NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kazushi Sakuraba

Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭和志, Sakuraba Kazushi, born July 14, 1968 in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese professional mixed martial arts competitor and professional wrestler. He has competed for UWFi, Kingdom Pro Wrestling, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, and K-1 HERO'S. One of the most popular mixed martial artists of all time, he also has the distinction of competing in the longest mixed martial arts bout on record, having beaten Royce Gracie over a 90 minute stretch in 2000. The most prominent English-language mixed martial arts web-site, Sherdog, rates him as the greatest Japanese mixed martial artist of all time in their power rankings^[2] while Michael Coughlin of the Wrestling Observer has cited him as the top mixed martial artist to date from any nation, across weight-classes^[3]. If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Akita Prefecture ) is located in the TÅhoku Region of northern Japan. ... Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Akita Prefecture ) is located in the TÅhoku Region of northern Japan. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... This article covers the organization itself. ... PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ... HEROS logo. ... Royce Gracie, pronounced Hoyce Gracie (born December 12, 1966) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. ... David Allen Meltzer (born October 24, 1961) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), a newsletter for the world of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. ...

In Japan, he is known as "The IQ Wrestler", for his brilliance in the arts of catch wrestling and freestyle wrestling and for his overall cerebral approach to fighting and also as "Saku", which is frequently represented by the number "39" (the Japanese pronunciation of 3 being "san" and 9 "ku"). In the West, he is often referred to as the "Gracie Hunter" for his victories over the famed Gracie family of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practicioners. Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... This article is about freestyle wrestling. ... The Gracie family refers to the lineage of Brazilian businessman and politician GastÃ£o Gracie. ... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), also known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ), is a martial art that was developed in Brazil by the Gracie family during the mid-20th century. ...

Early years

A stand-out amateur wrestler in grade school, Sakuraba went on to wrestle for Chuo University. He won the East Japan Freshman championship in his first year and served thereafter as Chuo's team captain. In senior year, he took home a fourth place finish in the All-Japan tournament. ^[4] For a university in Tanzania, see List of universities in Tanzania. ...

Professional wrestling

Upon graduating from the university, Sakuraba had initially thought to remain with Chuo University as a coach. However, at the last minute he decided to pursue a career as a professional wrestler. According to Sakuraba, the impetus for this stemmed from a childhood dream of one day emulating Tiger Mask, a famous Japanese cartoon hero and real-life professional wrestler. ^[5] For a university in Tanzania, see List of universities in Tanzania. ... Tiger Mask (Japanese: ã‚¿ã‚¤ã‚¬ãƒ¼ãƒžã‚¹ã‚¯) began as a manga in 1968 and was later adapted into a successful anime series in 1969. ...

UWFi years

After considering the shoot wrestling organization Pancrase, he ultimately chose the UWFi, a professional wrestling league that was nonetheless known for its highly technical and realistic-looking bouts. His time in the UWFI would prove to be a formative experience for Sakuraba; it was there under the tutelage of Billy Robinson that he received his initial instruction in catch wrestling. It is catch wrestling that would serve as the base of the unorthodox ground-game that would later lead him to success in the Pride Fighting Championships. ^[6] Shootfighting Shoot wrestling is a general term that describes a range of hybrid fighting systems originating in Japan in the late 1970s, in close association with Japanese professional wrestling. ... Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling is a mixed martial arts organization founded in Japan in 1993 by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. ... Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... For the video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ... Shooter Billy Robinson in 1974. ... Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ...

In spite of his amateur pedigree, Sakuraba was forced to work his way up from the bottom of the UWFi's rung. Sakuraba lost his debut in 1993 to Steve Nelson and went winless through his rookie year with the league. It is also popularly alleged that under the eye of Kiyoshi Tamura, he was made to perform menial chores about the dojo.^[7] Nonetheless undeterred, Sakuraba steadily built a working knowledge of submission holds upon his freestyle wrestling base until his efforts were at last rewarded with a win over Mark Silver in October of 1994. Steve Nelson is a common name that refers to many people The New England Patriots American football player Steve Nelson The vibraphonist Steve Nelson The disc jockey and radio producer Steve Nelson The singer songwriter Steve Nelson (stevenelsonmusic. ... Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ...

Though his record remained below .500, Sakuraba continued to edge his way closer to mid-card status through the rest of the year. Then, in 1995, the UWFi began an interpromotional feud with New Japan Pro Wrestling. The vast majority of UWFi workers came out on the losing end of the booking to the larger and more mainstream promotion and Sakuraba was no exception. He was defeated in high-profile bouts to Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Koji Kanemoto and Shinjiro Otani, bringing Sakuraba a new level of exposure to the public. The ring psychology and technical prowess he displayed in the bouts also impressed the management of the UWFi enough that he was finally pushed towards main event status. Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (æ–°æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... Tokimitsu Ishizawa (çŸ³æ¾¤å¸¸å…‰ Ishiziwa Tokimitsu), better known by his ring name Kendo Kashin (ã‚±ãƒ³ãƒ‰ãƒ¼ãƒ»ã‚«ã‚·ãƒ³), is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... KÅji Kanemoto is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto dropkick each other ShinjirÅ ÅŒtani (å¤§è°·æ™‹äºŒéƒŽ, born 21 July 1972 in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ...

New Japan's dominance in the feud injured the marketability of the UWFi promotion, which had pressed the perception that their athletes boasted legitimate skill in catch wrestling and kickboxing. In a bid to regain credibility, Yoji Anjoh travelled to California to challenge Rickson Gracie in the latter's own dojo, only to be swiftly and brutally defeated before the assembled Japanese press that had followed him there. With the UWFi's formerly fearsome reputation in tatters, its attendance numbers swiftly decreased, with the federation closing its doors once and for all in December of 1996. Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... Kicking to left side Kickboxing refers to sport-fighting using kicks and punches and sometimes throws and bows representing a certain martial art or can be practiced for general fitness, or as a full-contact sport. ... Rickson Gracie (IPA: ), born November 20, 1958) is a martial artist and a mixed martial arts fighter who holds a 7th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. ...

In their final show it was Sakuraba who at long last headlined, defeating Yoji Anjoh by submission.

Kingdom Pro Wrestling

Following the close of the UWFi, Nobuhiko Takada, the most popular of the UWFi workers amongst the mainstream public founded Kingdom Pro Wrestling, taking in Sakuraba and the majority of his fellow UWFi alumni. In the vein of its predecessor, Kingdom was primarily a league devoted to realistic-looking works. Having by now established his ability, Sakuraba was this time booked as a main-eventer from the outset. Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:é«™ç”°å»¶å½¦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ...

However, unlike the UWFi, Kingdom struggled from the beginning to draw substantial crowds. Mixed martial arts was growing in popularity, and the dominance of the Gracie family and their fellow Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners over the field and more specifically over professional wrestlers, left the Japanese public ever more unconvinced as to the fighting ability of Kingdom's stable of athletes. For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... The Gracie family refers to the lineage of Brazilian businessman and politician GastÃ£o Gracie. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In an attempt to gain attention for the embattled Kingdom Pro Wrestling league, Hiromitsu Kanehara and Yoji Anjoh signed on to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Ultimate Japan tournament. As fate would have it, Kanehara was injured in his training for the tournament, and Sakuraba wound up as his late hour substitute. The tournament was intended for heavyweights, and Sakuraba, at 183 pounds, was nearly twenty pounds beneath the UFC's 200 pound designation for the weight class. Reporting himself as 203 pounds in order to gain entry, Sakuraba was paired off against the 243 pound Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt and former Extreme Fighting champion, Marcus Silveira. This article covers the organization itself. ...

Following a barrage of blows by Silveira, Sakuraba dropped for a low single leg, only for the fight to be prematurely ended on a KO. Referee John McCarthy had mistakenly thought Sakuraba to have been knocked down. A loud protest followed from the crowd and an angry Sakuraba attempted unsuccessfully to take the microphone and address the Japanese audience. However, after reviewing tape, McCarthy changed his decision to a no-contest. Tank Abbott, who had earlier defeated Yoji Anjoh, dropped from the tournament due to an injured hand, leaving Sakuraba and Silveira to face off once more that night in what would be the championship bout of the tourney. This time, Sakuraba claimed the victory, submitting Silveira with an armbar. Afterwards, Sakuraba famously stated, "In fact, professional wrestling is strong". With the victory Sakuraba remains one of the last UFC tournament champions to date. A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. ... John McCarthy Big John McCarthy, the Octagons ninth side, is a referee for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a Los Angeles Police Officer, and a Tactical Self-Defense Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy. ... David Lee Tank Abbott (born April 26, 1965 in Huntington Beach, California) is an American mixed martial artist. ...

With Nobuhiko Takada having left Kingdom to challenge Rickson Gracie in a KRS promoted event called PRIDE, the still struggling promotion capitalized on Sakuraba's newly found popularity establishing him as Kingdom's top talent. He embarked on a winning streak against several foreign mixed martial arts competitors including Paul Herrera, Rene Rooze, Mark Hall and Orlando Weit. However, Kingdom continued to flounder and finally folded in March of 1998. Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:é«™ç”°å»¶å½¦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. ... Rickson Gracie (IPA: ), born November 20, 1958) is a martial artist and a mixed martial arts fighter who holds a 7th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. ... KRS is an abbreviation that can mean: KRS One (born 1965), one of several pseudonyms for Lawrence Krisna Parker, an American hip-hop musician Kill Rock Stars, an American record label Knowledge Representation System, a frame-based language built on Common LISP Knowledge representation system (see Knowledge representation), a system... Pride is the name of an emotion which refers to a strong sense of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, nation or object that one identifies with. ...

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Entering the PRIDE Fighting Championships on the heels of a defeat of stablemate Nobuhiko Takada at the hands of Rickson Gracie in the organization's initial event, Sakuraba was paired off against Vernon White, then a veteran of 32 bouts who also boasted a 20-pound weight advantage. Showcasing a balance of wrestling and submission prowess, Sakuraba came after White with constant takedowns and unceasing submission attempts. White held Sakuraba off for the first two sessions, but was ultimately armbarred towards the end of the third round. PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ... Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:é«™ç”°å»¶å½¦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. ... Rickson Gracie (IPA: ), born November 20, 1958) is a martial artist and a mixed martial arts fighter who holds a 7th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. ... Vernon Tiger White is a Mixed Martial Arts professional fighter. ...

Next, Sakuraba was matched against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Carlos Newton. Though relatively new to mixed martial arts, Newton had recently disposed of the reigning Shooto light heavyweight champion Erik Paulson with a swift armbar victory and already developed a reputation as a talented grappler. Sakuraba finished the match in the second round, this time with a rolling kneebar. Throughout the bout, both men displayed a high-level of grappling acumen, leading many fans and pundits of mixed martial arts to label it as the definitive grappling match in the history of the sport. This article covers the organization itself. ... Carlos The Ronin Newton (born British Virgin Islands, August 17, 1976) is a Canadian mixed martial arts fighter, fighting out of and teaching at Warrior Martial Arts Centre in Newmarket, Ontario. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... Shooto logo ISC logo This article deals with the martial arts organization, for the baseball pitch, see gyroball. ... Erik Paulson is a no-holds barred fighting competitor and trainer. ...

Eager to capitalize on Sakuraba's catch wrestling prowess to reverse the perception that Japanese professional wrestlers were inferior to Brazilian combatants (in part perpetuated by his teammates' own defeats), Sakuraba's next three bouts were scheduled against Brazilian jiu jitsu blackbelts Vitor Belfort, Allan Goes and Luta Livre blackbelt Ebeneezer Fontes Braga. Sakuraba defeated Belfort by unanimous decision, drew with Goes and submitted Braga via armbar. In a trend that would continue through Sakuraba's Pride career, each opponent occupied a spot near the top of the 205-pound class at the time of their meeting with him and held a weight advantage of around 20 pounds. Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. ... Vitor Vieira Belfort (born April 1, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has fought both in Japan and the United States. ... Allan Goes (born April 20, 1971 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. ...

The Gracie Hunter

After defeating Anthony Macias, Sakuraba was matched against Royler Gracie, who had previously conquered Sakuraba's stablemate Yuhi Sano. It marked the largest weight advantage Sakuraba has enjoyed in his career to date (being around 30 pounds heavier than Royler). Royler, unable to score a takedown, remained on the ground in an effort to bait Sakuraba into a grappling-oriented contest. Eventually, with less than two minutes remaining, Sakuraba finally engaged Royler on the ground, soon catching him in a Kimura lock. As Sakuraba wrenched on the submission, the referee intervened with two seconds remaining on the clock, ending the contest and awarding Sakuraba the win by TKO. Royler Gracie (pronounced Hoy-lur) (December 6, 1965-) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. ... Naoki Sano(ä½é‡Žç›´å–œ) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... A fighter attempts to escape from an armbar by slamming the opponent to the ground. ...

Sakuraba's victory over Royler constituted the first loss by a Gracie in professional fighting in several decades and as such, sent ripples of shock and controversy through the mixed martial arts community. Some protested that the victory was tainted due to the fact that Royler — although placed in a debilitating submission hold — never conceded defeat and was mere seconds away from the final bell when the bout was stopped.

It is worth noting that the last Japanese athlete to defeat a Gracie prior to Sakuraba's win against Royler, legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, had used the very same maneuver Sakuraba utilized to beat Royler. That time, the recipient had been Royler's father, Helio Gracie, who had, like Royler, also refused to submit. Masahiko Kimura redirects here. ... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu patriarch Helio Gracie was born in Belem, Brazil October 1, 1913. ...

While the Japanese fight media rejoiced and elevated Sakuraba to superstar status, the Gracie family took great umbrage over the incident, feeling that they had been cheated by Pride. Compelled to set the record straight and re-assert the dominance of his family, Royler's younger brother and former UFC champion Royce Gracie returned to the sport of mixed martial arts in 2000 and entered the 16-Man Pride Grand Prix alongside Sakuraba and several other top fighters of the era. Royce Gracie, pronounced Hoyce Gracie (born December 12, 1966) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. ...

Placed on the same side of the bracket, a special set of rules were requested by the Gracies in the event of a Sakuraba-Royce match, including no referee stoppages and no time-limits, the fight ending only in the event of a submission or knock-out.

Yet again fighting up in weight against a top-flight 205-pound fighter, Sakuraba advanced to the quarterfinals over former King of Pancrase Guy Mezger. Meanwhile, Royce defeated Nobuhiko Takada by unanimous decision and thus set the stage for their much anticipated showdown. Guy Mezger (January 1, 1968 in Houston, Texas) is an American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full-contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter (retired from competition 01-25-05). ...

Royce and Sakuraba battled for an hour and a half. Sakuraba nearly ended things with a knee-bar towards the end of the first round. Later on, Royce returned the favor with a guillotine choke which Sakuraba lingered in, but eventually escaped from.

As the confrontation stretched on, the Gracie's own no time-limit rules began to work against Royce as Sakuraba's wrestling skills and balance nullified Royce's ability to score a takedown and — in some instances — even pull guard.

Even Royce's ever-present jiu-jitsu gi became a weapon for the wrestler to use against him as Sakuraba used it to help him control Gracie on the instances the fight did come to the ground. However, with Sakuraba's control of the takedown, these instances of ground warfare became increasingly sporadic. After the 90 minute battle of punishing leg kicks, Royce's brother, Rorion threw in the towel. Keikogi (ç¨½å¤ç€ or ç¨½å¤è¡£) is a Japanese word which means uniform for training (keiko means practice, gi means dress or clothes), another posibility is to use the word Dogi which means the uniform you wear on the path that you have been chosen, if you put the name of the sport itself...

Prior to the bout, there was speculation that the fight was largely personal, with Royce looking to avenge his brother and Sakuraba looking to atone for his stablemate's defeats and vindicate professional wrestling and the UWFi once and for all. However, following the stoppage, Royce and Sakuraba embraced in the ring. Gracious in victory, Sakuraba flatteringly pointed to Royce as the superior ground-technician when questioned as to why he didn't engage him on the ground more frequently. For the video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ...

Exhausted from his battle with Royce, Sakuraba surprised many when he emerged from the locker room for the tournament semi-finals. His opponent, Igor Vovchanchyn, outweighed him by close to fifty pounds (Sakuraba had come into the bout with Royce lighter than usual, at 176 pounds) and was considered to be the top heavyweight striker of the day. Sakuraba surprised many by taking Vovchanchyn down and nearly finishing him with an armbar. After the final bell, the bout was close enough that it was ruled a draw, with an overtime round to determine a winner between them. However, fatigue and size both had worn on Sakuraba by now his corner opted to throw in the towel. Igor Yaroslavovich Ice Cold Vovchanchyn (Russian: Ð˜Ð³Ð¾Ñ€ÑŒ Ð¯Ñ€Ð¾ÑÐ»Ð°Ð²Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð’Ð¾Ð²Ñ‡Ð°Ð½Ñ‡Ð¸Ð½. June 8, 1973) is a Mixed martial arts USSR - born fighter. ...

Following the Grand Prix, Sakuraba was christened the Gracie Hunter by the Japanese sports media. Keeping in tow with his new nick-name, Sakuraba sandwiched a swift victory via achilles lock against Shannon Ritch between fights against brothers Renzo and Ryan Gracie. Ryan (pronounced HY-an) Gracie (August 14, 1974-) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. ...

In contrast to Royler and Royce, Renzo and Ryan were products of Carlson Gracie's approach to jiu-jitsu, which placed a stronger emphasis on 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 while Maurice Smith, Oleg Taktarov and Abu Dhabi champion Sanae Kikuta numbered amongst his victims. Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ... Name Maurice Smith Nick Name Mo Record 11 - 9 - 0 (Win - Loss - Draw) Association The Alliance Height 62 (188cm) Weight 220lbs (100kg) Style Kickboxing Birth Date 12/13/61 City Seattle State Washington Country USA ... Oleg Taktarov (June 25, 1968) is a Russian martial artist. ... Sanae Kikuta (born September 10, 1971Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese mixed martial arts performer. ...

Renzo's stylistic differences from his cousins were in evidence from the outset of his contest against Sakuraba, as he pressed the pace of the bout with a variety of kicks and punches. Sakuraba responded in kind, and the striking seemed to stalemate. Throwing his wrestling into the equation, Sakuraba timed a number of double and single leg takedowns against Renzo's flurries from where he alternately attempted to cartwheel past Gracie's guard, malign his legs with kicks from the standing position and even attack with a low dropkick. However, Renzo's defensive skills from bottom nullified the entire gamut of Sakuraba's offensive attempts until mere seconds remained in the battle and the contestants found themselves pressed against the turnbuckle. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Sakuraba locked in a kimura and spun around, flipping Renzo to the canvas even as he wrenched his arm behind his back. As with Royler and Helio before him, Renzo refused to submit to the hold, in spite of his elbow being snapped prior to hitting the ground. Sensing the injury, Sakuraba backed off, while Renzo showed no outward signs of either pain or disappointment as the referee waved the contest off due to the injury. Kimura (æœ¨æ‘, tree village) is the 18th most common Japanese surname. ...

His arm in a sling, Renzo took the microphone and, before the 35,000 fans assembled at the Seibu Dome, stated that Sakuraba was "the Japanese version of the Gracie family." Renzo has since referred to the bout as his proudest moment in mixed martial arts, due to his refusal to submit in the face of injury^[8]. Seibu Dome is a stadium located in Tokorozawa, Saitama used by the Seibu Lions. ...

Ryan Gracie, who had fought on the same card and emerged victorious, issued a challenge to Sakuraba and the two were subsequently scheduled to meet at Pride 12. Due to a shoulder injury, the fight was limited to a single 10-minute round, where Ryan's spirited efforts were generally stymied and controlled by Sakuraba, who noticeably avoided attacks on his younger opponent's injured arm.

Decline and comeback

Following the win against Ryan, Sakuraba battled Wanderlei Silva to decide Pride's inaugural 205-pound champion. Sakuraba knocked Wanderlei down, but the Brazilian Muay Thai specialist recovered to TKO Sakuraba before the close of the first round. It marked Sakuraba's second defeat in mixed martial arts and his first loss in the 205-pound division. In spite of his substantial weight disadvantage, Sakuraba had been a heavy favorite to win. Sakuraba then shocked the audience by giving Silva his belt entitled SAKU on it. Wanderlei then stated that he would willingly give Sakuraba a rematch if Sakuraba wanted another match with him. Wanderlei Cesar Silva, (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who has competed in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). ... For the drink with a similar-sounding name, see Mai Tai. ...

After sitting out the next Pride to recouperate, Sakuraba found himself across the ring with Quinton Jackson, a former collegiate wrestler who had compiled a record of 10-1 on the American circuit. At the sound of the bell, Sakuraba immediately took the bigger and more powerful man to the canvas with a low single-leg takedown. However, Jackson's superior size and enormous physical strength allowed him to muscle out of Sakuraba's submission attempts. After locking his legs about Jackson for a triangle choke, Sakuraba found himself hefted into the air and repeatedly powerbombed to the canvas. Later, he attempted an armbar against Jackson, only for the Tennessee native to again lift him up and this time, attempt to drop him from the ring. His expression unchanging through the course of Jackson's assault, Sakuraba continued to flow from one lock to another. Eventually, he took the back of a by-then exhausted Jackson and submitted him with his first rear naked choke victory. The contest was a launchpad for Jackson's career, leading to a long-term contract with PRIDE where he eventually became regarded as a top middleweight competitor. Quinton Ramone Rampage Jackson (born June 20, 1978) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter who rose to prominence with his fights in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... The rear naked choke (often abbreviated RNC) is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponents back. ...

It also re-established Sakuraba's proficiency in dealing with larger opponents and placed him back in line for another shot at Wanderlei Silva in PRIDE's next event. Usually prone to humorous entrances, it was a somber and focused Sakuraba that came down the aisle for his rematch with Silva. As with Jackson, Sakuraba was able to score an early takedown in the bout, where he then worked from Silva's guard. After several minutes searching for an opening, he finally found one when Silva attempted to escape to his feet. Sakuraba locked on a tight guillotine, but was countered by a slam from Wanderlei which ended up breaking his collar bone. Not willing to let him go on so hampered, his corner threw in the towel.

Sakuraba took time off to let his shoulder heal, then returned against heavyweight kickboxer Mirko Filipovic. Sakuraba managed to take Filipovic down, but sustained another injury, this time a broken orbital bone. Finally assenting to place him in competition against fighters of his own weight class, PRIDE management put him against French jiu jitsu champion Gilles Arsene in a bout Sakuraba dominated and then against Rickson Gracie protege, Antonio Schembri. With a win over Schembri, it was speculated that Sakuraba might be then groomed for a championship fight in a new weight division for fighter's of his size. However, in a massive upset, Schembri managed to stun Sakuraba with an illegal headbutt, followed by a knee that rendered the Japanese grappler unconscious.

This seemed to mark a turning point in Sakuraba's career; though he was unbeaten in his first nine PRIDE bouts, he thereafter split his next six matches before suffering a particularly devastating loss against Ricardo Arona at PRIDE's Middleweight Grand Prix event in June, 2005, during which his face became severely swollen and bloody due to repeated strikes from Arona; his corner stopped the fight after the second round. Following the win, PRIDE president Sakakibara suggested Sakuraba might move down in weight to compete in their newly formed 183-pound division. Ricardo Arona (July 17, 1978) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter and a member of Brazilian Top Team. ... Left: the site of the May 1997 Sakakibara murder. ...

However, instead of moving down in weight, Sakuraba began training at Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil alongside his one-time rival, Wanderlei Silva. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Upon completion of his training, he made his return to the ring to engage in yet another contest at the 205-pound limit, this time against fellow catch wrestler Ken Shamrock. Three minutes into the bout, Sakuraba struck through Shamrock's guard with a left hand. Shamrock staggered back and ultimately fell into the ropes, his head hanging out of the ring, his back turned to Sakuraba. Sakuraba rushed in to follow up but before any meaningful offense could be launched, the fight was halted by referee Yuji Shimada. Shamrock sprang to his feet immediately following the KO and protested vigorously. Opinions have been mixed regarding the KO's legitimacy; Ken's brother, Frank, has stated he believed the stoppage was justified, while others have come down on the opposing side. Ken Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick on February 11, 1964 in Macon, Georgia) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Yuji Shimada is a Japanese mixed martial arts referee. ...

Prior to PRIDE's Shockwave 2005 New Year's eve event, Sakuraba strongly petitioned for a match against Kiyoshi Tamura, even going so far as to publicly request a bout with Tamura. However, with Tamura refusing to face him, Sakuraba recommended fellow catch-wrestler and professional wrestling proponent, Ikuhisa Minowa, who refers to himself as a "Real Pro Wrestler." Sakuraba did not request the match due to any grudge against Minowa, but rather because he believed that he and Minowa would put on a fight worthy of the Shockwave event. Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ... Ikuhisa Minowa (Japanese:ç¾Žæ¿ƒè¼ªè‚²ä¹…, born January 12, 1976 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. ...

The bout was a competitive one, with Minowa getting the better of Sakuraba striking-wise and nearly catching him first with a kneebar and then a heel-hook. In the end, Sakuraba managed to outwrestle Minowa on the ground and catch him in a kimura which, although Minowa would not tap to it, would nonetheless prompt the referee to halt the contest. The victory would mark his final bout under the Pride banner; ironically, it also marked one of the few times he was matched against an opponent of his own size from the 183-pound division and his first bout against a Japanese fighter.

K-1 & HERO's

On May 3, 2006, Sakuraba surprisingly appeared with HERO's head Akira Maeda at a HERO's event wearing his street clothes (yellow shirt and blue jeans) and a pro wrestling mask in the style of one of his childhood heroes, Tiger Mask. He did not reveal himself, but it was apparent that it was a masked Sakuraba and that he signed with K-1 and FEG. A day later, Sakuraba appeared at a FEG press conference to announce he would fight in HERO's. is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... HEROS logo. ... Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... Tiger Mask (Japanese: ã‚¿ã‚¤ã‚¬ãƒ¼ãƒžã‚¹ã‚¯) began as a manga in 1968 and was later adapted into a successful anime series in 1969. ... K. 1 is a designation given to two works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the original Köchel Verzeichnis. ...

His defection to HERO's was a culmination of several signs that suggested he was leaving PRIDE. It was reported that Sakuraba left Takada Dojo (run by PRIDE's general manager, Nobuhiko Takada), and conspicuously was not entered into PRIDE's 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Tournament. Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:é«™ç”°å»¶å½¦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. ...

Sakuraba was then scheduled to compete in HERO's Light Heavyweight Tournament. His first opponent was the 16-5 Lithuanian Kęstutis Smirnovas. Sakuraba opened the fight striking aggressively and even flooring Smirnovas with a kick. However, as he was coming in to follow up, Smirnovas caught Sakuraba cleanly, knocking him down to his knees and hands. Sakuraba then turned over, sliding beneath the bottom rope, where Smirnovas unleashed repeated blows to his head. KÄ™stutis Smirnovas is Lithuanian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, currently fighting in HEROS. He is also former RINGS, Shooto, ZST and PRIDE participant. ...

Sakuraba seemed at this point unable to defend himself; when the referee stepped between the two fighters, it seemed likely he was moving to put an end to the contest. However, instead of halting the battle, the referee re-positioned the fighters from underneath the bottom rope into the ring and resumed the bout. Though the re-starting of fighters who have found themselves near or outside the ropes is common practice, it was nonetheless controversial; many believed Sakuraba to be in no state to continue regardless of his position in relation to the ropes.

Following the re-start, Smirnovas picked up where he'd left off, pounding a supine Sakuraba whose only defense seemed to turtle up. Finally, Sakuraba got to his feet and worked for a single-leg on Smirnovas. The attempt was thwarted and again Sakuraba found himself beneath the Lithuanian who this time attempted to work a rear-naked choke. Sakuraba escaped the attempt and returned his feet once again. From this point on, Sakuraba's earlier cobwebs seemed to have cleared and he began to land combinations upon the Lithuanian with greater and greater frequency until Smirnovas finally collapsed from the assault. Sakuraba assumed side-control and swiftly moved into an armbar. Smirnovas fought the technique as long as he could, but was eventually forced to submit to spare his arm which had been fully extended.

Initially there were some doubts as to whether Sakuraba would be able to make it into the next round of the HERO's tournament based on the severity of the damage he endured against Smirnovas. However, Sakuraba reported that a follow-up CAT scan had found no irregularities and was then slated to face one-time Olympic judoka, Yoshihiro Akiyama in the tournament's semi-finals on October 9th in what K-1 hoped would be a high revenue match-up. The winner of that bout was to face the victor between Melvin Manhoef and Shungo Oyama to determine a tournament champion. Yoshihiro Akiyama (Korean: ì¶”ì„±í›ˆ, Hanja: ç§‹æˆå‹³) is a judoka and mixed martial artist with the K-1 HEROS promotion. ... Melvin No Mercy Manhoef (born May 11, 1976) is a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, trained by Mike Passenier and fighting out of Mikes Gym from Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... Shungo Oyama (å¤§å±±å³»è· Shungo Oyama, born April 11, 1974) is a Japanese Mixed Martial Artist with a background in Judo and Sambo. ...

However, during a hard sparring session for the upcoming bout Sakuraba began vomiting and fainted. After being rushed to the hospital he was diagnosed with vertebrobasilar damage that restricted blood circulation to the head and neck area. The doctors determined the damage was caused from years of untreated head injuries dating back to his college years. Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), or vertebral basilar ischemia, refers to a temporary set of symptoms due to decreased blood flow in the posterior circulation of the brain. ...

In spite of this revelation, Sakuraba was--rather than being granted a break to recover and possibly undergo surgery--scheduled to return to action on December 31st, 2006 against Yoshihiro Akiyama at K-1 Dynamite!!. The bout ended with Sakuraba struggling to execute a kneebar submission while Akiyama attacked with ground and pound. Words were exchanged between Sakuraba and referee Yoshinori Umeki prior to the stop, which was brought on by the sounding of a bell at the behest of Akira Maeda, the event coordinator, the referee separating the fighters following the bell rather than initiating the stop himself. K-1 Premium Dynamite!! is an annual kickboxing and MMA event held every year since 2002, by K-1. ... This is a reference to the tactic in Mixed Martial Arts or in fighting in general of taking an opponent to the ground by a takedown, throw or tackle, then striking the opponent while they are on the ground, pinned under the attacker. ... Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ...

Afterwards, the usually soft-spoken Sakuraba surprised many with complaints that Akiyama's body had been greased. The referee in charge subsequently checked Akiyama's body and gave indication to ringside officials that he had not found anything unusual. In the aftermath of the fight the controversy escalated drastically and new accusations of weighed gloves also surfaced. To deal with the growing controversy, K-1 launched an investigation to look into the accusations against Akiyama. Although Akiyama's gloves were found to be regulation, video-tape revealed Akiyama administering a lotion to his skin. Akiyama--who attested he was simply treating his dry skin--was found to have been "negligent" and disqualified. The fight was subsequently declared a no-contest and Akiyama's purse was withheld. A press conference followed, wherein Akiyama--now heavily maligned by the Japanese sports media--offered a public apology.

Although Sakuraba wore a shirt into the ring against Akiyama which read "K Sakuraba: End of Service", his experience against Akiyama apparently changed his plans regarding retirement and at Heros 8 he submitted the winless Yurij Kiseliov by armbar.

Following that win, he would next share the mixed martial arts ring with his fellow catch wrestler and UWFi alum, Kiyoshi Tamura. Once again donning the guise of his childhood hero, Tiger Mask, as he had to signal his exodus from Pride Fighting Championships to Heros, Sakuraba this time wore the mask to mark the occasion of his return to Pride at their final DSE promoted show, Kamikaze. Before the assembled crowd at the Saitama Super Arena--Pride's most frequented venue--Sakuraba and Tamura publicly voiced their willingness to meet in a Pride ring, before shaking hands and embracing. A bout between Tamura and Sakuraba had been one of Pride's most frequently promised match-ups, one that had never been delivered upon in spite of several efforts to put it together. Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFi, was a stiff-style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ... Tiger Mask (Japanese: ã‚¿ã‚¤ã‚¬ãƒ¼ãƒžã‚¹ã‚¯) began as a manga in 1968 and was later adapted into a successful anime series in 1969. ... PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ... In Thracian mythology, Heros was a god of the underworld, usually depicted on funeral statues as a horseman slaying a beast with a spear. ... DSE is a company which was started by Steve Grey around 2001-2002. ... Saitama Super Arena Saitama Super Arena ) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chuo-ku, Saitama, Saitama, Japan. ...

On June 2nd, 2007, Sakuraba rematched Royce Gracie in K-1 Dynamite!! USA. The bout itself was fought at a relatively slow pace; Sakuraba knocked Gracie to the canvas in the opening seconds and finished the bout searching for an armbar, having taken the back of Gracie. In the intervening time, Sakuraba scored multiple takedowns while Gracie scored a number of kicks to the legs and face once on bottom. Royce won by a controversial unanimous decision; Sherdog scored the bout 2 rounds to 1 for Sakuraba, a score agreed upon by a majority of fans polled on the site^[9]. K-1 Dynamite USA!! was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by kickboxing organization K-1 and the mixed martial arts organization EliteXC. The event was held on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. ...

On June 14, 2007, the controversy surrounding the match deepened as the California State Athletic Commission revealed that Gracie had tested positive for massive amounts of Nandrolone (ten times the possible natural occurrence of the chemical even at the highest level of athletic training), an anabolic steroid. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master was fined $2,500 (the maximum penalty the Commission can impose) and suspended for the remainder of his license, which ends on May 30, 2008. is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid occurring naturally in the human body, albeit in small quantities. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The California State Athletic Commission's Bill Douglas told MMAWeekly, "Currently, our rules do not support overturning a decision based off the drug test results. However, Armando Garcia and I are meeting with the Attorney General next month to begin the process of modifying the existing laws to incorporate those rules for the future. Should everything move along like I anticipate, I would expect to see the changes in place by the end of the year."^[10]

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--rated by Sherdog as the second-greatest Japanese mixed martial artist to date behind Sakuraba--had challenged Sakuraba on the basis that he their styles would make for an entertaining contest. Shibata came out striking aggressively, but was soon taken to the canvas by Sakuraba's trademark single leg. Shibata unleashed a torrent of blows off his back, but the more experienced Sakuraba responded with strikes of his own before transitioning into an arm bar and finishing the bout. is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... Masakatsu Funaki is a well-known Japanese professional wrestler who performed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF and its later incarnation, the UWFi. ... A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. ... The armbar in martial arts is a version of armlock which locks up an extended arm of the opponent by hyperextending the opponents elbow. ...

Following his victory, Sakuraba accepted Funaki's challenge and praised the fighting spirit of Shibata^[11].

Awards and championships

Amateur wrestling

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Dave Herbert Meltzer (born October 24, 1961 in San Jose, California) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an insider newsletter for the world of professional wrestling. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ...

Mixed martial arts

Patrick Jay The Croatian Sensation Miletich known as Pat Miletich (MiletiÄ‡ in Croatian) (born March 9, 1968 in Davenport, Iowa) from Bettendorf, Iowa is a mixed martial artist (MMA) well known for his fights within the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). ...

Mixed martial arts record

The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... Royce Gracie, pronounced Hoyce Gracie (born December 12, 1966) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. ... K-1 Dynamite USA!! was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by kickboxing organization K-1 and the mixed martial arts organization EliteXC. The event was held on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. ... Anabolic steroids are a class of natural and synthetic steroid hormones that promote cell growth and division, resulting in growth of muscle tissue and sometimes bone size and strength. ... HEROS logo. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... Yoshihiro Akiyama (Korean: ì¶”ì„±í›ˆ, Hanja: ç§‹æˆå‹³) is a judoka and mixed martial artist with the K-1 HEROS promotion. ... K-1 Premium Dynamite!! is an annual kickboxing and MMA event held every year since 2002, by K-1. ... KÄ™stutis Smirnovas is Lithuanian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, currently fighting in HEROS. He is also former RINGS, Shooto, ZST and PRIDE participant. ... HEROS logo. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... Ikuhisa Minowa (Japanese:ç¾Žæ¿ƒè¼ªè‚²ä¹…, born January 12, 1976 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. ... Dan Henderson, winner of the Welterweight tournament. ... Kimura (æœ¨æ‘, tree village) is the 18th most common Japanese surname. ... Ken Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick on February 11, 1964 in Macon, Georgia) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... PRIDE 30: Fully Loaded (promoted as Starting Over in Japan) was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships on October 30, 2005 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. ... Ricardo Arona (July 17, 1978) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter and a member of Brazilian Top Team. ... PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Dong-Sik Yoon (born August 24, 1972 in Seoul) is a Korean Mixed martial artist, who currently competes in K-1 HEROS[1] (set to make his HEROS debut against dutchman Melvin Manhoef). ... PRIDE Total Elimination 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into PRIDE Total Elimination 2004. ... Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is a professional mixed martial arts fighter from Brazil. ... PRIDE Shockwave 2003 (Otomatsuri in Japanese) was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Kevin The Monster Randleman (born August 10, 1971 in Sandusky, Ohio) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... PRIDE Final Conflict 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... Wanderlei Cesar Silva, (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who has competed in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). ... PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... PRIDE 25: Body Blow was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... PRIDE 23: Championship Chaos 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... Mirko FilipoviÄ‡ (born on September 10, 1974), often billed as Mirko Cro Cop, is a Croatian law enforcement officer turned kickboxer turned mixed martial artist (MMA). ... PRIDE Shockwave was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships on August 28, 2002. ... Wanderlei Cesar Silva, (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who has competed in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). ... PRIDE 17â€“Championship Chaos was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Quinton Ramone Rampage Jackson (born June 20, 1978) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter who rose to prominence with his fights in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... PRIDE 15â€“Raging Rumble was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... The rear naked choke (often abbreviated RNC) is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponents back. ... Wanderlei Cesar Silva, (born July 3, 1976 in Curitiba, Brazil) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who has competed in Japans PRIDE Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). ... PRIDE 13â€“Collision Course was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Ryan (pronounced HY-an) Gracie (August 14, 1974-) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. ... PRIDE 12â€“Cold Fury was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... PRIDE 11â€“Battle of the Rising Sun was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... A compression lock (also known as a muscle lock, muscle slicer or muscle crusher) is a grappling hold which causes severe pain by pressing a muscle into a bone. ... Renzo Gracie (pronounced Henzo) (born March 11, 1967 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a lifelong practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and a member of the legendary Gracie family from Brazil. ... PRIDE 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Kimura (æœ¨æ‘, tree village) is the 18th most common Japanese surname. ... Igor Yaroslavovich Ice Cold Vovchanchyn (Russian: Ð˜Ð³Ð¾Ñ€ÑŒ Ð¯Ñ€Ð¾ÑÐ»Ð°Ð²Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð’Ð¾Ð²Ñ‡Ð°Ð½Ñ‡Ð¸Ð½. June 8, 1973) is a Mixed martial arts USSR - born fighter. ... Mark Coleman, winner of the tournament PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Royce Gracie, pronounced Hoyce Gracie (born December 12, 1966) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. ... Mark Coleman, winner of the tournament PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Guy Mezger (January 1, 1968 in Houston, Texas) is an American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full-contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter (retired from competition 01-25-05). ... PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Royler Gracie (pronounced Hoy-lur) (December 6, 1965-) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. ... PRIDE 8 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Kimura (æœ¨æ‘, tree village) is the 18th most common Japanese surname. ... PRIDE 7 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... PRIDE 6 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Vitor Vieira Belfort (born April 1, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has fought both in Japan and the United States. ... PRIDE 5 was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Allan Goes (born April 20, 1971 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. ... PRIDE 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. ... Carlos The Ronin Newton (born British Virgin Islands, August 17, 1976) is a Canadian mixed martial arts fighter, fighting out of and teaching at Warrior Martial Arts Centre in Newmarket, Ontario. ... PRIDE 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-PRIDE (later renamed PRIDE Fighting Championships) on June 24, 1998 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Vernon Tiger White is a Mixed Martial Arts professional fighter. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (also known as UFC 15. ... The armbar is a joint lock technique in martial arts which attacks the opponents arm. ... UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (also known as UFC 15. ... Kimo Leopoldo (born January 4, 1964) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, often billed as simply Kimo, who was born in Munich, Germany and fights out of Hawaii, U.S.A. He made his MMA debut at UFC 3 in 1994, and continues to fight today. ... The standing side choke is a type of arm triangle choke Arm triangle choke (or simply arm triangle) is a generic term describing chokeholds in which the opponent is strangled inbetween his or her own shoulder and the performers arm. ...

Contents