UFC in Rio: MMA Legend Royce Gracie Making Return to the Octagon in August?

Speculation that Royce Gracie (13-2-2) will fight when the UFC returns to Brazil in August just became red hot. Gracie allegedly has pulled out of a seminar in the United Kingdom to focus on training for a bout in August.

MMA fans all over could be salivating at the idea that one of the most prolific MMA fighters in history, and part of the great Gracie family, could be making his return at the ripe age of 44.

A source told Cagepotato.com that Gracie has canceled the European leg of his spring seminar tour, and the official reason given for his withdrawal was that he accepted an offer to fight for the UFC in Brazil come August.

According to NJM (the promotion organizing his UK leg), Gracie's manager, Mike Kogan, has told them he would not be able to make his appearances at the seminars.

“We are talking about fighting in August,” Kogan said when contacted by CagePotato by e-mail. “Nothing is locked down, no.”

There are no potential opponents yet being tossed around for Gracie, but CagePotato threw out a few good names.

He could fight Matt Hughes who beat him at UFC 60 and said he wanted to fight Hughes in a rematch after the fight.

Another name tossed out was "Gracie Killer," Kazushi Sakuraba. It would be the third fight between the two fighters who have so far split the series 1-1. But after Gracie won at Dynamite!! in 2007, he tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandralone. Gracie has disputed the test results.

At this point though, it's still merely a rumor that has just started glowing red hot.