Fleeing Country: Danville, Dublin

DANVILLE, CA — A 39-year-old professional mixed martial artist from Danville who owns several Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academies in the Bay Area has been indicted by a Southern California grand jury for a felony assault on a five-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion.

Ralph Gracie — who holds a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — was indicted last week by the Orange County Grand Jury on one count of felony assault with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury on Flavio Almeida.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office alleges the December 15, 2018 attack on the world champion was unprovoked. Almeida was coaching one of his athletes from the sidelines of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championships in Anaheim when Gracie allegedly elbowed the champion in the face and knocked him unconscious. Gracie is accused of then kicking Almeida in the face at least once while he was on the ground.

Lincoln Jeferson Pereira, a student of Gracie’s, joined in the attack, striking Almeida while he was unconscious. Almeida suffered a concussion and two missing teeth as a result of the attack, prosecutors allege.

Gracie fled to Brazil after the alleged attack and a warrant was issued for his arrest in April. He failed to appear at several subsequent scheduled court hearings, according to prosecutors.

“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will continue to seek justice for victims regardless of the geographical obstacles in our way,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

A felony assault charge against Pereira was reduced to a misdemeanor; he pleaded guilty in July and was sentenced in August to 80 days time-served.

According to his biography posted on his website ralphgracie.com, Gracie has been a champion fighter for over 20 years and has been called "one of the best ground fighters in the world."

"He was born into and has studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 30 years. Ralph has dedicated his life to teaching the incredible fighting system known today around the world as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu," the website states.

Gracie has six academies in California, including one in Dublin, as well as facilities in Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose and Modesto, according to the website. He uses the motto, “It’s better to die, than not train.”