1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Kazushi Sakuraba's journey in combat sports began early, influenced by the burgeoning world of professional wrestling, which eventually led him to a distinguished amateur wrestling career before his professional endeavors.
1.1. Childhood and Schooling
During his childhood, Sakuraba developed a deep admiration for Tiger Mask, a popular New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestler who was the subject of a manga series. This admiration sparked his initial interest in professional wrestling. Against the advice of dropping out of high school to pursue this dream immediately, Sakuraba decided to build a strong foundation through amateur wrestling. He attended Akita Commercial High School, a prestigious wrestling school, where he began his amateur wrestling career at the age of 15.
1.2. Amateur Wrestling Career
Sakuraba quickly distinguished himself as a talented amateur wrestler. In high school, he placed third in the 70 kg class at the 1987 National High School Greco-Roman Style Wrestling Championship and finished as the runner-up in the inter-high school wrestling tournament in the team competition. He then joined the freestyle wrestling squad at Chuo University, a program that had produced Olympic gold medalists like Shozo Sasahara and Osamu Watanabe. In his first year at Chuo University, Sakuraba won the East Japan Freshman Championship in the 68 kg freestyle division and later served as the team captain. In his senior year, he secured fourth place in the All-Japan tournament, notably defeating future Olympic bronze medalist Takuya Ota.
| Men's Wrestling | ||
|---|---|---|
| National High School Greco-Roman Style Wrestling Championship | ||
| Bronze | 1987 | 68 kg class |
| East Japan Student Spring Freshman Freestyle Championship | ||
| Gold | 1989 | 68 kg class |
1.3. Transition to Professional Wrestling
Upon graduating from college, Sakuraba initially considered remaining at Chuo University as a coach. However, driven by his childhood dream, he ultimately decided to pursue professional wrestling. He had initially intended to join the professional wrestling promotion Pro-Wrestling Fujiwara-Gumi, but instead chose to enter the Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi) in July 1992. His decision was influenced by the "shoot wrestling" movement, which was championed by his idol, Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask). This era emphasized realistic, highly technical bouts, aligning with Sakuraba's wrestling background. He was encouraged by his peers to gain weight, as competing as a smaller fighter in professional wrestling would be difficult. Having weighed around 150 lb (68 kg) for most of his amateur career, he gained significant weight for his professional transition, a change that would influence his future MMA career.
2. Professional Wrestling Career
Kazushi Sakuraba's professional wrestling career spanned several prominent promotions, evolving from the realistic "shoot-style" of UWFi to mainstream puroresu and later a full-time return to the sport.
2.1. Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi)
Sakuraba's tenure in UWFi, from 1993 to 1996, proved to be a foundational period for his unique fighting style. He received his initial instruction in both grappling and striking under head trainer Yoji Anjo, and further honed his catch wrestling skills under the tutelage of Billy Robinson. He also trained in muay thai under master Bovy Chowaikung, UWFi's primary striking teacher. These disciplines formed the base of the unorthodox game that would later bring him success in mixed martial arts. Over time, he became one of Nobuhiko Takada's four main trainees, alongside Kiyoshi Tamura, Yoshihiro Takayama, and Masahito Kakihara.
Despite his amateur wrestling pedigree, Sakuraba started from the bottom of UWFi's ranks, a traditional path in puroresu. He debuted on August 13, 1993, losing to Steve Nelson, and remained winless throughout his rookie year. Despite the lack of wins, Sakuraba steadily built his knowledge of submission holds on his freestyle wrestling base, finally earning a win over Mark Silver in October 1994.
In 1995, UWFi engaged in an interpromotional feud with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Most UWFi fighters, including Sakuraba, lost to their NJPW counterparts. Sakuraba was defeated in high-profile bouts against Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Koji Kanemoto, and Shinjiro Otani, but these matches brought him significant public exposure. His ring psychology and technical prowess impressed UWFi management, leading to a push towards main event status.
New Japan's dominance in the feud damaged UWFi's marketability, as the promotion had built its reputation on the perception of legitimate fighting skills. In an attempt to regain credibility, Yoji Anjo traveled to California for a dojo challenge against Rickson Gracie, but was swiftly defeated. This defeat, witnessed by the Japanese press, shattered UWFi's reputation, leading to a sharp decline in attendance. The federation closed its doors in December 1996, with Sakuraba headlining their final show, where he defeated Anjo by submission.
2.2. Kingdom Pro Wrestling
Following UWFi's closure, Nobuhiko Takada, UWFi's most popular mainstream figure, founded Kingdom Professional Wrestling in 1997, bringing in Sakuraba and most of his UWFi stablemates. Kingdom continued the shoot-style tradition of realistic-looking matches. Having established his ability, Sakuraba was immediately booked as a main-eventer. However, unlike UWFi, Kingdom struggled to draw crowds. The rising popularity of mixed martial arts and the dominance of the Gracie family and their Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners further undermined public confidence in the fighting abilities of Kingdom's athletes.
In December 1997, Sakuraba gained significant recognition. Due to an injury to his senior, Hiromitsu Kanehara, Sakuraba was unexpectedly chosen as a substitute to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament. Although a middleweight by modern standards (weighing around 183 lb (83 kg)), he entered the tournament as a heavyweight, claiming to be 203 lb (92 kg). He went on to win the tournament, submitting the heavily favored Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Marcus Silveira with an armbar. Following his victory, Sakuraba famously declared, プロレスラーは本当は強いんですPuroresurā wa hontōwa tsuyoi n desuJapanese ("In fact, professional wrestling is strong"), which greatly boosted his public recognition. This unexpected triumph cemented his status as Kingdom's top talent, leading to a winning streak against foreign MMA competitors. However, Kingdom continued to struggle and ultimately folded in March 1998.
2.3. Major Promotions (2000s Onwards)
After the closure of Kingdom, Sakuraba's career continued to evolve with intermittent appearances in major professional wrestling promotions, showcasing his unique style and enduring popularity.
2.3.1. Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye and Inoki Genome Federation
Sakuraba made sporadic professional wrestling appearances in events promoted by Antonio Inoki. On December 31, 2000, he participated in the Millennium Fighting Arts INOKI BOM-BA-YE event, showcasing his characteristic vocalizations during his submission holds, a contrast to his typically calm demeanor in MMA bouts. After a hiatus, he returned to professional wrestling on December 31, 2011, at Genki Desu Ka!! Omisoka!! 2011, teaming with Katsuyori Shibata against Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa under Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) rules, marking his first pro wrestling match in 11 years.
2.3.2. New Japan Pro-Wrestling
On August 12, 2012, Sakuraba, alongside Katsuyori Shibata, made a surprising appearance at the final event of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax tournament, announcing their participation in NJPW. This marked Sakuraba's first work for the company since 1995, and his first time competing as a free agent rather than representing another promotion. Their tag team, collectively dubbed "Laughter7," had their first match on September 23, defeating Hiromu Takahashi and Wataru Inoue. They continued their winning streak at subsequent pay-per-views, King of Pro-Wrestling on October 8 and Power Struggle on November 11, both times defeating Togi Makabe and Wataru Inoue.
At Power Struggle, Shinsuke Nakamura nominated Sakuraba as the next challenger for his IWGP Intercontinental Championship. On December 2, Laughter7 defeated Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii in a tag team match, maintaining their undefeated record since returning. However, on January 4, 2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Sakuraba suffered his first professional wrestling defeat since his return, unsuccessfully challenging Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Laughter7 returned to winning ways at The New Beginning on February 10, defeating Hirooki Goto and Wataru Inoue. Their first tag team loss occurred on April 7 at Invasion Attack, when they were defeated by Hirooki Goto and Yuji Nagata via referee stoppage after Sakuraba injured his right elbow taking a belly-to-back suplex from Nagata. He was sidelined for two to three months but returned on July 20, defeating Yuji Nagata via submission in their first singles match, held in Sakuraba's hometown of Akita. The rivalry with Nagata continued, culminating in a singles rematch on October 14, where Sakuraba was defeated. Following the match, Sakuraba and Nagata formed a tag team to accept a challenge from Daniel Gracie and Rolles Gracie, Jr..
On January 4, 2014, at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome, Sakuraba and Nagata defeated the Gracies via disqualification due to a gi choke. A rematch on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka saw Rolles submit Sakuraba. Sakuraba suffered another loss against the Gracies on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2014, where he teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura. However, on May 25 at Back to the Yokohama Arena, Sakuraba ended the Gracies' winning streak by defeating Rolles in a singles match using a Sakuraba Lock.
Sakuraba then began a new rivalry with Minoru Suzuki, while also forming a partnership with Toru Yano, who was feuding with Suzuki's Suzuki-gun stable. This partnership led to Sakuraba becoming an associate, and eventually a full-time member, of Yano and Nakamura's Chaos stable. The rivalry between Sakuraba and Suzuki culminated in a match on January 4, 2015, at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, where Sakuraba was defeated by referee stoppage.
On April 5 at Invasion Attack 2015, Sakuraba submitted Katsuyori Shibata in a tag team match, igniting a rivalry between the former Laughter7 partners. The two faced off on July 5 at Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall, where Shibata was victorious. Sakuraba's last recorded match in New Japan Pro-Wrestling was on July 3, 2016.
2.3.3. Pro Wrestling Noah
After wrestling sporadically for independent promotions for several years, Sakuraba made a full-time return to professional wrestling for Pro Wrestling NOAH in September 2019, aligning himself with the Sugiura-gun faction led by Takashi Sugiura. He competed in various big matches within Noah. On August 30, 2020, Sakuraba and Sugiura defeated AXIZ (Go Shiozaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima) for the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship, marking Sakuraba's first-ever professional wrestling title reign. In September, Sakuraba entered the annual N1-Victory tournament as a singles competitor, finishing with 4 points (2 wins, 3 losses). As of November 22, 2020, Sakuraba and Sugiura had successfully defended the GHC tag titles on two occasions. In 2021, Sakuraba participated in the N-1 Victory tournament but did not advance to the finals.
3. Mixed Martial Arts Career
Sakuraba's mixed martial arts career is widely considered his most impactful, defined by his unpredictable style and legendary matchups against top competitors.
3.1. Early Career and UFC Japan
While some sources cite Sakuraba's match with Kimo Leopoldo on July 14, 1996, as his first MMA experience, its nature (shoot or worked) remains debated, with Sakuraba himself stating he doesn't remember it. His confirmed first foray into MMA was on June 26, 1996, against Dutch kickboxer Rene Rooze in a different-style fight, which Sakuraba won via ankle hold.
In an effort to promote the struggling Kingdom Pro Wrestling, Hiromitsu Kanehara and Yoji Anjo signed to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Ultimate Japan tournament. When Kanehara was injured, Sakuraba stepped in as a late substitute. The tournament was for heavyweights, but Sakuraba, weighing around 183 lb (83 kg), was nearly 20 lb (9 kg) below the UFC's 91 kg heavyweight designation. He reported himself as 203 lb (92 kg) to gain entry and was matched against the 240 lb (109 kg) Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former Extreme Fighting champion, Marcus Silveira.
The match saw an exchange of leglocks. Following a barrage of light blows from Silveira, Sakuraba attempted a low single-leg takedown, but referee John McCarthy controversially stopped the fight, believing Sakuraba had been knocked out. This decision sparked a loud protest from the crowd, and an angry Sakuraba attempted to address the Japanese audience. After reviewing the tape, McCarthy changed his decision to a no-contest. With Tank Abbott withdrawing due to injury, Sakuraba and Silveira faced off again that night in the tournament's championship bout.
In their second encounter, Silveira took Sakuraba's back, but Sakuraba worked for a Kimura lock. After Silveira escaped, Sakuraba capitalized on another attempt to reverse it into an armbar, forcing the Brazilian to submit. In his post-fight interview, Sakuraba famously declared, プロレスラーは本当は強いんですPuroresurā wa hontōwa tsuyoi n desuJapanese ("In fact, professional wrestling is strong"), a statement that resonated deeply with the Japanese audience and challenged the narrative of jiu-jitsu's invincibility. With this victory, Sakuraba became one of the last UFC tournament champions.
Following this, Sakuraba's newfound popularity led Kingdom to establish him as their top talent. He embarked on a winning streak against foreign mixed martial arts competitors, including Paul Herrera, Rene Rooze, Mark Hall, and Orlando Wiet. However, Kingdom continued to flounder and finally folded in March 1998.
3.2. Pride Fighting Championships
Sakuraba's move to Pride Fighting Championships marked the most iconic period of his career, where he rose to global stardom by challenging the sport's most dominant family.
3.2.1. "The Gracie Hunter" Era
Sakuraba debuted in Pride Fighting Championships at Pride 2 against Vernon White, a veteran from Pancrase with a 20 lb (9 kg) weight advantage. Sakuraba showcased a balanced display of wrestling and submission skills, consistently pursuing takedowns and submission attempts. White held him off for two rounds, but Sakuraba eventually submitted him with an armbar in the third round.
In Pride 3, Sakuraba was matched against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Carlos Newton, a talented grappler. The match was a back-and-forth grappling affair, with Sakuraba eventually securing a rolling kneebar in the second round, forcing Newton to submit.
Eager to leverage Sakuraba's shoot wrestling prowess to counter the perception that Japanese professional wrestlers were inferior to Brazilian combatants (a perception fueled by his teammates' defeats), Sakuraba's next three bouts were against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts Vitor Belfort, Allan Goes, and luta livre black belt Ebenezer Fontes Braga. A recurring theme in Sakuraba's Pride career was facing opponents who were often 20 lb (9 kg) heavier and at the top of the light heavyweight division.
His match against Allan Goes was instrumental in the evolution of Sakuraba's fighting style, as he faced an opponent with a strong defensive guard. Sakuraba attempted various moves to bypass Goes's defense, including leglocks and kicks to the legs, while also defending against Goes's upkicks and submission counterattacks. Despite both fighters coming close to finishing, the match ended in a draw due to the absence of judges in Pride's ruleset at the time. Sakuraba, always humble, stated, "I fight his style, not mine. I think I lost the fight." However, Goes, a Carlson Gracie protégé, later acknowledged Sakuraba as "the best guy I ever faced on the ground."
Against Belfort, Sakuraba withstood initial flurries from the Brazilian and took him down, landing ground and pound. As Belfort remained on the mat, Sakuraba deployed an improved strategy, punishing him with leg kicks and jumping stomps to the head, and unanswered striking combinations when Belfort was stood up. With Pride having just implemented the judges system, Sakuraba was awarded his first unanimous decision victory.
In contrast to his previous two matches, Sakuraba faced a consistently aggressive opponent in Braga, who landed effective muay thai knees and kicks. Sakuraba eventually took Braga down and secured an armbar for the tap-out.
After defeating Anthony Macias at Pride 7, Sakuraba was matched against Royler Gracie, who had previously defeated Sakuraba's stablemate Yuhi Sano. This fight featured the largest weight advantage Sakuraba had enjoyed to date, being around 30 lb (13.5 kg) heavier than Royler. Royler, unable to secure a takedown or strike effectively from a standing position, remained on the ground, attempting to bait Sakuraba into a grappling contest. Sakuraba, standing, landed punishing kicks to Royler's legs, thighs, and head. With less than two minutes remaining, Sakuraba finally engaged Royler on the ground and immediately caught him in a Kimura lock. As Sakuraba wrenched the submission, the referee intervened with 1 minute and 44 seconds remaining, stopping the contest and awarding Sakuraba the win by TKO.
Sakuraba's victory over Royler was a seismic event, marking the first loss by a Gracie in professional fighting in decades and sending shockwaves through the MMA community. While some protested the stoppage, arguing that Royler never tapped and the round was almost over, it was notable that the last Japanese athlete to defeat a Gracie prior to Sakuraba, legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, had used the very same technique to beat Royler's father, Hélio Gracie, who also refused to submit but lost. The Japanese media rejoiced, elevating Sakuraba to superstar status.
The Gracie family, however, felt cheated by Pride. Despite Sakuraba challenging Royler's older brother Rickson Gracie after the match, it was his younger brother and former UFC Champion Royce Gracie who returned to MMA in 2000, entering the 16-Man Pride Grand Prix alongside Sakuraba. For a potential Sakuraba-Royce match, the Gracies requested special rules: no referee stoppages and no time-limits, with the fight ending only by submission or knockout. This was a significant deviation from modern MMA's Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which limit matches to 25 minutes.
In his first fight of the 2000 Pride tournament, Sakuraba again faced a heavier opponent, the respected 205 lb (93 kg) fighter and former King of Pancrase, Guy Mezger. After a closely contested 15 minutes, the judges requested an overtime round. The fight ended controversially when Mezger's coach Ken Shamrock pulled his fighter from the tournament, claiming no additional rounds were agreed upon in the contract. Sakuraba won by forfeit. Meanwhile, Royce defeated Nobuhiko Takada, setting the stage for their highly anticipated showdown.
In the tournament quarterfinals, Royce and Sakuraba battled for 90 minutes (six 15-minute rounds). Gracie aggressively opened the fight, raining punches from Sakuraba's back while the Japanese fighter worked an armlock from standing. Sakuraba remained calm, knowing Royce lacked knockout power and expecting him to exhaust himself; he even smiled at the cameras during the attack. Near the end of the round, Sakuraba nearly finished the match with a kneebar. Gracie responded with a guillotine choke in the second, but Sakuraba again joked, simulating pulling down Royce's gi pants to show he was out of danger. Sakuraba took the offensive in the third round, dominating standing exchanges and forcing Royce to repeatedly lie on the ground to avoid him. As the confrontation stretched on, the Gracies' own no-time-limit rules began to work against Royce, as Sakuraba's wrestling skills and balance nullified Royce's ability to score takedowns or pull guard. Royce's jiu-jitsu gi also became a weapon for Sakuraba, who used it to control Gracie on the rare occasions the fight went to the ground. However, with Sakuraba's takedown control, ground exchanges became increasingly sporadic. After Sakuraba landed a long series of punishing leg kicks in the fifth and sixth rounds, Royce's brother, Rorion, threw in the towel.
Exhausted from his battle with Royce, Sakuraba surprised many by emerging for the tournament semi-finals. His opponent, Igor Vovchanchyn, outweighed him by nearly 60 lb (27 kg) (Sakuraba weighed 176 lb (79.8 kg) for the Royce bout) and was considered the top heavyweight striker. Sakuraba surprised Vovchanchyn by taking him down and nearly finishing him with an armbar. Sakuraba was actually leading past the 10-minute mark, but Igor reversed a takedown and evened the first round with ground strikes. After the first round was declared a draw, Sakuraba's corner threw in the towel before overtime, primarily due to fatigue.
Following the Grand Prix, the Japanese sports media christened Sakuraba the "Gracie Hunter." Adhering to his new nickname, Sakuraba secured a swift victory via achilles lock against Shannon Ritch between fights against brothers Renzo Gracie and Ryan Gracie. Unlike Royler and Royce, Renzo and Ryan were products of Carlson Gracie's jiu-jitsu, which emphasized combat-ready skills and training without a gi.
At the time of his bout with Sakuraba, Renzo's only loss in 10 bouts was a closely contested decision to Sakuraba's former UWFi stablemate and rival, Kiyoshi Tamura. Renzo's stylistic differences were evident early in the contest, as he pressed the pace with kicks and punches, though few connected. Sakuraba responded in kind, leading to a striking stalemate. Integrating his wrestling, Sakuraba timed double and single leg takedowns against Renzo's flurries, from which he attempted to cartwheel past Gracie's guard, malign his legs with kicks from a standing position, and even attack with a baseball slide. However, Renzo's defensive skills from the bottom nullified Sakuraba's offensive attempts. After using an entry derived from the De la Riva guard, Renzo took the wrestler's back, pressing him against the turnbuckle with seconds remaining. With time ticking away, Sakuraba locked in a kimura from the back and spun around, flipping Renzo to the canvas even as he wrenched his arm. Like Royler and Helio before him, Renzo refused to submit despite his elbow being snapped prior to hitting the ground. The referee stopped the contest due to the injury, awarding victory to Sakuraba.
After the fight, Renzo took the microphone before 35,000 fans at the Seibu Dome and declared Sakuraba "the Japanese version of the Gracie family." Renzo has since referred to the bout as his proudest moment in mixed martial arts, calling Sakuraba "his hero" and remembering their match as "one of the biggest lessons he learned in his life." Commentator Stephen Quadros stated, "if any fans still doubted the abilities of Kazushi Sakuraba in MMA competition, they are now silent." Ryan Gracie, who had fought on the same card and emerged victorious, jumped into the ring and challenged Sakuraba, which was accepted.
The fight between Sakuraba and Ryan was scheduled for Pride 12. Due to a shoulder injury, the fight was limited to a single 10-minute round. Ryan's spirited efforts were generally controlled by Sakuraba, who noticeably avoided attacks on his younger opponent's injured arm. Despite this, Sakuraba later claimed in an interview that he believed Ryan was faking the injury to catch him off guard. Nonetheless, Sakuraba displayed his usual antics during the match, at one point delivering chops to Ryan's rear while controlling him.
3.2.2. Post-Gracie Era and Major Rivalries
Following the win against Ryan, Sakuraba was slated to battle Pancrase veteran Bas Rutten, but Rutten declined, replaced by Brazilian muay thai specialist Wanderlei Silva. Sakuraba was a heavy favorite, but he faced a significant weight disadvantage and the bout was under Pride's new rules, which allowed kicks and knees to the head of a downed opponent, greatly benefiting Silva. During the match, Sakuraba managed to knock Silva down with a right hook, but the Brazilian recovered and dropped Sakuraba with a barrage of punches and kicks. As Sakuraba turtled while attempting a takedown, Silva delivered multiple knees to his head and ultimately finished him with kicks to the face. This marked Sakuraba's second MMA defeat and his first loss in the 205 lb (93 kg) division. Sakuraba then shocked the audience by giving Silva his belt engraved with "Saku." Silva stated he would willingly give Sakuraba a rematch, which the Japanese accepted.
After recuperating, Sakuraba faced Quinton Jackson, an American collegiate wrestler with a 10-1 record. Sakuraba immediately took the bigger man down with a low single-leg. However, Jackson's superior size and strength allowed him to muscle out of Sakuraba's submission attempts. After locking his legs around Jackson for a triangle choke, Sakuraba was repeatedly slammed to the canvas in a powerbomb-like fashion. He later attempted an armbar, only for Jackson to lift him up and attempt to drop him from the ring. With an unchanging expression, Sakuraba continued to flow from one lock to another. Eventually, he took the back of an exhausted Jackson and submitted him with his first rear naked choke victory. This contest launched Jackson's career, leading to a long-term Pride contract and later, a UFC championship.
The Jackson bout re-established Sakuraba's ability to handle larger opponents and set up another shot at Wanderlei Silva for Pride's inaugural 205 lb (93 kg) championship. Sakuraba, typically known for humorous entrances, appeared somber and focused for the rematch. He scored an early takedown, working from Silva's guard and searching for a leglock. He then gained control, avoiding Silva's strikes and threatening with clinches and takedowns. Midway through the round, Sakuraba locked a tight guillotine choke, but Silva countered with a wild slam that broke Sakuraba's collarbone. Sakuraba managed to end the round with submission attempts from the bottom, but his corner threw in the towel between rounds due to the severity of his injury.
Sakuraba took time off to heal his shoulder, also briefly training basic Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Sergio Penha at Takada Dojo. He returned against heavyweight kickboxer Mirko Cro Cop. Sakuraba had rejected a special ruleset of no strikes on the ground as part of a "K-1 vs Pride" theme, not wanting any special treatment. Ironically, despite taking Cro Cop down with hard kicks, Sakuraba lost the match while exchanging strikes from Cro Cop's guard when an upkick from the kickboxer broke his orbital bone.
Pride management then placed him against fighters of his own weight class, first Gilles Arsene (whom Sakuraba dominated) and then Antônio Schembri, a Rickson Gracie protégé. With a win over Schembri, it was speculated that Sakuraba might be groomed for a championship fight in a new division for his size. Sakuraba initially controlled the fight, landing many hits and breaking Schembri's nose. However, while going for one of his trademark Mongolian chops, Schembri stunned him with a series of knee strikes (controversially preceded by an illegal headbutt), winning by TKO.
After the defeat to Schembri, Sakuraba expressed a desire to gain weight and move up to the heavyweight division, hoping to fight either Bob Sapp or Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko. However, this did not materialize. Instead, Sakuraba faced Wanderlei Silva for the third time at Pride Total Elimination. The bout mirrored their first encounter; Sakuraba displayed a comical entrance and traded strikes with Silva. Sakuraba faked takedowns and attacked with uppercuts, followed by a real takedown attempt that Silva blocked with knees to the head. Sakuraba escaped and continued trading hits, but despite his best efforts to match Silva's striking, Wanderlei knocked him out with a jab-cross combination. After the fight, there was talk of Sakuraba's retirement, but it did not come to pass.
These defeats marked a turning point in Sakuraba's career; after being unbeaten in his first nine Pride bouts, he then split his next six matches. He had a notable victory over Kevin Randleman, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, widely remembered for Sakuraba's entrance dressed as Mario, a pun reflecting the Japanese media referring to Randleman as Donkey Kong. In the match, Randleman quickly took Sakuraba down, but the Japanese fighter countered by setting up submissions from every position. Randleman made a mistake and was caught in an armbar in the third round.
At Pride Shockwave 2003, Sakuraba faced Antônio Rogério Nogueira, brother of the famous Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Nogueira opened the match with punches, but Sakuraba answered, opening a cut on Nogueira's eye that almost stopped the bout. Both men battled for several minutes, with Nogueira gaining the upper hand in striking and Sakuraba in wrestling, allowing him to get into Nogueira's guard and inflict significant damage. In the second round, Nogueira caught Sakuraba in a triangle choke/armbar combo, but Sakuraba escaped and sought his own submission to no effect. Finally, the third round saw Nogueira take over with punches and knees, exchanging strikes with Sakuraba until the last minute, ultimately winning the decision.
After a quick TKO victory over decorated judoka Yoon Dong-Sik in the opening round of the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix, Sakuraba suffered a particularly devastating yet controversial loss against Ricardo Arona in the quarterfinal. Although Sakuraba put Arona on his back and landed his signature jumping stomps, the heavier and stronger Arona soon overpowered him, landing brutal knees to the head and hard soccer kicks to the face. Arona's toenail accidentally slashed Sakuraba's left eye, which Ricardo then capitalized on by squeezing the cut and digging his finger into it, attempting to force a doctor stoppage. Sakuraba tried to continue, but Arona delivered another flurry of knees and multiple soccer kicks, severely swelling and bloodying Sakuraba's face. Sakuraba ultimately lost the fight by technical knockout after his corner called a stop at the conclusion of the second round due to the damage sustained.
Following this loss, Pride president Sakakibara suggested Sakuraba move down to the newly formed 183 lb (83 kg) division. However, Sakuraba instead began training at Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil alongside his one-time rival Wanderlei Silva. This move also held symbolic value, as Chute Boxe was rivaling Arona's Brazilian Top Team.
Upon completing his training, Sakuraba returned to the ring for another contest at the 205 lb (93 kg) limit, this time against fellow shoot wrestler Ken Shamrock. Three minutes into the bout, Sakuraba landed a left hand through Shamrock's guard. Shamrock staggered and fell into the ropes, his head hanging out of the ring with his back turned to Sakuraba. Sakuraba rushed to follow up, but the fight was halted by referee Yuji Shimada before any meaningful offense could be launched. Shamrock protested vigorously, but opinions were mixed regarding the KO's legitimacy, with some, like Ken's adopted brother Frank Shamrock, believing the stoppage was justified.
Prior to Pride's Shockwave 2005 New Year's Eve event, Sakuraba strongly lobbied for a match against fellow shoot wrestler and professional wrestling proponent, Kiyoshi Tamura, even publicly requesting the bout. With Tamura refusing, Sakuraba recommended another shoot wrestler, Ikuhisa Minowa, who referred to himself as a "real pro wrestler." Sakuraba requested this match not out of any grudge, but believing they would put on a fight worthy of the Shockwave event. The competitive bout saw Sakuraba fighting from the bottom, using both men's submission attempts to force scrambles. After long minutes pinned under Sakuraba, Minowa escaped and took his back, but Sakuraba applied a Kimura lock which, though Minowa did not tap, nonetheless prompted the referee to halt the contest. This victory marked his final bout under the Pride banner, one of the few times he was matched against an opponent of his own size from the 183 lb (83 kg) division, and his first bout against a Japanese fighter in Pride.
3.3. Hero's
Sakuraba's move to Hero's, a new promotion, marked a period of both significant fights and controversies.
3.3.1. Leaving Pride
On May 3, 2006, Sakuraba made a surprising appearance at a Hero's event with Hero's head Akira Maeda, wearing street clothes and a pro wrestling mask in the style of his childhood hero, Tiger Mask. While he did not reveal his identity, it was apparent it was Sakuraba, signaling his signing with K-1 and FEG. A day later, Sakuraba officially announced his move to Hero's at a FEG press conference. His departure from Pride was foreshadowed by several signs, including his reported departure from Takada Dojo (run by Pride's general manager, Nobuhiko Takada) and his conspicuous absence from Pride's 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Tournament. His former mentor, Nobuhiko Takada, expressed strong disappointment, stating their relationship was severed due to Sakuraba's lack of proper prior notice about his move and his decision to join a rival promotion.
3.3.2. Hero's Light Heavyweight Tournament
Sakuraba was scheduled to compete in Hero's Light Heavyweight Tournament. His first opponent was the 16-5 Lithuanian fighter Kęstutis Smirnovas. Sakuraba started aggressively, flooring Smirnovas with a kick, but as he followed up, he was caught and knocked down. Sakuraba then slid under the bottom rope, and Smirnovas unleashed multiple blows to his head. As Sakuraba appeared unable to defend himself, the referee stepped in. However, instead of stopping the fight, the referee controversially repositioned the fighters into the ring and resumed the bout. Following the restart, Smirnovas continued his assault, but Sakuraba managed to escape, land a sharp combination, and bloody Smirnovas's face. Turning the tide, Sakuraba dominated the striking exchanges until Smirnovas dropped to the ground. Sakuraba then secured an armbar, forcing his opponent to submit.
Initially, there were doubts about Sakuraba's ability to continue in the tournament due to the damage sustained against Smirnovas. However, a follow-up CAT scan found no irregularities, and he was slated to face one-time Olympic judoka, Yoshihiro Akiyama, in the tournament's semi-finals. However, during a hard sparring session, Sakuraba began vomiting and fainted. After being rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with vertebrobasilar damage, which restricted blood circulation to his head and neck, attributed to years of untreated head injuries dating back to his college years. This diagnosis forced his withdrawal from the tournament.
3.3.3. K-1 Dynamite!!!
Despite this revelation, Sakuraba returned to action on December 31, 2006, against Yoshihiro Akiyama at K-1 Dynamite!!. During the bout, after being hit with several punches, Sakuraba attempted a takedown but repeatedly slipped from Akiyama's body. As he continued to take punishment, Sakuraba opted to drop to his back and attempt a kneebar, but his grip inexplicably failed again. With Sakuraba trapped against the ropes and struggling for a submission, Akiyama was free to attack with ground and pound for the referee stoppage. Words were exchanged between Sakuraba and referee Yoshinori Umeki before the stop, which was initiated by a bell at the behest of Akira Maeda, the event coordinator.
Afterwards, Sakuraba surprised many with complaints that Akiyama's body had been greased, pointing out his slippery movements and the lack of grip. The referee checked Akiyama's body and indicated nothing unusual. The controversy escalated with new accusations of weighed gloves. K-1 launched an investigation, finding Akiyama's gloves to be regulation, but video revealed Akiyama applying lotion to his skin. Akiyama, who claimed he was treating dry skin, was found to be "negligent" and disqualified. The fight was declared a no-contest, and Akiyama's purse was withheld. Akiyama offered a public apology, though Sakuraba later expressed strong disdain, stating he did not want to meet Akiyama again.
Although Sakuraba wore a shirt into the ring against Akiyama that read "K Sakuraba: End of Service," his experience apparently changed his retirement plans. At Hero's 8, he submitted the winless Yurij Kiseliov by armbar.
Following that win, he was slated to share the MMA ring with fellow shoot wrestler and UWFi alumnus, Kiyoshi Tamura. Sakuraba, once again donning his Tiger Mask guise (as he had when signaling his exodus from Pride to Hero's), wore the mask this time to mark his return to Pride at their final DSE promoted show, Kamikaze. Before the crowd at Saitama Super Arena, Sakuraba and Tamura publicly voiced their willingness to meet in a Pride ring, shaking hands and embracing. A bout between Tamura and Sakuraba had been one of Pride's most frequently promised, yet never delivered, matchups.
On June 2, 2007, Sakuraba rematched Royce Gracie in K-1 Dynamite!! USA. While Sakuraba knocked Gracie to the canvas early, the bout proceeded at a relatively slow pace, with Sakuraba scoring multiple takedowns and Gracie landing flailing kicks and knee strikes from the bottom and standing. Sakuraba also besieged Gracie on the ground, ending the bout by taking Gracie's back and searching for an armbar. Royce won by unanimous decision, a decision widely disputed by viewers and MMA sites, with Sherdog scoring it for Sakuraba. Moreover, Gracie tested positive for anabolic steroids after the bout, though the decision was not overturned.
3.3.4. Sakuraba versus Funaki
Sakuraba returned to the ring on September 17, 2007, at K-1 Hero's 10 against former NJPW pro wrestler Katsuyori Shibata. Prior to the bout, Shibata's trainer, Masakatsu Funaki, had challenged Sakuraba, citing their styles as a recipe for an entertaining contest. Shibata came out striking aggressively but was quickly taken down by Sakuraba's single leg. Shibata unleashed a torrent of blows from his back, but Sakuraba responded with strikes before transitioning into an armbar and finishing the bout.
Following his victory, Sakuraba praised Shibata's fighting spirit and accepted Funaki's challenge. Funaki, like Sakuraba, was trained in shoot wrestling and emerged from a career in the UWF, the direct predecessor of Sakuraba's UWFi. Both men shared a history of submission wins over world-class opposition and were recognized as top Japanese mixed martial artists. Their bout headlined K-1's year-end Dynamite!! show, which annually garners the most TV viewers for an MMA event in Japan. The two fighters had colorful entrances, with Sakuraba featuring himself and baseball player Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi dressed in identical fighting gear and Ultraman masks.
In the match, Sakuraba secured a double-leg takedown after Funaki missed a big right cross. Funaki attempted a kneebar, but Sakuraba's submission acumen and their position near the ring ropes thwarted him. Sakuraba then maneuvered to Funaki's back, only for Funaki to roll back into guard. Breaking from grappling, Sakuraba stood and assaulted Funaki's legs with kicks, which Funaki answered with an upkick, cutting Sakuraba's eye. Sakuraba then returned to the ground, where Funaki attempted a sweep, but Sakuraba blocked it and secured a Kimura lock (double wristlock), eventually forcing Funaki to submit. After the match, event producer Sadaharu Tanikawa discussed a possible matchup between Sakuraba and Rickson Gracie the following year, which Sakuraba approved, though it never materialized.
3.4. Dream
In 2008, it was announced that Kazushi Sakuraba would compete in the Middleweight Grand Prix of the new MMA promotion, Dream. On April 29, 2008, Sakuraba defeated Andrews Nakahara in the main event at Dream 2: Middle Weight Grandprix 2008 1st Round via face lock. However, he was knocked out (and thus eliminated from the tournament) by Melvin Manhoef in the main event of Dream 4: Middle Weight Grandprix 2008 2nd Round. During the match, Sakuraba suffered an ulna fracture of his left forearm from a kick by Manhoef.
On December 31, it was announced that Kiyoshi Tamura and Kazushi Sakuraba were set to fight at the K-1 Dynamite!! 2008 event. The fight primarily featured Sakuraba fighting from his back, attempting armbars, kneebars, and triangle chokes from his guard, while Tamura defended and applied ground and pound. At the end of the first round, Sakuraba appeared to have an armbar locked in, but the bell sounded. Tamura controlled much of the second round, consistently kicking Sakuraba's injured legs. Sakuraba took him down in the final minute and launched a barrage of punches, but the bell ended his attacks again. Ultimately, Tamura was awarded a unanimous decision. Sakuraba's entrance for this fight featured a Kamen Rider motif.
After his return to Dream, Sakuraba defeated boxer-turned-MMA fighter Rubin Williams at Dream 11 via armlock, before facing Croatian Zelg Galesic on Dream 12. Sakuraba took Galesic to the ground via single leg takedown and immediately transitioned to a leg lock. Galesic tried to defend by raining punches on Sakuraba, who absorbed them and held onto Galesic's leg until he successfully made the Croatian tap out due to a kneebar.
On May 29, 2010, he faced Ralek Gracie at the Saitama Super Arena in Dream 14. This was the sixth time Sakuraba faced a Gracie, despite a significant age difference between the 41-year-old Japanese fighter and the 24-year-old Brazilian. The wrestler performed well, but Gracie dominated, showing training specialized to counter Sakuraba's style. Controversy arose near the end of the fight when Sakuraba seemed to secure a kimura, but the referee paused the match to pull up Ralek's pants. This pause allowed the Brazilian to recover and apply an armbar, which Sakuraba escaped, but Gracie ultimately won by unanimous decision.
On September 25, at Dream 16, Sakuraba lost to Jason "Mayhem" Miller via arm-triangle choke, marking his first career submission loss. Sakuraba fought for the Dream Welterweight Championship against current champion Marius Zaromskis at Dynamite!! 2010 in December 2010. The fight ended in a doctor stoppage after Sakuraba's ear was partially ripped off. This was Sakuraba's first significant weight cut, as he dropped to welterweight. Sakuraba fought against undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt Yan Cabral at Dream 17, losing via head arm triangle. This was Sakuraba's sixth loss in his last eight fights.
In May 2012, FEG, the company that organized K-1 and Dream, filed for bankruptcy, leaving fighters with a total of approximately 2.00 B JPY in unpaid fight money. Despite being owed over two years of fight money himself by October 2011, Sakuraba never demanded payment. Furthermore, he designed the logo for "Tany's Labo," a new venture started by then-FEG president Sadaharu Tanikawa. He later stated that his own gym, Laughter7, which he closed in November 2012 after four and a half years, could have continued if FEG hadn't gone bankrupt.
3.5. Rizin Fighting Federation
On October 8, 2015, new Japanese mixed martial arts promotion Rizin Fighting Federation announced that Sakuraba would face fellow Japanese fighter and grappler Shinya Aoki on December 29, 2015. This marked Sakuraba's return to the sport after a four-year hiatus. Sakuraba lost the fight via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:56 in the first round after being taken down and receiving ground and pound.
On April 17, 2016, at RIZIN.1, Sakuraba teamed with Hideo Tokoro in a "Grappling Double Bout" against Wanderlei Silva and Kiyoshi Tamura, which ended in a 15-minute time-limit draw. In November 2016, he became an advisor for the Korean MMA event "Apec FC" at the request of his former opponent Yoon Dong-sik.
In June 2017, the UFC announced Sakuraba's induction into the UFC Hall of Fame under the Pioneer wing, making him the first Japanese inductee. He attended the induction ceremony in Las Vegas on July 6, wearing a traditional Japanese 紋付袴montsuki hakamaJapanese (formal kimono) and his signature mask, with Don Frye serving as the presenter.
4. Submission Grappling Career
Beyond his celebrated MMA career, Sakuraba has also made significant contributions to submission grappling, including founding his own promotion.
4.1. Quintet
In April 2018, Sakuraba announced the formation of a unique submission wrestling promotion named Quintet (grappling). The promotion features five-man teams competing under a kachi-nuki-shiai tournament format, similar to Nanatei Judo, emphasizing the concept of "smaller beating bigger." He serves as the producer and also competes in the event. He participated in the inaugural event, Quintet.1, on April 11, 2018, at Ryogoku Kokugikan, where his team was eliminated in the semi-final round. The event has also been held in Las Vegas, showcasing top grapplers and MMA fighters.
Sakuraba captained his own team, Team Sakuraba, at Quintet 4 on September 10, 2023. He drew his only match, and his team exited in the opening round.
4.2. Other Grappling Competitions
On November 22, 2014, Sakuraba competed against Renzo Gracie in a grappling match at Metamoris V. Renzo initially maintained a defensive closed guard, with both fighters exchanging guillotine choke attempts. Renzo eventually flipped Sakuraba over and pinned him, but Sakuraba resisted all submission attempts. With 90 seconds left, Sakuraba scrambled and attempted an unsuccessful Kimura. The fight ended in a draw.
On October 15, 2017, Sakuraba fought former UFC champion Frank Shamrock at Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix 2017 Autumn: Aki Jin event in Fukuoka, Japan, in a grappling exhibition match in the 185 lb (84 kg) division, which ended in a draw. On April 17, 2016, at RIZIN.1, Sakuraba partnered with Hideo Tokoro in a grappling tag match against Wanderlei Silva and Kiyoshi Tamura, which also resulted in a 15-minute time-limit draw.
In June 2024, Sakuraba participated in the "Bloodsport Bushido" event against Santino Marella. Although Marella attempted his signature "Cobra" strike, Sakuraba countered and secured an Achilles lock for the victory. On July 28, 2024, Sakuraba appeared at Super RIZIN.3 with his son, Taisei Sakuraba, announcing his son's Rizin debut.
5. Fighting Style
Sakuraba became renowned for a unique, unorthodox fighting style that has been described as creative and groundbreaking, often appearing to "throw all we'd thought we'd learned about martial arts on its head." He integrated techniques from professional wrestling into his MMA game, including spinning sole kicks, jumping stomps, Mongolian chops, and baseball slides. He also incorporated cartwheels to pass guard and employed various confusing, often comical, tricks to gain an advantage over his opponents.
His primary strength, however, stemmed from his comprehensive abilities developed from shoot-style wrestling. This included a grinding striking game learned from muay thai and brilliant catch wrestling submission expertise. He submitted prominent grapplers of his era, such as Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, and Masakatsu Funaki, using his signature double top wrist lock, also known as the Kimura lock or "Sakuraba Lock," a technique he applied both from standing and on the ground. While he was not afraid of exposing his back to secure this hold, Sakuraba also used the technique as a positional weapon, threatening with it to control his adversaries.
His fighting style was highly praised by his peers. Renzo Gracie lauded his ability to exploit his opponent's weaknesses, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira commended his technical skill, and Mark Kerr hailed him as the world's best technician of his era.
6. Personal Life and Public Image
Kazushi Sakuraba maintains a distinctive public persona and has shared insights into his personal life, revealing a unique blend of dedication and a relaxed attitude towards certain aspects of his lifestyle.
6.1. Personal Background
Sakuraba is married and has a son, Taisei Sakuraba, who is also pursuing a career in combat sports and made his Rizin debut. He is an atheist. Despite the rigorous demands of his profession, Sakuraba has admitted to regular alcohol consumption and is a smoker, habits he has never cared much about changing.
Regarding the significant weight differences between himself and many of his opponents throughout his career, and the subsequent discussions about performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and the banning of IVs for rehydration, Sakuraba has stated, "it doesn't matter if they [the opponent] use a pill or medicine to get bigger or smaller, I just train hard, eat healthy, fight at my weight and try my best to beat them. For me it doesn't matter if they use drugs, but I would not use it. I'm sure it's bad if they use it to win." This highlights his focus on personal effort rather than external aids.
His willingness to fight outside his weight class was a defining characteristic; he once declared, "the more impossible the fights got, the more willing to accept them I became." Although he once desired to fight him, Sakuraba later cited Fedor Emelianenko as the only fighter he ever refused to fight.
In June 2021, Sakuraba was honored as a torch bearer for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Akita Prefecture, his hometown. In November 2019, he was also appointed as the Akita Prefecture Sports Ambassador, receiving an appointment certificate and business cards from the governor.
6.2. Personality and Anecdotes
Sakuraba is known for his unique sense of humor and various quirks both inside and outside the ring. His image color is orange, which he adopted after borrowing an orange costume from his senior, Kento Kakihara, in UWFi. He has continued to favor orange spats and even uses an orange mat in his gym, Laughter7. A popular tradition involves him throwing masks into the audience during his ring entrances.
He shares a close friendship with former professional baseball player Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (retired in 2013), with whom he has had extensive interactions, including Sakuraba accompanying Shimoyanagi during offseason training. Shimoyanagi often served as Sakuraba's corner man for his fights.
Sakuraba has a tendency to listen to only one artist's music repeatedly when he becomes engrossed, though his tastes are diverse, ranging from BOØWY to Yujiro Ishihara and even Dead or Alive (band). He is a devoted fan of Tamori Club's "Sorimimi Hour" segment, to the extent of bringing recorded DVDs on overseas trips.
Despite belonging to different promotions, Sakuraba shared a bond with the late Jumbo Tsuruta, who was also a senior from Chuo University's wrestling club and a pioneer in transitioning from amateur wrestling to professional wrestling. In MMA, Sakuraba is famous for his elaborate cosplay and professional wrestling-related gags during his ring entrances, designed to entertain fans. He also often uses Jumbo Tsuruta's signature "Oh!!" pose and yell in his Pro Wrestling Noah matches.
A humorous anecdote reveals that his mother had never seen any of his matches when he returned to his hometown. Sakuraba jokingly chided her, saying, "You should at least remember what your son does for a living."
7. Legacy and Assessment
Kazushi Sakuraba's legacy in combat sports is immense, characterized by his ground-breaking victories, distinct style, and enduring popularity that transcended promotions.
7.1. Championships and Accomplishments
Sakuraba has accumulated numerous titles and awards across his amateur wrestling, professional wrestling, and mixed martial arts careers, cementing his status as a combat sports icon.
- Amateur wrestling
- National High School Greco-Roman Style Wrestling Championship (68 kg class): 3rd place (1987)
- Inter-High School Wrestling Tournament: Runner-up (team competition, 1987)
- East Japan Student Spring Freshman Freestyle Championship (68 kg class): Winner (1989)
- All-Japan University Wrestling Championships: 4th place
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament winner (1997)
- First Japanese tournament winner in UFC history
- UFC Hall of Fame (Pioneer wing, Class of 2017)
- Fight of the Night (One time) (vs. Marcus Silveira)
- Pride Fighting Championships
- 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix semi-finalist
- Longest fight in Pride FC history (90:00 vs. Royce Gracie at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals)
- Tied with Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for the most submission wins (11) in Pride FC history
- Sherdog
- Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Class of 2014)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
- Best Box Office Draw (2001)
- Feud of the Year (2001) (vs. Wanderlei Silva)
- Best Shootfighter (2000)
- Best Shoot Match (2000) (vs. Royce Gracie)
- Tokyo Sports
- Most Valuable Player (2000)
- Outstanding Performance (1999)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Professional Wrestling
- Kingdom
- Kingdom One Million Yen Tournament (1997)
- Nikkan Sports
- Outstanding Performance Award (1999)
- Wrestler of the Year (2000)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 238 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017
- Pro Wrestling Noah
- GHC Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Takashi Sugiura
- Tokyo Sports
- Best Tag Team Award (2020) - with Takashi Sugiura
- Kingdom
7.2. Controversies and Notable Incidents
Sakuraba's career, while celebrated, was not without its share of major controversies, particularly regarding his fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama.
7.2.1. Akiyama Yoshihiro Greasing Controversy
The fight between Kazushi Sakuraba and Yoshihiro Akiyama on December 31, 2006, at K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!! became a significant controversy. During the bout, Sakuraba felt Akiyama's body was unusually slippery when attempting takedowns. He repeatedly appealed to the referee, even shouting "It's slippery!" and "Foul!" while taking punishment from Akiyama's ground and pound. Despite his repeated protests and an unusual request for a timeout, the fight was not stopped by the referee; instead, it was halted by a gong at the discretion of the chief referee and Akira Maeda. After the fight, Sakuraba, uncharacteristically angered, continued to point at Akiyama and express his frustration, stating backstage, "I'll protest strongly!" and "Unbelievable!"
Days later, the controversy escalated as evidence emerged that Akiyama had applied a skin cream to his body before the match. Akiyama's defense was that he suffered from severe hyperhidrosis and applied lotion (containing petroleum jelly and glycerin) for dry skin, claiming he was unaware it was a foul. However, Hero's rules explicitly prohibited any substance on the body. Investigations revealed that body checks before the fight were lax due to time constraints and Akiyama's quick entrance.
Sakuraba himself recounted in his book Boku... that he urged a sub-referee and staff to smell Akiyama's gloves, which had a "sweet, tropical scent." While most denied smelling anything unusual, one person discreetly confirmed the scent but asked him not to tell anyone, leading Sakuraba to feel "there was no one on my side."
On January 11, 2007, the event organizers held a press conference where they confirmed Akiyama had applied lotion. Despite ruling it a "negligent" act rather than malicious due to Akiyama applying it openly, the fight was declared a no-contest. Akiyama's fight purse was fully confiscated, and he received an indefinite suspension from FEG-promoted events. The referee, Yoshinori Umeki, and other officials also faced disciplinary action. Akiyama publicly apologized, expressing a desire to apologize to Sakuraba in person and "laugh and fight again" if the opportunity arose. However, Sakuraba later stated, "He's like a shoplifting grandma, isn't he? Apologize in the moment and it's over. So no need to apologize. I never want to see him again."
8. Media Appearances
Kazushi Sakuraba's popularity has extended beyond the ring, leading to various appearances in film, television, and commercials.
8.1. Film and Television
Sakuraba has appeared in several films and television programs. His filmography includes:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Nagurimono | Ginkaku | |
| 2009 | Baton | Robot Guard | Voice |
| 2018 | Mutafukaz | El Diablo | Voice; Japanese dubbing version |
He also had a unique regular television program titled "39 LOVER'S" (Sakuraba's Lovers) on Tokai Television from January to March 2001. This was an unusual occurrence for a combat sports athlete to have a regular crown program, especially a local mini-program focused solely on him. The show explored "who Kazushi Sakuraba is" by detailing his profile, signature techniques, and personality. He has also appeared in other TV programs such as Jounetsu Tairiku and Top Runner. In television dramas, he appeared in episode 7 of Sasaki Fusai no Jingi Naki Tatakai (2008, TBS) and Genryo Boxer (2009, BeeTV).
8.2. Commercials and Other Media
Sakuraba has lent his image to various commercials, including:
- Kyowa Hakko Kirin "Super Lemon"
- Kirin Brewery "Lager Beer"
- Orient Corporation "Orico Card"
- Recruit Holdings "FromA"
- Toyo Suisan "Midori no Tanuki"
- Tokuhon "Tokuhon V Dash"
- Hitachi Maxell "DVD-R"
- Takara Shuzo "Zipang"
- Uniqlo
- Dwango "IroMeroMix"
- Sammy Corporation "Hokuto no Ken SE"
- Shiseido "uno"
- Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical "Allegran FX" (2013 onwards, as "Sakuraba")
- Jichodo "Jawin" (image visual)
Additionally, a Pachislot game titled "Sakusuro" was released by Raster in 2007.
9. Authored Works
Kazushi Sakuraba has authored or been featured in several published works, offering insights into his techniques, philosophies, and career.
- Sugowaza Pro Wrestler Kazushi Sakuraba no Han-Joushiki Gijutsu Kouza (凄技 プロレスラー桜庭和志の反常識技術講座Japanese, "Super Technique: Pro Wrestler Kazushi Sakuraba's Anti-Common Sense Technique Course") (Baseball Magazine Sha, 1999)
- Boku. - Kazushi Sakuraba Daizenshu (ぼく。-桜庭和志大全集Japanese, "Me. - Kazushi Sakuraba Complete Works") (Toho Publishing, 2000)
- Kakuto Borderless - Saikyo o Kimeru Otoko-tachi no Shougen! (格闘ボーダレス-最強を決める男たちの証言!Japanese, "Fighting Borderless - Testimonies of Men Who Determine the Strongest!") (Softgarage, 2000)
- Kazushi Sakuraba no Gimmick - Kore ga Sakuraba-ryu PRIDE Hisshouhou Da (桜庭和志のギミック-これが桜庭流PRIDE必勝法だJapanese, "Kazushi Sakuraba's Gimmick - This is Sakuraba-style PRIDE Winning Method") (Gakken Holdings, 2000)
- Sakubon - Kazushi Sakuraba Koshiki Magazine (さくぼん-桜庭和志公式マガジンJapanese, "Sakubon - Kazushi Sakuraba Official Magazine") (Double Cross, 2001)
- Comic & Document Kazushi Sakuraba (Comic&Document 桜庭和志Japanese) (Kodansha, 2001)
- Marugoto Kazushi Sakuraba - Gong Kakutogi 1999-2001 Hen (まるごと桜庭和志-ゴング格闘技1999-2001編Japanese, "All About Kazushi Sakuraba - Gong Kakutogi 1999-2001 Edition") (Nippon Sports Publishing, 2001)
- WORKS - Special edition (For Brick, 2001, co-authored)
- Kaettekita Boku. (帰ってきたぼく。Japanese, "I'm Back.") (Toho Publishing, 2002)
- Boku... (ぼく...。Japanese, "Me...") (Toho Publishing, 2007)
- Dokuso-ryoku. (独創力。Japanese, "Creativity.") (Soeisha, 2009)
- Kangaezu ni, Atama o Tsukau (考えずに、頭を使うJapanese, "Use Your Head Without Thinking") (PHP Institute, 2012)
- Kazushi Sakuraba COMPLETE - 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Baseball Magazine Sha, 2013)
- Kanashimi no Boku. (哀しみのぼく。Japanese, "My Sadness.") (Toho Publishing, 2014)
- 2000-nen no Kazushi Sakuraba (2000年の桜庭和志Japanese, "Kazushi Sakuraba in 2000") by Ken Yanagisawa (Bungeishunju, 2020)
10. Records
This section provides a detailed overview of Kazushi Sakuraba's competitive records across various disciplines.
10.1. Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 26-17-1 (2) | Shinya Aoki | TKO (corner stoppage) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba | December 29, 2015 | 1 | 5:56 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 26-16-1 (2) | Yan Cabral | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Dream 17 | September 24, 2011 | 2 | 2:42 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 26-15-1 (2) | Marius Žaromskis | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Dynamite | 2010 | December 31, 2010 | 1 | 2:16 | Saitama, Japan | Return to Welterweight. For the Dream Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 26-14-1 (2) | Jason Miller | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Dream 16 | September 25, 2010 | 1 | 2:09 | Nagoya, Japan | First career submission loss. | |
| Loss | 26-13-1 (2) | Ralek Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | Dream 14 | May 29, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Catchweight (192 lb (87.09 kg)) bout. | |
| Win | 26-12-1 (2) | Zelg Galešić | Submission (kneebar) | Dream 12 | October 25, 2009 | 1 | 1:40 | Osaka, Japan | ||
| Win | 25-12-1 (2) | Rubin Williams | Submission (kimura) | Dream 11 | October 06, 2009 | 1 | 2:53 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 24-12-1 (2) | Kiyoshi Tamura | Decision (unanimous) | Dynamite | 2008 | December 31, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 24-11-1 (2) | Melvin Manhoef | TKO (punches) | Dream 4 | June 15, 2008 | 1 | 1:30 | Yokohama, Japan | 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Sakuraba suffered an ulnar fracture of the left forearm. | |
| Win | 24-10-1 (2) | Andrews Nakahara | Submission (neck crank) | Dream 2 | April 29, 2008 | 1 | 8:20 | Saitama, Japan | 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix Opening round. | |
| Win | 23-10-1 (2) | Masakatsu Funaki | Submission (kimura) | K-1 PREMIUM 2007 Dynamite | December 31, 2007 | 1 | 6:25 | Osaka, Japan | Light Heavyweight bout. | |
| Win | 22-10-1 (2) | Katsuyori Shibata | Submission (armbar) | Hero's 10 | September 17, 2007 | 1 | 6:20 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 21-10-1 (2) | Royce Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | Dynamite | USA | June 2, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California United States | Gracie tested positive for anabolic steroids after match. The judges' original decision was not overturned. |
| Win | 21-9-1 (2) | Yurij Kiselov | Submission (triangle armbar) | Hero's 8 | March 12, 2007 | 1 | 1:26 | Nagoya, Japan | ||
| NC | 20-9-1 (2) | Yoshihiro Akiyama | NC (overturned) | K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite | December 31, 2006 | 1 | 5:37 | Osaka, Japan | Return to Middleweight. Originally a TKO (punches) win for Akiyama; overturned after he was found to have applied lotion to his body. | |
| Win | 20-9-1 (1) | Kęstutis Smirnovas | Submission (armbar) | Hero's 6 | August 5, 2006 | 1 | 6:41 | Tokyo, Japan | Light Heavyweight debut. 2006 Hero's Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. | |
| Win | 19-9-1 (1) | Ikuhisa Minowa | Technical Submission (kimura) | Pride Shockwave 2005 | December 31, 2005 | 1 | 9:59 | Saitama, Japan | Welterweight debut. | |
| Win | 18-9-1 (1) | Ken Shamrock | TKO (punches) | Pride 30 | October 23, 2005 | 1 | 2:27 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 17-9-1 (1) | Ricardo Arona | TKO (corner stoppage) | Pride Critical Countdown 2005 | June 26, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. | |
| Win | 17-8-1 (1) | Yoon Dong-sik | KO (punches) | Pride Total Elimination 2005 | April 23, 2005 | 1 | 0:38 | Osaka, Japan | 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Opening round. | |
| Win | 16-8-1 (1) | Nino Schembri | Decision (unanimous) | Pride Critical Countdown 2004 | June 20, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 15-8-1 (1) | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | Pride Shockwave 2003 | December 31, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Win | 15-7-1 (1) | Kevin Randleman | Submission (armbar) | Pride Final Conflict 2003 | November 9, 2003 | 3 | 2:36 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Loss | 14-7-1 (1) | Wanderlei Silva | KO (punch) | Pride Total Elimination 2003 | August 10, 2003 | 1 | 5:01 | Saitama, Japan | Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Opening round. | |
| Loss | 14-6-1 (1) | Nino Schembri | KO (knees and soccer kicks) | Pride 25 | March 16, 2003 | 1 | 6:15 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Win | 14-5-1 (1) | Gilles Arsene | Submission (armbar) | Pride 23 | November 24, 2002 | 3 | 2:08 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Loss | 13-5-1 (1) | Mirko Cro Cop | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pride Shockwave | August 28, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Heavyweight bout. | |
| Loss | 13-4-1 (1) | Wanderlei Silva | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pride 17 | November 3, 2001 | 1 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight debut. For the Pride Middleweight Championship. | |
| Win | 13-3-1 (1) | Quinton Jackson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pride 15 | July 29, 2001 | 1 | 5:41 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Loss | 12-3-1 (1) | Wanderlei Silva | TKO (knees and soccer kicks) | Pride 13 | March 25, 2001 | 1 | 1:38 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Win | 12-2-1 (1) | Ryan Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | Pride 12 | December 23, 2000 | 1 | 10:00 | Saitama, Japan | ||
| Win | 11-2-1 (1) | Shannon Ritch | Submission (achilles lock) | Pride 11 | October 31, 2000 | 1 | 1:08 | Osaka, Japan | ||
| Win | 10-2-1 (1) | Renzo Gracie | Technical Submission (kimura) | Pride 10 | August 27, 2000 | 2 | 9:43 | Tokorozawa, Japan | ||
| Loss | 9-2-1 (1) | Igor Vovchanchyn | TKO (corner stoppage) | Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals | May 1, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix Semifinal. | |
| Win | 9-1-1 (1) | Royce Gracie | TKO (corner stoppage) | 6 | 15:00 | 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Rules modified for unlimited rounds/no ref stoppages. Fight ended after 90 minutes. | ||||
| Win | 8-1-1 (1) | Guy Mezger | TKO (retirement) | Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round | January 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix Opening round. | |
| Win | 7-1-1 (1) | Royler Gracie | Technical Submission (kimura) | Pride 8 | November 21, 1999 | 2 | 13:16 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Win | 6-1-1 (1) | Anthony Macias | Submission (armbar) | Pride 7 | September 12, 1999 | 2 | 2:30 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Win | 5-1-1 (1) | Ebenezer Fontes Braga | Submission (armbar) | Pride 6 | July 4, 1999 | 1 | 9:23 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Win | 4-1-1 (1) | Vitor Belfort | Decision (unanimous) | Pride 5 | April 29, 1999 | 2 | 10:00 | Nagoya, Japan | ||
| Draw | 3-1-1 (1) | Allan Goes | Draw (time limit) | Pride 4 | October 11, 1998 | 3 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Win | 3-1 (1) | Carlos Newton | Submission (kneebar) | Pride 3 | June 24, 1998 | 2 | 5:19 | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Win | 2-1 (1) | Vernon White | Submission (armbar) | Pride 2 | March 15, 1998 | 3 | 6:53 | Yokohama, Japan | ||
| Win | 1-1 (1) | Marcus Silveira | Submission (armbar) | UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan | December 21, 1997 | 1 | 3:44 | Yokohama, Japan | Won the UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament. | |
| NC | 0-1 (1) | Marcus Silveira | NC (premature stoppage) | 1 | 1:51 | Heavyweight debut. UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. Originally a KO (punches) win for Silveira; overturned after review due to a referee error. | ||||
| Loss | 0-1 | Kimo Leopoldo | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Shoot Boxing - S-Cup 1996 | July 14, 1996 | 1 | 4:20 | Tokyo, Japan | Openweight bout. |
10.2. Submission Grappling Record
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Gilbert Burns | Decision (points) | Quintet Ultra | December 12, 2019 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Takanori Gomi | Decision (points) | Quintet Fight Night 4 | November 30, 2019 | 1 | N/A | |
| Draw | Urijah Faber | Draw (time limit) | Quintet.3 | October 5, 2018 | 1 | 8:00 | |
| Exhibition | Wataru Miki | Exhibition | Quintet Fight Night 2 | February 3, 2019 | 1 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Richie Martinez | Submission (D'Arce choke) | Quintet II | July 15, 2018 | 1 | N/A | |
| Draw | Dan Strauss | Draw (time limit) | Quintet | April 11, 2018 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| Draw | Shutaro Debana | Draw (time limit) | 1 | 10:00 | |||
| Draw | Frank Shamrock | Draw (time limit) | Rizin World Grand Prix Opening Round Part 2 | October 15, 2017 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| Draw | Wanderlei Silva and Kiyoshi Tamura | Draw (time limit) | Rizin FF 1 | April 17, 2016 | 1 | 15:00 | Tag team grappling match with Hideo Tokoro. |
| Draw | Renzo Gracie | Draw (time limit) | Metamoris V | November 22, 2014 | 1 | N/A |
10.3. Mixed Rules Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0 | Rene Rooze | Submission (toe hold) | UWF-i Scramble Wars | June 26, 1996 | 1 | 19:44 | Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
10.4. Kingdom Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 11-4 | Paul Herrera | Submission (ankle lock) | Ambition | December 14, 1997 | 1 | 1:18 | |
| Loss | 10-4 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | KO | Barth Tour '97 | December 8, 1997 | 1 | 7:18 | |
| Win | 10-3 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | Submission (cross armbreaker) | Barth Tour '97 | December 2, 1997 | 1 | 11:41 | |
| Win | 9-3 | Kenichi Yamamoto | Submission (arm lock) | Barth Tour '97 | November 19, 1997 | 1 | 5:52 | |
| Loss | 8-3 | Yoji Anjo | Submission (ankle lock) | Barth Tour '97 | November 15, 1997 | 1 | 8:55 | |
| Win | 8-2 | Greg Douglas | Submission (ankle lock) | Shin Sekai New World | November 3, 1997 | 1 | 1:18 | |
| Win | 7-2 | Kenichi Yamamoto | Submission (cross armbreaker) | Barth Tour '97 One Night Tournament Final | September 20, 1997 | 1 | 7:18 | |
| Win | 6-2 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | TKO | Barth Tour '97 One Night Tournament Semifinal | September 20, 1997 | 1 | 4:15 | |
| Win | 5-2 | Shunsuke Matsui | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Barth Tour '97 One Night Tournament First Round | September 20, 1997 | 1 | 2:14 | |
| Win | 4-2 | Moti Horenstein | Submission (cross armbreaker) | Prelude for the World | September 3, 1997 | 1 | 11:18 | |
| Loss | 3-2 | Yuhi Sano | Submission (ankle lock) | Barth Tour '97 One Night Tournament Second Round | August 22, 1997 | 1 | 5:27 | |
| Win | 3-1 | Yoji Anjo | Submission (cross armbreaker) | Barth Tour '97 One Night Tournament First Round | August 22, 1997 | 1 | 2:11 | |
| Win | 2-1 | Orlando Wiet | Submission (sleeper hold) | Barth Step3 | July 29, 1997 | 1 | 6:01 | |
| Loss | 1-1 | Yoji Anjo | Submission (kneebar) | Barth Step2 | June 20, 1997 | 1 | 11:17 | |
| Win | 1-0 | Yuhi Sano | Submission (ankle hold) | Barth Step1 | May 4, 1997 | 1 | 7:53 |
11. External links
- [http://www.saku39.com/ Official website]
- [https://www.noah.co.jp/profile/71/ Pro Wrestling Noah profile]
- [http://www.dreamofficial.com/fighters/detail.php?id=1203485020 Dream profile]
- [https://www.ufc.com/athlete/kazushi-sakuraba UFC profile]
- [http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Kazushi-Sakuraba-84 Sherdog profile]