Japanese MMA greats: Hayato Mach Sakurai (Everytime Champion)

[Buffmeister]

Everytime Champion!
Hayato Sakurai


Height: 5ft.7inch
Weightclass: 170lbs. which was MW at Shooto

Record: 38-13 (22 finishes)

Backround: Judo, Shootboxing
Trained by: Noboru Asahi
Nickname: Mach

Shooto MW Champ
Went undefeated from '96-'01 (lost against A.Silva)
ADCC 1999: Bronze medal at 170lbs
Silver Medal at the Open Weight Category, defeating Ricco Rodriguez and Vinny Magalhaes

One of the 1. MMA Highlight videos i had ever seen:
Sherdog Mach hl:



The guy who had Aokis number.


One of the best japanese fighters in MMA, period.
And one of my favorite MMA fighters of all time!

He had that i don't care look on his face before the fight, at the staredown and while he fought.

I mean if you like seeing cartwheel passes, heavy heavy low kicks, powerful punches and a awesome butterfly-guard combined with a excellent ground game overall...there you go!

A legend in Shooto...

His Pride GP run to the finals (beating Pulver and Joachim Hansen in one night) was just sweet to watch.

Destroying Frank Trigg with knees from the Thai-Clinch to pull off an awesome comeback...


Viciously Ko'ing Olaf Alfonso...

Ko'ing Mac Danzig right before he ran through everybody at TUF...

Also training with Matt Hume...after a camp with him he looked even better...


...and yes, he also has a xxxtape somewhere floating around on the net...

How do you remember him?
Thoughts...?

(If you haven't seen him...must watch)

If you wonder, why Everytime Champion?

 

[MiroHa]

Mach is one of those Japanese greats who don't get enough recognition because they spent majority of their career/prime in Japan.

 

[JacJeanFinger]

Sakurai was a Las Vegas favorite when he challenged prime Matt Hughes. I thought they were crazy.

Sakurai idolized Frank Shamrock and named him as his major influence. Shamrock, in return, said Sakurai was the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world only second to him (I think it was a sherdog interview back in 2002).

Sakurai's dad traveled to UAE to witness his son winning 2 medals at 1999 ADCC. Subsequently he was interviewed by western media who wanted to know his thoughts on Sakurai's performances. Dad said "when I was 24, I was twice more tough."

Nick Diaz who is known to curse his opponents even after the fight, got down on his knees to show respect to Sakurai when they fought in Dream. Sakurai is the only man in business who made ND humble.

 

[JkMMA]

Sakurai was a Las Vegas favorite when he challenged prime Matt Hughes. I thought they were crazy.

Sakurai idolized Frank Shamrock and named him as his major influence. Shamrock, in return, said Sakurai was the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world only second to him (I think it was a sherdog interview back in 2002).

Sakurai's dad traveled to UAE to witness his son winning 2 medals at 1999 ADCC. Subsequently he was interviewed by western media who wanted to know his thoughts on Sakurai's performances. Dad said "when I was 24, I was twice more tough."

Nick Diaz who is known to curse his opponents even after the fight, got down on his knees to show respect to Sakurai when they fought in Dream. Sakurai is the only man in business who made ND humble.

Kinda like when Nate Diaz fought Gomi. Prior to the fight, all the interviews Nate said nice things about Gomi and after the fight, he said Gomi was one of his favorite fighters and will always be.

 

[Asurah]

Immensely talented guy, he had some issues with commitment later in his career and never was quite the same after that big car crash before the Hughes fight though. Newer fans don't know but he was considered by quite a few to be the #1 guy for awhile, Anderson beating him was a huge upset.

His comeback against Trigg is one of my favorites, basically finished him twice

 

[IndyCovaHart]

I rag on JMMA a lot but Mach Sakurai is and always will be one of my top fighters.

 

[TheFakeMacoy]

Mach is one of my favourites. He was well rounded and had a huge mean streak. It was a bit hard to watch some of his later fights when he was hitting the Korean BBQ too much. Still, when motivated, he was an absolute beast.

 

[Wrestler160]

I don't really like using the word "World Class" but Sakurai was your definition of that during that era.

 

[dembones22]

Everytime Champion!
Hayato Sakurai
View attachment 293001

Height: 5ft.7inch
Weightclass: 170lbs. which was MW at Shooto

Record: 38-13 (22 finishes)

Backround: Judo, Shootboxing
Trained by: Noboru Asahi
Nickname: Mach

Shooto MW Champ
Went undefeated from '96-'01 (lost against A.Silva)
ADCC 1999: Bronze medal at 170lbs
Silver Medal at the Open Weight Category, defeating Ricco Rodriguez and Vinny Magalhaes

One of the 1. MMA Highlight videos i had ever seen:
Sherdog Mach hl:



The guy who had Aokis number.


One of the best japanese fighters in MMA, period.
And one of my favorite MMA fighters of all time!

He had that i don't care look on his face before the fight, at the staredown and while he fought.

I mean if you like seeing cartwheel passes, heavy heavy low kicks, powerful punches and a awesome butterfly-guard combined with a excellent ground game overall...there you go!

A legend in Shooto...

His Pride GP run to the finals (beating Pulver and Joachim Hansen in one night) was just sweet to watch.

Destroying Frank Trigg with knees from the Thai-Clinch to pull off an awesome comeback...


Viciously Ko'ing Olaf Alfonso...

Ko'ing Mac Danzig right before he ran through everybody at TUF...

Also training with Matt Hume...after a camp with him he looked even better...


...and yes, he also has a xxxtape somewhere floating around on the net...

How do you remember him?
Thoughts...?

(If you haven't seen him...must watch)

If you wonder, why Everytime Champion?

Sakurai was considered a PFP great during his prime, but I'm confused by the term "Everytime" Champion ??

Is this the same reason there is confusion when I'm chatting Japanese women up and have to rely on Google translate ??



<Oku02> .

 

[Escabar]

One of my favs fighters, loved watching his fights especially his run at 160lbs in Pride after he had those loses to Rodrigo & Crosley Gracie and everyone thought he was done.

 

[flyingscissorsheelhook]

IMO he's an all-time great. The last few years he's just been showing up for a paycheque but it doesn't erase a fantastic career.

 

[JacJeanFinger]

Immensely talented guy, he had some issues with commitment later in his career and never was quite the same after that big car crash before the Hughes fight though. Newer fans don't know but he was considered by quite a few to be the #1 guy for awhile, Anderson beating him was a huge upset.

His comeback against Trigg is one of my favorites, basically finished him twice

I know he had lower back sprain and wasn't in the condition to fight 5 rounds with Hughes. But big car crash is new to me. Where did you hear about it? After reading your post, I personally sent a message (to which he hasn't replied yet) to Sakurai if he was involved in car accident in 2002.

"I didn't tap" was invented by Rico Rodriguez when I tapped him out - Sakurai (said recently)

 

[JohnMandick]

He brutally KO'd two of the sports biggest douches (Aoki and Trigg) and I've always been a fan.

Also apparently he has a sex tape, though I've never seen it.

He's a pioneer!

 

[TheFakeMacoy]

I know he had lower back sprain and wasn't in the condition to fight 5 rounds with Hughes. But big car crash is new to me. Where did you hear about it? After reading your post, I personally sent a message (to which he hasn't replied yet) to Sakurai if he was involved in car accident in 2002.

"I didn't tap" was invented by Rico Rodriguez when I tapped him out - Sakurai (said recently)

The car crash thing is on his wiki page, but it doesn't seem to have a source.