Royce Gracie not retired: 'Everyone wants to fight me'

Royce Gracie turns 50 this year and he's finding it hard to let go of the sport that he pioneered in 1993.

His most recent appearance in an MMA contest was a victorious one. In February, Gracie faced longtime rival Ken Shamrock for a third time at Bellator 149. He won by TKO in the first round.

That was his first fight in over eight years. Gracie recently spoke to Brazilian publication Combate about when we can expect to see him again.

"Man, I'm trying to leave this game," said Gracie, according to a translation from Bloody Elbow's Lucas Rezende. "I'm not retired. I'm on a break, but it's hard to quit, because I like to fight. When you like something, it's not work, it's a pleasure.

"Everyone wants to fight me. It's a long list. That’s good, it shows there's demand. I'll face whoever the promotion puts in front of me. I never picked an opponent."

Two of the fighters that Gracie says have reached out to him are former UFC champions Sean Sherk and Dan Severn.

In February, the 42-year-old Sherk said that he would come out of retirement for a fight with Gracie.