Kazushi Sakuraba Fighter Profile

They call him the “Gracie Hunter“, and for good reason. Single handedly, Kazushi Sakuraba has defeated more members of the Gracie Family than anyone in the history of the MMA. This, and his impressive fighting record have brought him great fame and respect within the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. While having participated in a few UFC events, it would be his career in PRIDE that would have the greatest significance on his career.
Born in Akita, Japan on July 14th 1968, Sakuraba began an early foray into wrestling during High school and continued during his years in college. In 1992 he left the amateur circuit behind when he joined up with the Japan based Union of Wrestling Force International (UWFI). He also had a small career with the rival wrestling organization New Japan Pro Wrestling at a time when it and the UWFI were feuding. Shortly after the UWFI would dissolve, he would join most of the former UWFI fighters in forming Kingdom.  But when that too collapsed after only a single year, Sakuraba would join forces with Nobuhiko Takada and Naoki Sano in creating a stable of fighters called Takada Dojo. Their main goal was to begin focusing on MMA events. 
Sakuraba would make his official MMA debut on December 21st, 1997 during the UFC’s Ultimate Japan 1. His first match would be against the former Extreme Fighting champion Marcus Silveira. However this match would end prematurely when the judge mistook  a single-leg takedown by Sakuraba as a knockout. The fight was ruled no-contest and a rematch was rescheduled for the very same night. In this match Sakuraba earned the victory with an armbar submission. This was the extent of Kazushi Sakuraba’s UFC appearances. 
In 1998, Sakuraba would appear in PRIDE 2, and has remained with the Japanese based fighting championship ever since.  His win record was staggering. Defeating names like Vitor Belfort, Guy Mezger, and Ebenezer Fontes Braga, the 180lbs Sakuraba remained at or near the top of the 205 light heavyweight division. 
During this winning streak, Sakuraba would face and defeat four members of the famous Gracie family. The Gracie family’s history in the MMA is legendary. Their humble beginnings as developers of a style of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, they created what they called “The Gracie Challenge” which was an open call to fighters to try and best them in a practically rule-less fight. Eventually this would evolve into the very first UFC event in 1993. 
In 1999, Sakuraba would face and defeat Royler Gracie during PRIDE 8. This was a world-wide shocker as no-man had defeated a Gracie in an actual legitimate match (Royce had one previous recorded loss, but it was due to his inability to begin the match) in over five decades. In fact it would be the very same move that Masahiko Kimura used to defeat the Gracie’s father those 50 years ago. The Gracie’s pride had been shattered, and to add to their fury they felt that the match was not properly judged.
Several months later Royce Gracie would enter a PRIDE Grand Prix in an obvious attempt to get a chance at challenging Sakuraba in a “rematch” of sorts to reclaim the Gracie honor. Special rules were also pre-arranged to ensure that there would be no time limits to the match and no referee stoppages. Only a knock-out or a submission would entitle either side a victory. It would however be these very rules that would turn the tables on Royce Gracie. The fight lasted over 90 minutes (the longest MMA fight in history), and no matter what he tried, Royce seemed unable to do any significant damage to Sakuraba. In fact it seemed that the Japanese fighter enjoyed playing with Royce, and would do his best to mock him (During a choke by Royce, Sakuraba seemed un-phased enough to try and remove Royce’s pants). Finally Royce was forced to submit, barely walking away with a broken foot and under extreme exhaustion. 
Sakuraba would also go on to face Renzo and Ryan Gracie in future matches. It was his defeat of both of them that would finally earn him the nickname “Gracie Hunter”.  
Sakuraba would finally be defeated during PRIDE 13 by Wanderlei Silva and again during PRIDE 17, after which his win record become regularly soiled. In his next ten matches, Sakuraba would lose five of them.  Fans have suggested that he either move down in weight class to stay competitive or simply retire from the MMA.  He would of course claim that he had no intention of doing either, but would train hard to once again become a threat. 
During a debated fight with Ken Shamrock, Sakuraba would send him into the ropes but before he could charge in the fight was stopped by the referee. Immediately after, Ken would jump to his feet to protest. The debate remains on whether or not Shamrock had become unconscious for that brief moment. His brother, Frank, has sided that he believes  Ken did indeed lose consciousness, while others, including champion fighter Tito Ortiz have voiced their opposing opinion. 
Kazushi Sakuraba continues to please thousands with his fighting prowess and his light-hearted humor (once dawning a fake mustache and a red cap for a Super Mario Bros. webpage). “The Gracie Hunter” strongly believes that he still has the skill and ability to continue fighting without resorting to dropping in weight class.  He always expects the best from himself, and prides himself on his sense of honor. His career with PRIDE will likely continue until he is ready to retire.
Fight Record - 21-9-1 2 No Contest
<ul>
<li>06-02-2007 - Lost to Royce Gracie, K-1 Dynamite USA, Unanimous Decision </li>
<li>03-12-2007 - Defeats Yurij Kiselov, HERO's 8, Submission Round 1, 1:26 </li>
<li>12-31-2006 - No Contest to Yoshihiro Akiyama, K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite </li>
<li>08-05-2006 - Defeats Kestutis Smirnovas, HERO's 6, Submisson Round 1, 6:41 </li>
<li>12-31-2005 - Defeats Ikuhisa Minowa, PRIDE SW 2005, Submission Round 1, 9:59 </li>
<li>10-23-2005 - Defeats Ken Shamrock, PRIDE 30, TKO Round 1, 2:27 </li>
<li>06-26-2005 - Lost to Ricardo Arona, PRIDE CC 2005, TKO(Corner Stoppage) </li>
<li>04-23-2005 - Defeats Yoon Dong-Sik, PRIDE TE 2005, TKO Round 1, 0:38 </li>
<li>06-20-2004 - Defeats Antonio Schembri, PRIDE CC 2004, Unanimous Decision </li>
<li>12-31-2003 - Lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, PRIDE SW 03, Unanimous Decision </li>
<li>11-09-2003 - Defeats Kevin Randleman, PRIDE FC 2003, Submission Round 3, 2:36 </li>
<li>08-19-2003 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE TE 2003, KO Round 1, 5:01 </li>
<li>03-16-2003 - Lost to Antonio Schembri, PRIDE 25, TKO Round 1, 6:15 </li>
<li>11-24-2002 - Defeats Gilles Arsene, PRIDE 23, Submission Round 3, 2:08 </li>
<li>08-28-2002 - Lost to Mirko Filipovic, PRIDE SW, TKO Round 2, 5:00 </li>
<li>11-03-2001 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE 17, TKO Round 1, 10:00 </li>
<li>07-29-2001 - Defeats Rampage Jackson, PRIDE 15, Submission Round 1, 5:41 </li>
<li>03-25-2001 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE 13, TKO Round 1, 1:38 </li>
<li>12-09-2000 - Defeats Ryan Gracie, PRIDE 12, Unanimous Decision </li>
<li>10-31-2000 - Defeats Shannon Ritch, PRIDE 11, Submission Round 1, 1:08 </li>
<li>08-27-2000 - Defeats Renzo Gracie, PRIDE 10, Submission Round 2, 9:43 </li>
<li>05-01-2000 - Lost to Igor Vovchanchyn, PRIDE GP 2000, TKO Round 1, 15:00 </li>
<li>05-01-2000 - Defeats Royce Gracie, PRIDE GP 2000, TKO Round 6, 15:00 </li>
<li>01-30-2000 - Defeats Guy Mezger, PRIDE GP 2000, Forfeit </li>
<li>11-21-1999 - Defeats Royler Gracie, PRIDE 8, Submission Round 2, 13:16 </li>
<li>09-12-1999 - Defeats Anthony Macias, PRIDE 7, Submission Round 2, 2:30 </li>
<li>07-04-1999 - Defeats Ebenezer Fontes Braga, PRIDE 6, Submission Round 1, 9:23 </li>
<li>04-29-1999 - Defeats Vitor Belfort, PRIDE 5, Decision </li>
<li>10-11-1998 - Draw to Allan Goes, PRIDE 4, Decision </li>
<li>06-24-1998 - Defeats Carlos Newton, PRIDE 3, Submission Round 2, 5:19 </li>
<li>03-15-1998 - Defeats Vernon White, PRIDE 2, Submission Round 3, 6:53 </li>
<li>12-21-1997 - Defeats Marcus Silveira, UFC Japan, Submission Round 1, 3:44 </li>
<li>12-21-1997 - No Contest Marcus Silveira, UFC Japan, Early Stoppage by Ref</li></ul>

Weight Class Eligible for Top 10 ( tick if yes )

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Kazushi Sakuraba	Kazushi Sakuraba HL
Kazushi Sakuraba Hightlights	Kazushi Sakuraba Highlight
Kazushi Sakuraba	"Kazushi Sakuraba - The Greatest of All Time" by Robert Park

They call him the “Gracie Hunter“, and for good reason. Single handedly, Kazushi Sakuraba has defeated more members of the Gracie Family than anyone in the history of the MMA. This, and his impressive fighting record have brought him great fame and respect within the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. While having participated in a few UFC events, it would be his career in PRIDE that would have the greatest significance on his career.

Born in Akita, Japan on July 14th 1968, Sakuraba began an early foray into wrestling during High school and continued during his years in college. In 1992 he left the amateur circuit behind when he joined up with the Japan based Union of Wrestling Force International (UWFI). He also had a small career with the rival wrestling organization New Japan Pro Wrestling at a time when it and the UWFI were feuding. Shortly after the UWFI would dissolve, he would join most of the former UWFI fighters in forming Kingdom. But when that too collapsed after only a single year, Sakuraba would join forces with Nobuhiko Takada and Naoki Sano in creating a stable of fighters called Takada Dojo. Their main goal was to begin focusing on MMA events.

Sakuraba would make his official MMA debut on December 21st, 1997 during the UFC’s Ultimate Japan 1. His first match would be against the former Extreme Fighting champion Marcus Silveira. However this match would end prematurely when the judge mistook a single-leg takedown by Sakuraba as a knockout. The fight was ruled no-contest and a rematch was rescheduled for the very same night. In this match Sakuraba earned the victory with an armbar submission. This was the extent of Kazushi Sakuraba’s UFC appearances.

In 1998, Sakuraba would appear in PRIDE 2, and has remained with the Japanese based fighting championship ever since. His win record was staggering. Defeating names like Vitor Belfort, Guy Mezger, and Ebenezer Fontes Braga, the 180lbs Sakuraba remained at or near the top of the 205 light heavyweight division.

During this winning streak, Sakuraba would face and defeat four members of the famous Gracie family. The Gracie family’s history in the MMA is legendary. Their humble beginnings as developers of a style of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, they created what they called “The Gracie Challenge” which was an open call to fighters to try and best them in a practically rule-less fight. Eventually this would evolve into the very first UFC event in 1993.

In 1999, Sakuraba would face and defeat Royler Gracie during PRIDE 8. This was a world-wide shocker as no-man had defeated a Gracie in an actual legitimate match (Royce had one previous recorded loss, but it was due to his inability to begin the match) in over five decades. In fact it would be the very same move that Masahiko Kimura used to defeat the Gracie’s father those 50 years ago. The Gracie’s pride had been shattered, and to add to their fury they felt that the match was not properly judged.

Several months later Royce Gracie would enter a PRIDE Grand Prix in an obvious attempt to get a chance at challenging Sakuraba in a “rematch” of sorts to reclaim the Gracie honor. Special rules were also pre-arranged to ensure that there would be no time limits to the match and no referee stoppages. Only a knock-out or a submission would entitle either side a victory. It would however be these very rules that would turn the tables on Royce Gracie. The fight lasted over 90 minutes (the longest MMA fight in history), and no matter what he tried, Royce seemed unable to do any significant damage to Sakuraba. In fact it seemed that the Japanese fighter enjoyed playing with Royce, and would do his best to mock him (During a choke by Royce, Sakuraba seemed un-phased enough to try and remove Royce’s pants). Finally Royce was forced to submit, barely walking away with a broken foot and under extreme exhaustion.

Sakuraba would also go on to face Renzo and Ryan Gracie in future matches. It was his defeat of both of them that would finally earn him the nickname “Gracie Hunter”.

Sakuraba would finally be defeated during PRIDE 13 by Wanderlei Silva and again during PRIDE 17, after which his win record become regularly soiled. In his next ten matches, Sakuraba would lose five of them. Fans have suggested that he either move down in weight class to stay competitive or simply retire from the MMA. He would of course claim that he had no intention of doing either, but would train hard to once again become a threat.

During a debated fight with Ken Shamrock, Sakuraba would send him into the ropes but before he could charge in the fight was stopped by the referee. Immediately after, Ken would jump to his feet to protest. The debate remains on whether or not Shamrock had become unconscious for that brief moment. His brother, Frank, has sided that he believes Ken did indeed lose consciousness, while others, including champion fighter Tito Ortiz have voiced their opposing opinion.

Kazushi Sakuraba continues to please thousands with his fighting prowess and his light-hearted humor (once dawning a fake mustache and a red cap for a Super Mario Bros. webpage). “The Gracie Hunter” strongly believes that he still has the skill and ability to continue fighting without resorting to dropping in weight class. He always expects the best from himself, and prides himself on his sense of honor. His career with PRIDE will likely continue until he is ready to retire.

Fight Record - 21-9-1 2 No Contest

06-02-2007 - Lost to Royce Gracie, K-1 Dynamite USA, Unanimous Decision
03-12-2007 - Defeats Yurij Kiselov, HERO's 8, Submission Round 1, 1:26
12-31-2006 - No Contest to Yoshihiro Akiyama, K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite
08-05-2006 - Defeats Kestutis Smirnovas, HERO's 6, Submisson Round 1, 6:41
12-31-2005 - Defeats Ikuhisa Minowa, PRIDE SW 2005, Submission Round 1, 9:59
10-23-2005 - Defeats Ken Shamrock, PRIDE 30, TKO Round 1, 2:27
06-26-2005 - Lost to Ricardo Arona, PRIDE CC 2005, TKO(Corner Stoppage)
04-23-2005 - Defeats Yoon Dong-Sik, PRIDE TE 2005, TKO Round 1, 0:38
06-20-2004 - Defeats Antonio Schembri, PRIDE CC 2004, Unanimous Decision
12-31-2003 - Lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueria, PRIDE SW 03, Unanimous Decision
11-09-2003 - Defeats Kevin Randleman, PRIDE FC 2003, Submission Round 3, 2:36
08-19-2003 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE TE 2003, KO Round 1, 5:01
03-16-2003 - Lost to Antonio Schembri, PRIDE 25, TKO Round 1, 6:15
11-24-2002 - Defeats Gilles Arsene, PRIDE 23, Submission Round 3, 2:08
08-28-2002 - Lost to Mirko Filipovic, PRIDE SW, TKO Round 2, 5:00
11-03-2001 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE 17, TKO Round 1, 10:00
07-29-2001 - Defeats Rampage Jackson, PRIDE 15, Submission Round 1, 5:41
03-25-2001 - Lost to Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE 13, TKO Round 1, 1:38
12-09-2000 - Defeats Ryan Gracie, PRIDE 12, Unanimous Decision
10-31-2000 - Defeats Shannon Ritch, PRIDE 11, Submission Round 1, 1:08
08-27-2000 - Defeats Renzo Gracie, PRIDE 10, Submission Round 2, 9:43
05-01-2000 - Lost to Igor Vovchanchyn, PRIDE GP 2000, TKO Round 1, 15:00
05-01-2000 - Defeats Royce Gracie, PRIDE GP 2000, TKO Round 6, 15:00
01-30-2000 - Defeats Guy Mezger, PRIDE GP 2000, Forfeit
11-21-1999 - Defeats Royler Gracie, PRIDE 8, Submission Round 2, 13:16
09-12-1999 - Defeats Anthony Macias, PRIDE 7, Submission Round 2, 2:30
07-04-1999 - Defeats Ebenezer Fontes Braga, PRIDE 6, Submission Round 1, 9:23
04-29-1999 - Defeats Vitor Belfort, PRIDE 5, Decision
10-11-1998 - Draw to Allan Goes, PRIDE 4, Decision
06-24-1998 - Defeats Carlos Newton, PRIDE 3, Submission Round 2, 5:19
03-15-1998 - Defeats Vernon White, PRIDE 2, Submission Round 3, 6:53
12-21-1997 - Defeats Marcus Silveira, UFC Japan, Submission Round 1, 3:44
12-21-1997 - No Contest Marcus Silveira, UFC Japan, Early Stoppage by Ref

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