PART 3
Now on to one of my favorite fighters, who If society were fair and just and took care of it’s members would exile him into retirement. Society should force him to disappear and live the rest of his life getting fat and eating ice cream. My much beloved Catch as catch can wrestler Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba. A man who fought with Royce Gracie at his own game for 90 minutes, purposely making him throw in the towel only to fight 20 or so minutes later against at the time the most feared heavy weight striker in the world Igor Vovchanchyn. A fight Saku actually put on a great fight. Attempting armbar’s staying out of danger and scrambling when things got hairy. When Sakuraba’s corner threw in the towel at the end of the first 10 minute round of that fight he should have decided to never come out for another round again.
As that was for whatever reason, the only curtsy the people surrounding him have ever showed him. True, he did go on to put on other spectacular performances, but had he not fought after that night we would put him on the mystic level of Rickson and not the level now where we beg him to retire. Sakuraba’s fight against Quinton Jackson, Ricardo Arona, Vanderlie Silva (3 times), Kevin Randleman and Mirko Cro Cop are all testaments to how great and courageous he was/is. And how terrible a promotion can be when they know they have a guy that refuses to say no. Saku’s fight against little Nog is still as amazing as they come.(the real point in his career he should have waked away at) He loss to Nino Schembri is a reminder of what happens when you forget your in an actual fight and play with your opponents for 9 minutes of a fight.
His 2nd fight with Vanderlie I believe was his to win, had he remembered that the ring doesn’t have as much give as a wrestling ring I like to tell myself he would have won. Sakuraba did what no one else in history has done. He beat a multitude of Gracie’s at the time when they were invicinble. He beat all of them in spectacular fashion. Giving his back to all of them, throwing them around and kicking them, and he was a wrestler that fought in a world that favored Strikers (as of Pride 13, when head kicks were allowed) He always fought underweight and never looked outclass until his body was shot. When it comes to Sakuraba we are really talking about young Elvis and old Elvis. I think that while his Striking wasn’t the best, it was decent enough to get close to you. His leg kicks were strong enough to slow you down, and his movement put everyone from Jackson to Cro Cop on their behinds.
Sakuraba is so tough Rickson Gracie watched his family lose to him and shook his hand and didn’t step into the ring. Saku then, young Elvis, I think would still have a shot against anyone in his division. Considering he never had an actual weight class, he would fight against Welterweights or Middleweights. Even with the current line up of fighters in those classes, I believe he could rule the roost. * (read the bottom)
I mentioned his trainer earlier. And now I’d like to mention him. Possibly the greatest American fighter, depending on who you ask is Matt Hughes. His fights with Frank Trigg in my opinion are two of the greatest fights in history. I dedicated an entire article once to his second fight with Frank Trigg, a fight that I believe is the best fight I’ve ever seen. Matt Hughes is great that is undeniable, but I put him up for contention as greatest American fighter because he did so well under American rules. Would he be great if he fought in rules that didn’t favor wrestler’s? The UFC without a doubt favors wrestling more than any other style. If someone misses a takedown they can keep a hand on the ground and they are safe from repercussions.
If someone holds you down but continues to land occasional punches the fight will stay on the ground. Hence, if you look at the UFC’s roster of Champions you might notice a trend of wrestlers. That point made, of all the wrestlers that have been champions. None were as good as Matt Hughes. He fought everyone they threw at him, had that midwestern mentality where he was willing to fight once a month. While his submissions weren’t the best, his ability to avoid them and use the 4 that he knew worked wonderfully. While his stand up wasn’t the best, he could close the distance and win a fight. Matt Hughes is a hard guy to judge because on one day he can beat GSP or BJ Penn.
And on the next day he gets crushed by BJ Penn or GSP. When he fought in rules that didn’t favor wrestler’s Pele Landi Jons knocked him out with a knee as he shot for a take down. He should easily be up for grabs as one of the greatest considering he still competes at a high level, still wins against top compitition. There are a million hours of tape on the guy and even with that, when he is on his game people can’t stop him even though they know exactly what he is going to do. The gapping wholes in his game such as stand up game haven’t been much of a problem as he uses his stand up long enough to get close and then put you on the ground. From there, Submission wizard of kickboxing ace he nullifies everyone.
Before I completely discredit his stand up, he did punch Ricardo Almeida in the face and then bull choke him completely out. A feather in a cap in the ongoing war of BJJ vs Wrestling. Matt Hughes, not only could have competed at the highest level in his prime, he still does and he’s out of his prime. That tells you how good he is.
