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Post by KJ Gould on Sept 1, 2010 19:02:41 GMT -5
Article from Head Kick LegendThe toughest decision that a professional fighter must make is to determine when its finally time to hang up the gloves and watch the sport from the side line.
In this instance we have 41 year old pioneer of mixed martial arts, Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba first made a name for himself as a professional wrestler working for the Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi) organization, and later, Kingdom Pro Wrestling until the latter part of 1996.
However, combat sports were more popular in Japan at the time, so the future icon decided to dabble in mixed martial arts.
His first notable event was the UFC's first to Japan. Sakuraba was an unknown Japanese fighter on the card with only one defeat under his belt but ended up winning the first ever UFC ultimate Japan heavyweight tournament.
Fast forward twelve-and-a-half years and you have one of the biggest names in Japanese MMA—throughout his storied career he has had countless memorable battles from running through the Gracie family to battling squaring off against strikers Wandelei Silva and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic; it seems that the catch wrestler has done it all.
Throughout the past two years, Sakuraba has competed under the DREAM banner; he has gone 3-3 in his time in the organization, picked up victories over Andrews Nakahara, Zelg Galesic and Rubin Williams, and dropped decisions to Kiyoshi Tamura and Ralek Gracie. He was also viciously knocked out by Melvin Manhoef.
The Manhoef bout is the one I want to focus on for a second. Typically, when I watch a Sakuraba match, I worry for his health and safety prior to the fight. Not so much for this one. Read more on the link. What do you think? Should Sakuraba still be competing? Should he retire? |
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Post by folkstyle on Sept 1, 2010 20:42:11 GMT -5
he should step away for his own sake and to be able to keep enough brain cells in order to teach future generations.
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Post by kforcer on Sept 1, 2010 23:32:16 GMT -5
I have to say, what I find a little patronizing, is people focusing merely on the need for him to retire and not on the skills--subtle and obvious--that he has demonstrated in his later years, as well as the incredible fighting spirit he's continually evinced.
The latter days of Muhammad Ali or say, Roberto Duran, are spoken of in hushed, reverential tones by boxing fans. So many MMA scribes, pundits and fans can't even take the time to watch many of Saku's later bouts, let alone give these performances the praise they are due.
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Post by KJ Gould on Sept 2, 2010 7:52:39 GMT -5
Isn't it more about the continual amount of damage Sakuraba is taking? And how he's still being put in size mismatches? Maybe not as dramatic difference in his prime, but Miller is still a bigger guy imo, and the latest Gracie was bigger but fortunately made it more a grappling match.
No one's doubting Saku still has skills and a fighting spirit, but the shape he turns up in, what weight he should be fighting at (I personally think Welterweight), and the abuse he's continuing to take against some real Killer opponents. I'd love to see Sakuraba compete in Submission Grappling more then MMA at this point.
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Post by kforcer on Sept 2, 2010 11:00:50 GMT -5
Me too, absolutely. I just think that some MMA writers, Sherdog in particular and a lot of the mainstream American magazines, should be in awe of his twilight performances and give them the reverence they are due while respectfully requesting his retirement.
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Post by KJ Gould on Sept 2, 2010 12:02:23 GMT -5
Yeah, I mean his last fight with Gracie (Ralek?) was super competitive imo.
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Post by kevinmask on Sept 4, 2010 11:02:58 GMT -5
The Ralek fight was amazing and extremely competitive. Too bad the ref intervened near the end, I think it kinda killed the momentum on the kimura sweep.
Also Ralek's a fucking monster, he basically just had to run into Saku to make him fall over, scary guy :S
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Post by hyperwildboarcreep on Sept 4, 2010 15:54:52 GMT -5
People also have to consider these two defining detremints in Saku's lifestyle. He is a notorious alchoholic ,and smokes 2 packs of Marlboro Redbox a day...Yet he is in better shape then 3/4's of the population of planet earth, and most MMA competitors younger then him. It was also noted...well I should say rumored that he fought Ralek half drunk on scotch.
He is the true living representation of Bushido. Never backs down from a fight, and never quits. That is beyond commendible, reverance and respect.
I say, as long as the guy has the drive, and the will, who is anybody to suggest he should quit. Why dosn't anybody say the same for Randy Couture..who is in no way the accomplished fighter Saku is, and is older. I also dont hear the same for Dan Severn who is 54-55 and still fighting.
The longer Saku gets to fight, the longer we get to witness a true legend, a hero of the sport, the living bushido, compete, and we should be thankful for it...no demeaning it with disrespectful chants of "hang it up".
Sakuraba is what MMA is all about, or atleast what it should be about.
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Post by victorparlati on Jan 24, 2011 23:11:24 GMT -5
In my opinion, since Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, and Billy Robinson...Kazushi Sakuraba is the greatest catch wrestler the world has seen.
But he should hang it up. Hated to see him lose to Mayhem. Ten years ago he would have submitted Mayhem quite easily and quickly, I believe.
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Post by KJ Gould on Jan 25, 2011 5:43:39 GMT -5
He doesn't protect himself as well from G'n'P when going for subs either. I'm not even sure on the status of his ear since his last fight. And I'm not sure certain powers in Japan will let him retire.
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Post by victorparlati on Jan 25, 2011 10:11:17 GMT -5
I hope that's not true about the powers that be. He has been such a phenomenal wrestler/mma fighter for so long, and a really great guy. Would love to see him retire and start teaching catch full time, put out more vids, travel around the world doing seminars, and so on. And then there's the health issues. One of my idols. Hate to see him go out like this.
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Post by KJ Gould on Jan 25, 2011 12:00:47 GMT -5
These powers have pretty much killed FEG recently. Dream is probably going to be dead, and K-1 would survive in name only if they were able to sell the brand name.
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Post by kforcer on Jan 25, 2011 12:45:17 GMT -5
In my opinion, since Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, and Billy Robinson...Kazushi Sakuraba is the greatest catch wrestler the world has seen. But he should hang it up. Hated to see him lose to Mayhem. Ten years ago he would have submitted Mayhem quite easily and quickly, I believe. Even just a few years ago, I would've expected him to top Mayhem. |
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Post by magnifico on Jan 25, 2011 13:32:24 GMT -5
The saddest moment was the Melvin Maneouf fight cause he caught a BEATING by a guy that a younger Saku takes down and submits easily. Also the Ralek Gracie fight, cause you can tell Ralek would have met the same fate as the rest of his family had Saku been in his prime.
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Post by KJ Gould on Jan 25, 2011 19:08:23 GMT -5
Ralek did look significantly bigger then Sakuraba though. I'd say at least a weight class apart.
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