Hélio Gracie
Another episode that could be included with the Gracie challenge occurred when the Gracies challenged "Judo" Gene LeBell. The Gracies wanted to match Rickson Gracie with the American grappling master, professional wrestler and stuntman. LeBell, who was almost 60 at the time, replied that Rickson was much younger (27 years difference about 33 years old) than he and that he would instead grapple with Hélio Gracie who was closer in age to him (then 80). When confronted with this reply, the Gracies accepted the challenge on the condition that Gene LeBell drop down to the 140 pound weight class of the 80-year-old Hélio Gracie. At that point, Gene LeBell allegedly did not accept their counter-offer because he was around 200 pounds and could never make it down to 140 pounds. An interesting point is that Helio had fought considerably heavier opponents and had maintained that Gracie jiu-jitsu was made for a smaller man to defeat a larger man.