Renzo Gracie was charged with assault following a nightclub brawl in New York City this past week. The former UFC champion contends though that the brawl was a mere misunderstanding yet the club doorman thinks otherwise.
The 47-year old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and former UFC veteran, along with cousin Igor, were arrested Monday morning after the two men, along with five others were involved in an unarmed altercation between some of the bouncers of the 1-OAK night club.
Eyewitness accounts initially saw Renzo Gracie's crew in line to enter the club, when a fight suddenly broke out between the group and the club's bouncers. Renzo Gracie was allegedly in position for a headlock and his friends were hitting another bouncer with a construction cone when the police arrived to break the fracas up.
Currently out on a $10,000 bail, Renzo Gracie went on to clear up the assault charges through a text message he sent to MMAFighting.com.
"Everything is a misunderstanding.... We always had a great relationship with that amazing club and all their employees. Soon everything will be clear," the message reads.
Club doorman Craig Molesphini, however, went on record with The NY Post to respond to Renzo Gracie's "misunderstanding" comments, adding that it was a "carefully planned and coordinated attack" for his rejection to let some of the Gracie family members to enter the club, a few nights prior.
"He said the attack was "retribution for me not allowing two of their masters into the venue last week," Molesphini recounted. "This was a carefully planned and coordinated attack. The police arrested all seven of them."
If convicted, Renzo Gracie and his crew may face a prison sentence of up to one year, probation and fines, as well as restitution to the victims for third degree assault.
Originally, the group was charged with gang assault, which would have given them a 15-year prison sentence.
Meanwhile, Molesphini will continue to press charges, and could file a civil assault claim against Renzo Gracie, according to his lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo.
"This is a total premeditated gang assault and the individuals who conspired to do this are going to be brought to justice," Strazzullo said in a statement.
