Kazushi Sakuraba
Date of birth: 1969-07-14
Place of birth: Shōwa, Akita, Japan
Known for: Acting
Also known as: The Gracie Killer, The Gracie Hunter, The IQ Wrestler, Ikiru Densetsu, The Living Legend
Biography
Kazushi Sakuraba is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, currently signed to Rizin Fighting Federation. He has competed in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW). He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's and Dream. He is known as the "Gracie Hunter" or the "Gracie Killer" due to his wins over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie. In particular, Sakuraba is famous for his initial fight with Royce, which lasted ninety minutes and ended after Royce was unable to continue due to damage received from Sakuraba.
Movie Credits
Pride 23: Championship Chaos 2
2002-11-24
Pride 23: Championship Chaos 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships.
Pride 25: Body Blow
2003-03-16
Pride 25: Body Blow was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took pla
Pride 17: Championship Chaos
2001-11-03
Pride 17: Championship Chaos was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships
Pride 15: Raging Rumble
2001-07-29
Pride 15: Raging Rumble was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It
Pride 13: Collision Course
2001-03-25
Pride 13: Collision Course was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships.
PRIDE 11
2000-10-31
PRIDE.11: Battle of the Rising Sun took place on October 31, 2000, at Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Ja
Pride 6
1999-07-04
Pride 6 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at Yo
Pride 7
1999-10-12
Pride 7 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place on Se
Pride 8
1999-11-21
Pride 8 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place on No
Pride 10: Return of the Warriors
2000-08-27
Pride 10: Return of the Warriors was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Champions
Pride 3
1998-06-24
Pride 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships
Pride 2
1998-03-15
Pride 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships
Pride 4
1998-10-11
Pride 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships
Pride 5
1999-04-29
Pride 5 took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan, on April 29, 1999. This event marked
Baton
2009-04-28
Baton is a collection of three 20-minute Sci-fi anime films dedicated to the 150th anniversary of th
Dream 2
2008-04-29
Dream.2 Middle Weight Grandprix 2008 1st Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by DREAM. It
NJPW & NOAH: Wrestle Kingdom 16 - Night 3
2022-01-08
The third night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produ
Pride 30: Fully Loaded
2005-10-23
Pride 30: Starting Over (also promoted as Fully Loaded outside Japan) was a mixed martial arts event
UFC 15.5: Ultimate Japan 1
1997-12-21
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan (aka UFC 15.5) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fightin
Pride Critical Countdown 2005
2005-06-26
Pride Critical Countdown 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championship
K1 Dynamite!!
2002-12-31
The inaugural show was a co-production between PRIDE Fighting Championships and K-1 held on August 2
K1 Dynamite!!
2007-12-31
K-1 PREMIUM 2007 Dynamite!! was a mixed martial arts event held by K-1 and Hero's on New Year's Eve,
K1 Dynamite!!
2006-12-31
K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!! was held by K-1 and Hero's on New Year's Eve, Sunday, December 31, 2006
K1 Dynamite!! USA
2007-06-02
Dynamite!! USA was held on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angele
Kazushi Sakuraba Documentary
A comprehensive documentary on (in my opinion) the greatest MMA fighter of all time, Kazushi "The Gr
DREAM 17
2011-09-24
DREAM.17 took place on September 24, 2011, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This mixed mart
Pride Critical Countdown 2005
2005-06-26
Pride Critical Countdown 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships.
Pride Total Elimination 2005
2005-04-23
Pride Total Elimination 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This
Pride Critical Countdown 2004
2004-06-20
Pride Critical Countdown 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The
DREAM 16
2010-09-25
DREAM.16 took place on September 25, 2010, at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan, promoted by Fight
Dynamite!! 2010
Dynamite!! 2010 was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing event and the latest in the annual New Year'
NJPW Destruction 2013
2013-09-29
Destruction 2013 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling that took pl
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8
2014-01-04
Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Ne
NJPW Dominion 6.21
2014-06-21
NJPW Dominion 6.21 was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), wh
Metamoris 5
2014-11-22
The live experience of Metamoris 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center will be a seamless next step
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9
2015-01-04
Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Ne
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2015
2015-02-11
The New Beginning in Osaka 2015 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestli
NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai
2015-02-14
The New Beginning in Sendai 2015 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestl
NJPW Skydiving J
1996-07-06
Sky Diving J was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The even
NOAH: The New Year 2022
2022-01-01
Pro Wrestling NOAH returns to the illustrious Nippon Budokan for NOAH THE NEW YEAR 2022.
NJPW Invasion Attack 2015
2015-04-05
Invasion Attack 2015 was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) pay-per-view held on April 5, 2015, at Ryō
Pioneers of MMA: Kazushi Sakuraba
2015-02-03
Considered by UFC President Dana White to be one of the greatest talents of all time, the legend of
Nagurimono: Love & Kill
2005-09-03
A foppish English businessman (Christian Storms) stages a martial-arts contest between champions of
NJPW Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall
2015-07-05
Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) promoted by New Japan
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2015
2015-05-03
Wrestling Dontaku 2015 was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) pay-per-view held on May 3, 2015, at the
Quintet Ultra
2019-12-12
Quintet Ultra was a grappling team survival event held by Quintet on December 12, 2019 at the Red Ro
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 19 (Final)
2015-08-16
The nineteenth and final night of the tournament took place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2015
2015-10-12
King of Pro-Wrestling 2015 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) promoted by New Japan Pro
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2015
2015-09-27
Destruction in Kobe 2015 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) promoted by New Japan Pro W
NOAH: Great Muta Final "BYE-BYE"
2023-01-22
Pro Wrestling NOAH presents GREAT MUTA FINAL 'BYE-BYE' event on January 22nd, 2023 from the Yokohama
NJPW Power Struggle 2015
2015-11-07
Power Struggle (2015) was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).
NJPW Power Struggle 2014
2014-11-08
Power Struggle 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, held on
NJPW Road To Tokyo Dome - Day 6
2014-12-20
NJPW Road To Tokyo Dome Night 6 took place in Tokyo, Japan on December 20, 2014. The main event was
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2014
2014-09-21
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling
NJPW G1 Climax 24: Day 12 (Final)
2014-08-10
The twelfth and final night of the tournament, featuring the match to crown the G1 Climax 24 winner,
NJPW World Tag League 2014 - Day 11
2014-12-07
The World Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by New Japan P
NJPW World Tag League 2014 - Day 11
2014-12-07
The World Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by New Japan P
NJPW Tag League Finals 2015
2015-12-09
The World Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by New Japan P
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2016
2016-02-11
The New Beginning in Osaka 2016 is an upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pr
NJPW The New Beginning in Niigata 2016
2016-02-14
The New Beginning in Niigata was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) event held on February 14, 2016, a
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2012
2012-10-08
King of Pro-Wrestling (2012) was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) pay-per-view held on October 8, 20
NJPW Invasion Attack 2016
2016-04-10
Invasion Attack 2016 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by New Japan Pro
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2016
2016-05-03
Wrestling Dontaku 2016 was a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) pay-per-view held on May 3, 2016, at the
CyberFight Festival 2021
2021-06-06
CyberFight Festival 2021 was a professional wrestling event promoted by CyberFight for its four bran
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2013
2013-10-14
King of Pro Wrestling 2013 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (N
Josh Barnett's Bloodsport Bushido
2024-06-22
On June 21st get ready for an explosive showdown as Josh Barnett's Bloodsport: Bushido is live strai
NOAH: Wrestle Magic 2024
2024-05-04
NOAH Wrestle Magic 2024 was a professional wrestling event promoted by Pro Wrestling NOAH. It took
NJPW Power Struggle 2013
2013-11-09
Power Struggle (2013) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) promoted by New Japan Pro Wres
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 17
2015-08-14
The seventeenth night of the tournament took place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on August 14
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 18
2015-08-15
The eighteenth night of the tournament took place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on August 15,
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7
2013-01-04
Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Ne
Quintet 2
2018-07-16
TEAM Tiger Muay Thai VS TEAM Reebok
Quintet 3
2018-10-05
Grappling Team Survival Match
Pride Total Elimination 2003
2003-08-10
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by PRIDE Fighting Championships. It
NOAH: The Best - Final Chronicle 2020
2020-12-06
Pro Wrestling NOAH presents their final event of 2020 from Tokyo, Japan.
NOAH: 20th Anniversary - NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 4
2020-11-22
Pro Wrestling NOAH celebrates its 20th anniversary with this event from Yokohama Budokan in Yokahama
Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round
2000-01-30
Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Champi
Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals
2000-05-01
Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships
Pride Shockwave 2002
2002-08-28
PRIDE Shockwave was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing event co-promoted by PRIDE and K-1 on August
Pride Shockwave 2005
2005-12-31
Pride Shockwave 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships at the
Pride Final Conflict 2003
2003-11-09
Pride Final Conflict was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took pl
Pride Shockwave 2003
2003-12-31
Pride Shockwave 2003 (Otoko Matsuri in Japanese) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fi
Pride 12: Cold Fury
2000-12-09
Pride 12: Cold Fury was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took
Wrestle-1 Raising An Army Tour - Day 1
2013-09-08
Wrestle-1 has their debut event.
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 9 (Final)
2013-08-11
NJPW G1 Climax 23 - Night 9 (Final) took place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on August 11, 20
NJPW Road to Destruction 2024: Day 5
2024-09-14
NJPW Road to Destruction 2024: Day 5 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wr
RIZIN SARABA
2015-12-29
Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba was an inaugural mixed martial arts event held by the R
RIZIN 7
2017-10-15
Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Rizin
DREAM 14
2010-05-29
DREAM.14 event took place on May 29, 2010, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, featuring Nick
DREAM 12
2009-10-25
DREAM.12 took place on October 25, 2009, at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan, promoted by Fighting and
DREAM 11
2009-10-06
DREAM.11 took place on October 6, 2009, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, promoted by Fighting a
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2014
2014-02-09
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wr
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2014
2014-02-09
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pr
NJPW Invasion Attack 2014
2014-04-06
NJPW Invasion Attack 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he
NJPW Back to the Yokohama Arena
2014-05-25
NJPW Back to the Yokohama Arena 2014 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wr