Kazushi Sakuraba

Sakuraba is, to me, simply legendary. Coming out of Katagami in Akita and wrestling at Chuo University, he became the man who electrified Japan during MMA's wild early days, famously dismantling the Gracie dynasty. He blurred the line between pro wrestler and mixed martial artist with sheer audacity and technique. At 183 cm and slender, he faced enormous opponents without flinching, all guts and grappling genius. His Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame induction feels entirely earned. That he still steps into the ring says everything about his spirit. I'm a genuine admirer.

Name (English)

Kazushi Sakuraba

Name (Japanese)

桜庭和志

Reading

さくらば かずし

Born

July 14, 1969 (age 57)

Zodiac / Chinese zodiac

Cancer / Rooster

Origin

Katagami, Akita Prefecture, Japan

Height

183 cm

Occupation

mixed martial arts fighter / professional wrestler

University

Chuo University

Awards & achievements

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

• Official sitehttps://saku39.com/
• Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/saku39ks/
• Xhttps://x.com/KS_SAKU39
• Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazushi%20Sakuraba
• Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A1%9C%E5%BA%AD%E5%92%8C%E5%BF%97
• Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1154771

Tags

• Akita Prefecture
• mixed martial arts fighter
• professional wrestler

Last updated

2026-06-20

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.