Page 18 - Martial Science August #22-2017

Kazushi Sakuraba

UFC Hall Of Fame

MMA legend Kazushi Saku- I was surprised to find myself those challenges that I was
raba is the fourth and final in the octagon facing a giant able to make an impression
member of the 2017 UFC Hall of a man, some 50 pounds on the fans.
of Fame class, officials an- heavier.
nounced Saturday night. I’m an athlete, but I’m also a
Of course he was all about professional wrestler. I’ve li-
Although Sakuraba compe- power and he put the pres- ved and breathed wrestling
ted just twice under the UFC sure on, but I was able to and my very cells have ab-
banner at “UFC Japan” in achieve a win with an arm- sorbed it until wrestling has
1997, he took part in some bar. bonded to my DNA.
of the most notable fights in
the sport’s history under the For all intents and purposes, “A match is a form of com-
now-defunct PRIDE banner that fight is my MMA debut. It munication shared with the
during his nearly 20-year ca- was a baptism of fire thanks audience.”
reer. to the weight difference, but
I was able to overcome the Nothing gives me more pri-
“I can’t express how deeply challenge. de as a wrestler than being
moved I am to receive this able to tell a great story.
honor. I dreamed of being a
pro-wrestler and I joined a When a fan sees me face off
Up to this point, I’ve lived a professional wrestling orga- against a much larger oppo-
life without awards and tit- nization. nent and it inspires them to
les. take on difficult challenges
In wrestling, weight differen- in their lives, as a professio-
It was some years ago that I ces are commonplace and nal, nothing could make me
last won something - it was fights between Davids and happier.
first prize in a BINGO game. Goliaths are a great gimmick
to please the fans. The MMA fights that fans tell
And I won a pair of tickets to me had an effect on their li-
Tokyo Disney Sea. In MMA, however, you’ve got ves are from when I took on
a lot more on the line. the Gracie family, especially
This award is my successful In a competition, weight di- the fight with Royce Gracie.
follow up to that.,” It’s been fference can seriously affect From a modern MMA fan’s
20 years since I stepped into a match. point of view, it was an un-
the UFC Octagon. believably crazy match.
I’ve faced such challenges
Now that I think about it, a time and time again and I 15 minutes per round, with
different fighter was suppo- know more than most the di- no round limit. The only way
sed to fight, but was injured fficulty that such a situation to win was with a tap out.
and I was a last-minute re- presents. There was no allowance for
placement. referees to stop the fight, an
But, I’ve never, ever regretted unprecedented rule, and so
I got the offer a mere 4 days fighting those fights. It’s is the match was labeled a “hi-
before. precisely because I took on gh-noon duel”.

18 MARTIALSCIENCEMAGAZINE.COM