DREAM 11: Kazushi Sakuraba late addition to Oct. 6 event in Japan
by Akimitsu Kuwabara on Oct 3, 2009 6:37 PM EDT
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Japanese mixed martial arts legend and one of the most revered figures in the sport, Kazushi Sakuraba (24-12-1), surfaced as a late addition to Tuesday's DREAM 11, joining the semifinalists of featherweight and "Super Hulk" tournaments at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
The abrupt, last-minute fight card arrangement has not ended because the opponent for "Gracie Killer" has yet to be named.
The 40-year-old professional wrestler turned MMA fighter become a pioneer in the sport during his tenure under the Pride FC banner. In his 27 appearances in the now defunct organization, he had made a name for himself as a charismatic warrior.
Known for his flamboyant ring entrances and unorthodox catch wrestling-derived fighting style, Sakuraba has fought more than his fair share of memorable bouts that have been etched in the annals of MMA history.
Among the names he has faced include Wanderlei Silva, Ken Shamrock, Kevin Randleman, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Carlos Newton. Of course, he earned his nickname with victories over members of the legendary family, including Renzo, Royce, Royler and Ryan Gracie.
Despite his legendary status, he is currently on a two-fight slide and has not had a win since April 2008 (Andrews Nakahara).
Elsewhere, Daisuke Nakamura (20-10), originally scheduled to face Gesias Cavalcante, will now fight in DREAM 12 later this month. Since Cavalcante withdrew because of injury, DREAM has been unable to procure an opponent for him. Perhaps the delay could have been a blessing in disguise for Nakamura, as he now joins a star-studded lineup in the first caged fight card in promotional history.
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This guy still alive? I use love watching him dismantle the gracies.
by Alex on Oct 3, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions
hell ya! this guy is super entertaining, i hope DREAM gets him a good opponent, but they only have like 2 days
by child on Oct 3, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This guy is not the sakuraba we knew. His knees are all gone. His technical acumen is there but he doesn’t have the reflexes anymore.
by NameNotRequired on Oct 3, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Fock tHAT!…Fock rEALITY! war sakuraba!!!! gREATEST fighter of all time!
by john G on Oct 5, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Saku is so old, that they are still looking for a TBA fighter as old as him.
I don’t discredit him for killing the Gracies, but come on. He’s a legend and shouldn’t be turned into a human punching bag.
Hope that TBA guy is Royce Gracie himself, hehehe!
by Syd on Oct 3, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions
I would prefer him smacking Rickson around again!
by john G on Oct 5, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Saku never fought Rickson. Rickson was already too old back then. I was always surprised that Rickson never challenged Saku to restore his family’s honor, but he seems too mellow and Myagi-ish to care about stuff like that. That would’ve been a great fight. Wish we could’ve seen Saku against his UFC contemporaries like Hughes and Franklin.
by shonuff on Oct 5, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont know why I wrote again…I guess I was thinking of Royce but I really meant to say Rickson
i think Saky would have beaten HUghes if they fought in their prime, but what do I know?
by john G on Oct 5, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Someone needs to force him to retire man hes done as a fighter hes nothing more then a name to be added to peoples resume now which is very sad.
by Khaos_Warrior on Oct 3, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions
He’s kind of like bignog, 30 going on 50…
by power_bomb on Oct 3, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
lets get hershel walker in there!!!! ya saku is not the same as he used to be, but the man is one hell of an entertainer
by child on Oct 3, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions
Now THAT’s a fight I’d pay to see! Wouldn’t mind seeing him fight Matt Hughes either.
SAKU Forever!!!
by shonuff on Oct 3, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Too bad there is non a non-UFC mma hall of fame. Saku is a true legend and in his prime defeated the gracie clan, vitor belfort, rampage, and kevin randleman.
by Bill Maher on Oct 3, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
Since the UFC bought PRIDE and merged the titles, they need to include the PRIDE H.O.Famers in their own Hall of Fame.
by shonuff on Oct 3, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
It was always my dream to see Saku fight Frank Shamrock. They’re both way past their prime now, but I’d still love to see that fight! Two of the most innovative fighters in the sport’s history. They redefined the term submission “artist”!
by shonuff on Oct 3, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions
I know it’s his own life but I really don’t want to see Saku get beaten up anymore.
by MK on Oct 4, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions
I hate to say it, but Saku looks absolutely terrible. Almost like one of the punch drunk boxers that don’t know when to stop. Really sad.
by B.P.D.H. on Oct 4, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions
I agree—he’s a legend in MMA and I would like to see him retire for HIS sake. Sometimes you can’t take the fight out of the fighter.
by SammyBeez on Oct 6, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions
With all due respect to Sakuraba, the greatest fighter of all time, I think it’s time for him to hang up the gloves. He’s going to get hurt out there one of these days and nobody wants to remember him that way.
by Billy on Oct 8, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions
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