Kazushi Sakuraba

Lore & Background

Sakuraba became a fan of Japanese professional wrestling during childhood thanks to the Tiger Mask manga, with Tiger Mask being his favorite. He began amateur wrestling at age 15, finished as high as second in the nation, and joined the freestyle wrestling squad of Chuo University. He won the East Japan Freshman championship in his first year and served as team captain. After graduating, he chose to pursue professional wrestling over remaining as a coach. He joined Union of Wrestling Forces International in 1993, training under Yoji Anjo, Billy Robinson, and muay thai master Bovy Chowaikung. He lost his debut on August 13, 1993 to Steve Nelson and went winless through his rookie year. He won his first match over Mark Silver in October 1994. In 1995, the UWFi began an inter-promotional feud with New Japan Pro-Wrestling; Sakuraba lost high-profile bouts to Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Koji Kanemoto and Shinjiro Otani, gaining exposure. After the UWFi closed in December 1996, he joined Kingdom Pro Wrestling, where he was booked as a main-eventer. On New Year's Eve 2000, Sakuraba defeated Kendo Kashin at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye. Eleven years later on New Year's Eve 2011, he teamed with Katsuyori Shibata to defeat Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa at Inoki Genome Federation. From 2012 to 2016, he appeared in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, teaming with Shibata as Laughter7. On January 4, 2013 at Wrestle Kingdom 7, he unsuccessfully challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. On April 7 at Invasion Attack, Sakuraba suffered a right elbow injury after a belly-to-back suplex from Yuji Nagata and was sidelined for two to three months. He returned on July 20, defeating Nagata via submission.

Reader's Guide

Kazushi Sakuraba is considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time. He holds notable victories over seven UFC champions, three Pancrase Champions, a DREAM champion, a King of the Cage champion and Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion. His wins include Carlos Newton, Vitor Belfort, Quinton Jackson, Kevin Randleman, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Masakatsu Funaki, Ikuhisa Minowa, Vernon White, and Marcus Silveira. He is the first of only two Japanese UFC champions. His Pride fights routinely drew over 20 million viewers in Japan. Sakuraba is also the founder of the submission wrestling promotion Quintet, where he has competed since 2018. His unorthodox fighting style, rooted in catch wrestling and freestyle wrestling, made him a pioneer in mixed martial arts. He is currently performing as a freelancer, primarily appearing for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was formerly one-half of the GHC Tag Team Champions with Takashi Sugiura.

Did You Know?

• Sakuraba finished as high as second in the nation in amateur wrestling at age 15.
• He won the East Japan Freshman championship in his first year at Chuo University and served as team captain.
• Sakuraba lost his professional wrestling debut on August 13, 1993 to Steve Nelson and went winless through his rookie year.
• His Pride fights routinely drew over 20 million viewers in Japan.
• He is the first of only two Japanese UFC champions.

The Gracie Hunter and a Career of Champions

Sakuraba earned the enduring nicknames "Gracie Hunter" and "Gracie Killer" by defeating four members of the legendary Gracie family—Royler, Renzo, Ryan, and Royce—across his career. But his record extends far beyond that single family. He is credited with notable victories over fifteen champions drawn from different top-tier MMA organizations, often facing opponents who competed in weight classes well above his own. His list of accomplished opponents includes seven UFC champions, three Pancrase champions, a DREAM champion, a King of the Cage champion, and a Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion. Specific names on that roster span Carlos Newton, Vitor Belfort, Quinton Jackson, Kevin Randleman, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Masakatsu Funaki, Ikuhisa Minowa, Vernon White, and Marcus Silveira. He also holds the distinction of being the first of only two Japanese fighters to claim a UFC title. When he stepped into the Pride Fighting Championships ring, his bouts routinely captured the attention of more than twenty million viewers across Japan, cementing his status as one of the sport's most recognizable and celebrated competitors.

From Tiger Mask to the University Mat

Sakuraba's path to the ring began in childhood, where the Tiger Mask manga ignited a passion for Japanese professional wrestling. The eponymous NJPW wrestler Tiger Mask became his favorite, planting a seed he would nurture for years. When he was fifteen, after being persuaded not to abandon high school for a wrestling career, he turned instead to amateur wrestling as a way to build a foundation for his dream. At Chuo University, he joined a freestyle wrestling squad that had previously counted Olympic gold medalists Shozo Sasahara and Osamu Watanabe among its members. His first year brought the East Japan Freshman championship, and he went on to serve as team captain. In his senior year he placed fourth in the All-Japan tournament, and among his notable victories was one over future Olympic bronze medalist Takuya Ota. Upon graduating, he seriously considered staying at the university as a coach. Yet at the last moment, he chose to keep walking the road toward professional wrestling, a decision that would reshape the landscape of combat sports.

The UWFi Crucible

Sakuraba's early professional years in the Union of Wrestling Forces International shaped the fighter who would later dominate MMA. Under head trainer Yoji Anjo he received instruction in grappling and striking, then refined his catch wrestling under Billy Robinson and added muay thai under master Bovy Chowaikung. Those disciplines became the bedrock of the unorthodox style that would later carry him to the top of Pride. Despite his amateur credentials, he was expected to climb from the bottom of the promotion's hierarchy. His debut on August 13, 1993, ended in a loss to Steve Nelson, and he remained winless through his rookie year, reportedly performing menial chores around the dojo under Kiyoshi Tamura's watch. His first victory came in October 1994 against Mark Silver. In 1995, an inter-promotional feud with New Japan Pro-Wrestling saw him lose high-profile bouts to Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Koji Kanemoto, and Shinjiro Otani, yet the ring psychology he displayed earned him a push toward main-event status. The promotion's credibility crumbled when Anjo traveled to California for a dojo challenge against Rickson Gracie and was swiftly defeated before Japanese press. UWFi closed its doors in December 1996, and on that final show Sakuraba headlined, defeating Anjo by submission.

A Lifelong Thread Across Combat Sports

Long after his MMA prime, Sakuraba has remained an active competitor, working as a freelancer across multiple promotions. He is primarily associated with Pro Wrestling Noah, where he served as one-half of the GHC Tag Team Championship alongside Takashi Sugiura. His career has spanned traditional puroresu in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, shoot-style competition in UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling, and MMA stints in the UFC, Pride, Hero's, Dream, and most recently Rizin Fighting Federation. Known for his excellent catch wrestling skills and unorthodox fighting style, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. In 2018, he founded Quintet, a submission wrestling promotion where he has continued to compete. His ability to adapt across wrestling, shoot sports, and mixed martial arts—spanning decades and multiple weight classes—has made his career a singular thread connecting Japan's combat sports traditions to the global MMA stage.