Renzo Gracie due in NYC court Friday for alleged bouncer beatdown
Renzo Gracie and three others are due in court Friday to answer to a charge of assaulting a bouncer at a New York nightclub earlier this week.
Gracie, 47, is charged with assault in the third degree for allegedly throwing a bouncer – identified in a New York Post report as 35-year-old Craig Molesphini – to the ground in the early hours of Monday at the 1 Oak Club in Manhattan.
Also charged in the beating are UFC veteran Andre Gusmao, 37, Leonardo Leite, 29, and Strikeforce and WSOF vet Igor Gracie, 34, the cousin of the MMA legend, according to a copy of the criminal complaint obtained by MMAjunkie (check out the complaint).
The complaint also notes three separately charged defendants – Leonardo Dacosta, Gregor Rangel and Rafael Barbosa Carvalho Da Costa – are also alleged to have participated, bringing the total number of assailants to seven.
Renzo Gracie runs a jiu-jitsu school in New York City at which Igor Gracie and Da Costa serve as instructors, according to the school’s website.
In New York, the third-degree assault charge is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, probation, fines and restitution to the victim.
Molesphini suffered a broken elbow after Gracie grabbed him by the body and threw him to the ground, according to the complaint. The six other defendants joined Gracie and, according to multiple witness statements, began fighting off other security personnel.
Two witnesses said the men were “executing roundhouse kicks and other martial arts maneuversâ€; one witness added that a man began to choke him by grabbing his tie, “and that as a result of the ensuing struggle,†he “suffered substantial pain to his left knee and right shin.â€
It’s unknown what triggered the alleged beating on May 19, which, according to the complaint, took place at 1:10 a.m. and was reported as a gang assault. Along with a broken elbow, Molesphini also suffered cuts and bruises, according to The Post.
The Gracies were released later in the day Monday on $10,000 bail.
Renzo Gracie declined comment on the advice of his lawyer when contacted today by MMAjunkie, but late Tuesday, he suggested there’s more to the story:
Colin Parris @ColinParris
. @RenzoGracieBJJ I am a little disappointed in you, sensei. We are all human. I support you and hope for the best. #RiseLikeAPhoenix
Renzo_Gracie_BJJ @RenzoGracieBJJ
Follow
@ColinParris ;-) don't judge before you know ;-)
The UFC and PRIDE vet’s last known use of his fists outside the cage came in September 2012, when he live tweeted an attempted mugging. Gracie (13-7-1) has flirted several times with a return to the UFC octagon since a 2010 fight against UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes ended in a lackluster third-round TKO loss, but UFC President Dana White hasn’t been jazzed about the idea.
Igor Gracie (5-4), meanwhile, most recently fought in March 2012, when he lost via first-round TKO to Richard Patishnock in his second straight setback. Gusmao (6-3), who’s most notable fight was a UC 87 decision loss to now-light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones, hasn’t fought since a third-round TKO loss on the regional circuit.
