PRIDE FC Fighter Ryan Gracie, 33, Found dead in prison cell.

From GracieMag.com...

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Ryan Gracie was found dead Saturday in a jail cell at the 91st police station, in Vila Leopoldina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The 33-year-old Gracie, who fought as a mixed martial artist exclusively for the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships and was the brother of Renzo Gracie, was arrested on Friday for stealing a car and trying to steal a bike. The fighter had been transported to the station after a toxicological examination held in the Medical Legal Institute.

According to the Secretary of Public Security, the body of Gracie was found around 7 a.m. when police were checking the cells of prisoners. Gracie was alone and was found fallen into a corner.

Experts of the Medical Legal Institute could not be reached Saturday to make the necessary examinations and direct the body of the fighter to the institute. According to his lawyer, Rodrigo Souto, the cause of death has not been disclosed by police.

Gracie was 5-2 as a mixed martial artist. After starting 1-2, including a decision loss to Kazushi Sakuraba in December 2000, Gracie went 4-0. His last win -- and fight -- came on Dec. 31, 2004, when he defeated Yoji Anjo by armbar.

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From BleacherReport.com...

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At 7:00 AM on December 15th, 2007, Ryan Gracie was found slumped over and unresponsive in a jail cell in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Gracie had been arrested at approximately 1:30 AM for stealing and crashing a car, and then attempting to steal a motorcycle to flee from police. Ryan was hit on the head by the owner of the cycle, whom he had threatened to kill, and then detained by several cyclists until the police arrived.

Gracie tested positive for marijuana, cocaine, and an unknown antianxiety drug.

Psychiatrist Dr. Sabino Ferreira de Faria was called by Gracie's wife after his arrest and attended to him at the jail.

The doctor has allegedly stated that he administered the following drugs to Gracie to calm him down: Haldol (a powerful antipsychotic), Fenergan (which has a side effect of sleepiness), Topamax (for Migraines), Dienpax (tranquilizers), and OmniPlex (relaxant).

The doctor remained with Gracie most of the night, and was notified of Gracie's death as he was returning home. The cause of death has not yet been released by the medical examiner.

Ryan Gracie, son of Robson and grandson of Carlos Gracie, was born on August 14, 1974 in Rio De Janero. He was a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and won 5 fights in Pride FC, the McDonald's Company Judo Cup, the 1997 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and the 1997 Brazilian Championship (Non-Gi). He was an instructor at an academy at 260 Gomes Carvalho Road in the Vila Olimpia neighborhood of the South Zone.

Ryan had a history of many run-ins with the police, and at one time had shot himself in the femur, almost costing him the use of his leg. In Brazil he had a reputation of being a tough street fighter, and was said to have an ongoing feud with fellow BJJ practitioner Wallid Ismail. An acquaintance once said of Gracie, "He was a crazy guy. In America, the police would have just shot him."

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