Would Sakuraba have beaten Rickson Gracie?

[Adamant]

Rickson by armbar

 

[Bekter]

They tried to make that fight many times and Rickson always found some reason why it couldn't happen. Saku was down for it immediately after beating Royce. There's a reason for this discrepancy -Rickson might be a BJJ legend but his actual fighting career was a bit of a sham.

 

[akc814ilv]

Saku would have won. At the end of his career Rickson accepted only fights he knew he would win. Notice he never accepted a fight with Saku and you can be garunteed that Pride would have paid Rickson a ridiculous bundle of money to accept that fight.

Dude his son had just died.

He never fought again after that.

 

[ilfirin]

I'd say Sakuraba. He was ridiculously well-rounded.

 

[JimmyFresno]

Rickson, despite being 11 years Saku's senior and at the tail end of his physical prime.

Although, given their respective skill sets, I also dream of them having a submission grappling match under Eddie Bravo Invitational rules. I think Rickson takes that fight as well.

 

[Deleted member 498977]

If it tooks Saku 90 minutes to finish Royce,
then bigger, stronger more technical Rickson would have grapplefucked Saku
and , possibly submitted him.

Easy MMAth.

 

[Oshime2]

No such thing as "Pride rules" when a Gracie gets in the ring.....They want no time limit, Gi allowed, No restanding for stalling, No yellow cards....Did I leave anything out?

Well if you're Royler you might demand no strikes on the ground period.

Sakuraba wins by having actually fought non-handpicked opponents under ideal circumstances.

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

I don't think so, I love saku but rickson was a different level

 

[porcodio]

This question has been answered by history a long time ago.

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Inside MMA put up the video of Saku's ear tonight in honor of Cyborg's fractured skull. Top two most gruesome MMA injuries....

 

[yookfarb]

cult mentality up in this thread.... at least most of you know bjj

 

[what-wut]

Of course Saku would win. His catch wrestling style was better for mma and he kept submitting blackbelts. His striking wasn't that good other than kicks but it was still probably better than Rickson. The only thing that gives me pause is Rickson's size, how much did he weigh?

 

[Aerosol]

7/10 Rickson
(No time limit)

*WAR SAKU!

 

[Todd498]

Your AV bro. Geesh

LOL! Pennywise. GOAT for Clowns

 

[redbrownhaze]

Rickson was on another level from his brothers and cousins. I think he would have caught Sakuraba. Rickson competed in sambo and wrestling with rolls. But if you just look at his movement and skill , there was more to him. He was a good fighter and his control and transitions were sickening !

 

[Glove]

Rockson died 3.5 years (!) after Sakuraba fough Royce. This is the reason his death always seems to me like an excuse why Rickson never fought Sakuraba.

Thank you for the information, i didnt know he died that long after Royce/Sakuraba match.

 

[panzer723]

Rickson Gracie is a coward

 

[ThunderL1ps]

The fact that Rickson outpriced himself to PRIDE who probably would have offered quite a significant pay day says a lot about Gracie's belief in his ability to beat Sakuraba, prime or no prime. Maybe he figured PRIDE would have ponied up the money eventually, but that's doubtful; Rickson never fought another fighter in PRIDE after Takada to keep the torch alive for the Saku fight.

 

[GrAtI]

Saku

 

[Osculater]

Saku had high school/college level wrestling and catch wrestling training who subbed bjj blackbelts early in his career.