Gracie-Ciesnolevicz On Tap for Jan 8. Shine Fights

After a suffering the first loss of his career in his UFC debut in February, Rolles Gracie will return to action on Jan. 8., taking on fellow UFC castoff Mike Ciesnolevicz at a to-be-announced Shine Fights event.

The news was announced by Gracie’s management company via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

Gracie dominated the opening minutes of his heavyweight scrap against Joey Beltran at UFC 109 in February, securing a takedown and transitioning easily to the mount. Beltran gave Gracie his back, but the Brazilian could not sink in a choke as Beltran escaped the position.

Back on the feet, Gracie landed two nice right hands despite looked visibly winded. His fatigue notwithstanding, he continued to wade forward, winging increasingly desperate punches at Beltran’s head. Round two brought more of the same, as Gracie’s half-hearted shots were no match for the much fresher Beltran’s sprawl. After Gracie’s last takedown was averted, Beltran pounded him with punches and hammer fists, causing referee Herb Dean to stop the contest.

Prior to his bout with Beltran, Gracie was undefeated in his MMA career, earning submissions in each of his first three bouts. A former ADCC silver medallist, Gracie is the son of deceased family champion and Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer Rolls Gracie.

Ciesnolevicz’s stint in the UFC lasted one fight longer than Gracie’s, as the IFL veteran was victorious in his promotional debut against South African Neil Grove at UFC 95 last year. Ciesnolevicz locked up a heel hook and submitted Grove a little over a minute into the fight.

His second and final appearance for the organization was to be a light heavyweight bout against Tomasz Drwal at “The Ultimate Fighter 9” finale, but Ciesnolevicz failed to make weight, turning the fight into a 208-pound catch-weight contest. Drwal defeated the Miletich Fighting Systems product by TKO in round one.