At UFC 310, fight fans will get to witness third-generation fighter Kron Gracie carry his family name into the Octagon as he faces Bryce Mitchell. Being the grandson of Hélio Gracie, the man who created Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s no wonder that Kron Gracie chose MMA as his career. However, that’s not always the case. His brother Rockson Gracie fell out of love with the sport and soon entered the world of addiction, something that unfortunately claimed his life. A loss and a situation that Joe Rogan is well aware of.

In a conversation with Avengers star Josh Brolin, Joe Rogan talked about everything professional and personal in his life. One interesting revelation that he made was about his kids, Kayja Rose, Lola, and Rosy Rogan. The JRE host revealed in episode #2232 that while he pursued his career in MMA because he was in love with the sport, he wouldn’t force his children to follow the same sport. Instead, he’d prefer if they choose a path of their own. But why? Does he not believe in their fighting capabilities?

Well, the answer is no. According to the UFC commentator, there are so many different things one could be interested in life. Everyone has a different psychology and gravitates toward different things. He gave the sad example of several parents who go too hard on their kids. As a result, the kid feels burned out and starts disliking the sport that he once loved. “There are so many stories of parents, particularly with talented athletes, who were too hard on their kids and put too much discipline on them. The kids burned out.”

So now he wants his children to find their niche instead. The UFC commentator claimed that he didn’t believe in everybody’s path being the same. Being a good parent, he doesn’t want them to follow in his footsteps. Joe Rogan further added on the podcast, “I just—I want you to be your own human being. What are you interested in? They’re both interested in different things. My youngest is an artist… My other one is a phenomenal athlete. It’s like, I think that you should do what you want to do, and if you want to do that, I’ll bring you. I’ll show you. I’ll teach you. I’ll help you. But if you don’t want to do that, I don’t want to push you.” Now, his eldest daughter, Kayja Rose, is an R&B singer, while his other daughters are into athletics and art, respectively.

Unfortunately, not many parents carry a similar mindset and often pressure their kids to live the dreams that they once had for themselves. But there are times when there is also the constant pressure of living up to the surname if you are a second or third-generation talent. It often makes one believe that they can never be as good as their ancestors, building up more pressure on their minds. It either leads them to walk out of the sport or sometimes even leads to addiction. Such was the case of Rockson Gracie.

The tragic story of Kron Gracie’s deceased brother Rockson Gracie

Rockson Gracie, born in 1982, was the eldest son of the legendary Jiu-Jitsu fighter Rickson Gracie. Following in his family’s legacy, he acquired an early interest in wrestling and began learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art founded by his grandpa, Helio Gracie. Recognized as a prodigy, Rockson Gracie immediately became prominent by appearing in documentaries and promotional material on his father.

He soon established a reputation as a budding star in MMA. Rockson Gracie won four MMA championships in just three years and earned the purple belt. However, he appeared to lose interest in the sport, likely because his family’s legacy overwhelmed him. He shifted his concentration to modeling and relocated to New York with his girlfriend.

However, his relationship with his family deteriorated gradually. Rockson’s cousin Renzo Gracie found out in early 2001, after weeks of no communication, that Gracie had died in December 2000 of an overdose in a Manhattan hotel. A truly sad end to a budding talent. What do you think? Do you agree with Rogan’s opinions? Let us know in the comments.