Kazushi Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba was born in Katagami, Akita Prefecture, Japan on July 14th, 1969 and is the MMA Fighter. At the age of 54, Kazushi Sakuraba biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 54 years old, Kazushi Sakuraba has this physical status:
Kazushi Sakuraba (born July 14, 1969) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who has recently signed to Rizin Fighting Federation.
He has participated in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and a shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW).
He has competed in Ultimate Fighting Championships, Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's, and Dream.
He is known as the "Gracie Hunter" or "Gracie Killer" because of his victories over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie.
Sakuraba is best known for his first match with Royce, which lasted ninety minutes and ended after Royce was unable to continue due to damage suffered from Sakuraba. Known for his outstanding catch wrestling abilities, he is recognized as one of the best mixed martial arts fighters of all time, he defeated former UFC champion and King of Pancrase Ken Shamrock, retired UFC Tournament champion, former World Cup champion, and former World War II champion Marcus Silveira, former World Wrestling champion and former Pancrase Champion Royce Gracie.
He is also the first of only two Japanese champions in UFC history. Sakuraba is the maker of the submission wrestling competition Quintet, where he has competed since 2018.
Early life
Thanks to the Tiger Mask manga, Sakuraba became an early fan of Japanese professional wrestling, with Tiger Mask, the eponymous New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestler, his favorite. Sakuraba began working in amateur wrestling at the age of 15, wanting to get the necessary experience to fulfill his childhood dream. He finished second in the country before joining Chuo University's freestyle wrestling team, a squad that had counted Olympic gold medalists Shozo Sasahara and Osamu Watanabe among its ranks. In his first year, he won the East Japan Freshman championship and was their team captain thereafter. In his senior year, he finished fourth in the All-Japan tournament. Among his notable victories was one over Olympic bronze medalist Takuya Ota. Sakuraba's first thought of returning to Chuo University as a mentor after graduating from college. However, at the last minute, he opted to continue his professional wrestling career.
Personal life
Sakuraba is married and has a son. He is an atheist.
He has never worried about diet and admits to drinking alcohol and being a smoker. Sakuraba has emphasized the significant differences in weight between himself and his opponents throughout his career, as well as the prohibition of IV's for rehydration (and potential PED use), saying, "I don't care if they [the enemy] use a pill or capsule to get bigger or smaller," says the interpreter. I guess it's impossible to worry if they [the enemy] eats better, eat health, fight at my weight, and try my best to If they use medications, it doesn't matter to me, but I would not use it. I'm sure it's unfair if they use it to win."
Sakuraba said "the more difficult the fights got, the more willing to accept them I became." Though he once wished to combat him, Fedor Emelianenko became the only fighter he'd ever refused to fight.
Sakuraba was a torch bearer for the 2020 Summer Olympics in June 2021.