Negotiation the underground halls at the Mammoth Gardens in Colorado was no easy task. I felt like a frustrated rat working its way through an impossible maze. One hall led here and one hall led there, but I could not find the one that led to Royce Gracie.

He had just beaten Jason DeLucia, Remco Pardoel and Patrick Smith at UFC II back in 1994, and I was trying-without authorization-to find him so I could conduct an interview. I mention that it was without authorization only because I had to duck a few security guards along the way, which added nicely to the adventure. Well, a little perseverance is a good thing.

I turned yet another corner, and the laughter guided me in. I finally found him, along with quite a few family members, celebrating in one of the many rooms under the arena. I don't think I had seen smiles that wide ... well ... ever. The only smile that comes close is the one he flashed while holding the check after winning UFC I.

Kimo wiped the smiles away at UFC III in North Carolina. The burly Hawaiian gave the Brazilian everything he could handle-and then some. Yeah, Royce won, but the battle dehydrated him so badly that he could not even start his match with Harold Howard. Rorion, Royce's brother, threw in the towel.

If I remember correctly, Royce left the Octagon with a towel over his head that night. I can still see-most vividly-Kimo and Joe Son, bolting through the arena and into the Octagon, celebrating wildly. Their enthusiasm even carried over to the airport a day later.

After Matt Hughes defeated Royce at UFC 60, I saw that same look of dejection that I had seen in North Carolina. Sure, the head was held high afterward, but the pain of losing had to have been tugging those eyes toward the ground. And the slow march back to the locker room must have seemed interminable to a man who hates losing.

Images of a Champion
You may or may not be a fan of Royce, but you can't deny-in a million years-his role in MMA history. He's a legend, a UFC Hall of Famer, a member of the first family of grappling, and he's provided all of us with tons of images and incredible memories.

Like the photo of him holding up the check for winning UFC I. Or the scene in the locker room after UFC II. Or that white towel floating toward the Octagon. Or Kimo's celebration. Or his stern demeanor at the UFC 60 press conference. Or the look on his face as walked through Staples Center and toward the Octagon for his match with Matt Hughes. Or the hunched shoulders as referee John McCarthy consoled him after the loss. Or during the post-fight press conference ... his vow to return.

Royce hasn't won every match he's fought, but no one ever does. Just ask Michael Jordan. And a loss doesn't erase what he's accomplished. He's had an incredible career.

And win or lose, he's always conducted himself as a champion, as he did after his loss to Matt Hughes and as Jordan did in the years he didn't win. Unfortunately, we'll never see Jordan on the court again. Fortunately, we can't say the same for Royce.
Until next time.

Note: This is from the September 2006 issue of Grappling magazine.