Kazushi Sakuraba

From CageWiki

1 Profile
2 MMA Debut and UFC
3 PRIDE
4 K-1 and DREAM
5 Mixed martial arts record
6 Gallery
7 External links

Profile

Kazushi "The Gracie Hunter" Sakuraba (born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist training out of his gyn, LAUGHTER7 in Tokyo, Japan.

He stands 6 ft. (183 cm) tall and fights in the middleweight division (185 lbs.).

Sakuraba has fought for the UFC, extensively for the PRIDE Fighting Championships and currently fights as a middleweight for DREAM.

MMA Debut and UFC

Kazushi Sakuraba made his professional mixed martial arts debut on July 14, 1996 in Japan in a shady bout with UFC veteran, Kimo Leopoldo. Sakuraba was submitted by Leopoldo with an arm triangle choke in a bout many believe to be a fix.

Returning to his well established professional wrestling career after the defeat, Sakuraba found himself filling in for fellow professional wrestler, Hiromitsu Kanehara on short notice at the UFC's Ultimate Japan 1. Sakuraba faced off against Brazilian, Marcus Silveira in the first round of a one night, four man heavyweight tournament. In a controversial bout, referee "Big" John McCarthy stopped the bout prematurely after he thought Sakuraba was out when replays showed he was clearly not. On review of the tape, McCarthy changed the bout to a "No Contest" but Silveira was still allowed to continue to the final, eliminating Sakuraba.

Fortunately for Sakuraba, Tank Abbott had to pull out of the final due to a hand injury sustained in his win over Yoji Anjo which allowed him to re-enter the tournmanent. He faced off against Silveira in the final and pulled off an armbar submission in 3:44 of round 1. After the amazing victory over his much bigger opponent, Sakuraba announced to the adoring Japanese crowd, "In fact, professional wrestling is strong".

PRIDE

Early PRIDE

Three months after his UFC triumph, Sakuraba headed over to the recently established, PRIDE Fighting Championships. He faced Lion's Den fighter, Vernon White at PRIDE 2 and after some intense grappling for two and a half 10 minute rounds, Sakuraba caught White in an armbar forcing the submission.

In his next PRIDE outing, Sakuraba met Carlos Newton at PRIDE 3. In one of the greatest MMA bouts in terms of straight grappling, both Newton and Sakuraba furiously transitioned on the ground for over 15 minutes with Sakuraba finally catching Newton in a kneebar to earn the submission win.

After fighting to a 30 minute draw with Allan Goes at PRIDE 4, Sakuraba faced UFC phenom, Vitor Belfort at PRIDE 5. Sakuraba was solidified as a bonafide star after two, ten minute rounds as he frustrated Belfort to the point where he resorted to butt scoot for the majority of the fight eventually resulting in a wide decision win.

Two armbar victories followed at PRIDE 6 and PRIDE 7 before he met acclaimed grappler and member of the famous Gracie family, Royler Gracie at PRIDE 8. The bout was set for two 15-minute rounds and Sakuraba spent a good 25 of those minutes pumelling Gracie's legs while he was in butt scoot. Just over 12 minutes into round two, Sakuraba secured a kimura and had it severely torqued but Gracie refused to tap. The hold looked so bad and was held for so long the referee controversially stopped the bout to the protests of the Gracie family.

2000 Open Weight Grand Prix

In January of 2000, Sakuraba entered PRIDE's 16-man Open Weight Grand Prix where he met Lion's Den fighter, Guy Mezger in the opening round. After 15 minutes, the close bout went to the judges who were meant to only decide a winner. The judge's returned a "draw" verdict and the need for another round much to the outrage of Mezger's cornerman, Ken Shamrock. Shamrock made Mezger quit in protest, giving Sakuraba the controversial win.

In the quarter final stage, Sakuraba met the most well known of the Gracie family as he faced UFC legend, Royce Gracie in one of the most anticipated bouts of the year. The bout was held under modified rules per Gracie's request with the fight length being changed to unlimited 15-minute rounds and the referee unable to stop the bout. In an epic bout that lasted six gruelling 15 minute rounds, Gracie's corner was forced to throw in the towel after accumulating so much damage from Sakuraba.

Sakuraba insanely had to back up from that 90 minute fight later that night to face Ukranian slugger, Igor Vovchanchyn. After a tight 15 minute round, Sakuraba's corner threw in the towel before the fight went an extra round as Saku was simply spent.

Gracie Hunting and The Middleweight Championship

Following his outstanding performance in the Open Weight Grand Prix, Sakuraba returned to action at PRIDE 10 - just under four months later. He met Renzo Gracie and lived up to his new monicker "The Gracie Hunter" as he caught Gracie in a kimura that dislocated Gracie's elbow. Renzo did not tap, but the referee stopped the bout before anymore damage could be done.

A quick submission of Shannon Ritch followed the historic victory at PRIDE 11.

In December, 2000, Sakuraba met the fourth Gracie of his career when he faced Renzo's cousin, Ryan Gracie at PRIDE 12. Gracie entered the bout with a badly injured shoulder and after one, ten-minute round Sakuraba was adjudicated the unanimous decision victor.

At PRIDE 13 Sakuraba met fearsome Brazilian Muay Thai striker, Wanderlei Silva. Sakuraba was no match for his much bigger and more aggressive opponent as he was blitzed violently in 1:38 of round 1.

He rebounded from his second PRIDE defeat with a rear naked choke win over PRIDE debutant, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at PRIDE 15.

In November, 2001, Sakuraba was given the honor of facing against Wanderlei Silva in a rematch in the first ever PRIDE Middleweight Championship bout. The bout took place at PRIDE 17, and Sakuraba was much more competitive but a slam from Silva midway through the round broke Saku's collar bone and had the fight stopped at the end of the first.

2003 and 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix

Saku had some time off after the second Silva loss as he rehabbed his injury but eventually returned at PRIDE: Shockwave 2002 against heavyweight K-1 kickboxer, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. He was competitive against his much larger opponent but at the end of the second round succumbed to a broken orbital bone.

At PRIDE 23 three months later, Sakuraba halted the two fight slide with an armbar submission of Gilles Arsene in the third round.

The unthinkable happened at PRIDE 25 as Saku faced off against Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, Antonio Schembri. Schembri looked lost on the feet and was unable to take Sakuraba down. For the first six minutes, Sakuraba picked his shots and bloodied up "Nino" but as Saku got overzealous, "Nino" landed a miracle knee that dropped him and then finished him off with follow up punches to seal the major upset.

In August of 2003, Sakuraba entered PRIDE's 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix where he faced off against Wanderlei Silva in an unnecessary third match. Just over five minutes in, Wanderlei landed a vicious right hook that highlight reel KO'd Saku.

An impressive rebound win over former UFC heavyweight champion, Kevin Randleman at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2003 was sandwiched between the third Silva loss and a unanimous decision loss to the much larger Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at PRIDE: Shockwave 2003.

In his lone bout in 2004, Sakuraba earned a piece of redemption as he scored a one-sided decision win over Antonio Schembri at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2004.

A decent sized break followed before Saku returned as a participant in PRIDE's 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix. He faced MMA debutant and highly decorated judoka, Dong Sik Yoon in the opening round and stopped him with punches in just 38 seconds.

Moving into the quarter-finals, Saku met Ricardo Arona at PRIDE: Critical Countdown 2005 in June, 2005. Saku was brutalized with knees to the head from the turtled position continously that seriously messed up his face. Such was the damage done by the knees, the bout was mercifully called off at the conclusion of the second round.

Last Bouts in PRIDE

At PRIDE 30, four months later, Sakuraba faced off against UFC Hall of Famer, Ken Shamrock. Saku landed a right hand a couple of minutes in that knocked Shamrock down. The referee quickly and prematurely stopped the bout giving Saku the TKO victory.

On New Year's 2005 at PRIDE: Shockwave 2005, Saku had his last ever bout for PRIDE as he met fellow Japanese fighter, Ikuhisa Minowa. He closed out his PRIDE run with a submission win in the dying seconds of round 1 with his trademark kimura.

The victory over Minowa ended his PRIDE run at 18 wins, 8 losses and one draw.

K-1 and DREAM

HERO's

Sakuraba departed from PRIDE to take up an offer with rival Japanese promotion, K-1: Hero's. He made his debut for Hero's at K-1: Hero's 6 as part of their 8-man light heavyweight tournament. He faced Lithuanian, Kestutis Smirnovas and was beaten senseless for the first five minutes. Smirnovas continously rocked Saku to the point where the fight should have been stopped. Smirnovas began to gas from beating him and Saku began to recover and mounted an astonishing comeback that ended with him seizing an armbar victory.

Saku was unable to continue in the tournament and instead faced off against tournament winner, Yoshihiro Akiyama at K-1: Premium 2006 Dynamite!! on New Years Eve. Akiyama stopped Saku with punches 5:37 into the first round as Saku continously complained to the referee that Akiyama was greased up. A post-fight examination found that Akiyama did in fact intentionally grease himself and the bout was changed to a "No Contest".

A quick submission win followed in March of 2007, before Saku faced off in a rematch with Royce Gracie at K-1 HERO's: Dynamite!! USA in June. In a slow-paced technical fight, Gracie was adjudged the unanimous decision victor after three rounds in a semi-controversial decision. Following the bout, Gracie tested positive for steroids.

Sakuraba rounded out 2007 with submission victories over Katsuyori Shibata and Masakatsu Funaki.

DREAM

In early 2008, K-1 owners, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) and former staff from PRIDE's Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE) combined to create the new mixed martial arts promotion, DREAM. Hero's was discontinued and Sakuraba moved into the new promotion.

He made his DREAM debut at DREAM 2 as a part of their Middleweight Grand Prix. He met MMA debutant and decorated Karate practioner, Andrews Nakahara and after an early struggle, submitted him with a neck crank while he had his back at 8:20 of round 1.

Saku was set to take on long time rival, Kiyoshi Tamura in the quarter final stage at DREAM 4 after fans had voted for the match-up on DREAM's website. Tamura sustained an injury however and was replaced by the alternate, K-1 wrecking machine, Melvin Manhoef. Saku was no match for Manhoef as he was dropped and then stopped quickly and violently.

On New Year's Eve, 2008, Sakuraba finally faced off against Tamura and after two rounds of Tamura control he found himself on the losing end of a unanimous decision.