CM Punk has named Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba as his MMA Goat.
Sakuraba, the 52 year old Japanese fighter began his career as a professional wrestler for UWF International before joining MMA. His list of accomplishments include winning the UFC Japan heavyweight tournament in 1997, as well as many others too long to list, and he was ultimately inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.
Much like BJ Penn, the Japanese legend constantly took on crazy fights, albeit being undersized, and usually won. He single-handedly took out an entire wing of the Gracie family, including Royce Gracie, back when an invincible aura still surrounded him. It was to have been Royce Gracie’s first defeat in MMA. This earned Sakuraba the nickname of ‘The Gracie Hunter’.
“I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Sakuraba. Probably a lot of people wouldn’t pick Sakuraba. But I’m a pro wrestler at heart and I know Saku is, too. So he’s one of those guys that kind of captures everything I love about mixed martial arts. Perennial underdog, ugly ears. What’s not to love?”
Punk, the former WWE star, turned to MMA in 2016 and made his UFC debut at UFC 203 in Cleveland which resulted in a loss to Mickey Gall. Returning to the ring for UFC 225 in 2018 resulted in a no contest decision due to Mike Jackson testing positive for marijuana. There would not be a third fight.
It was doubtful Punk would have been given another shot in the Octagon anyways as Dana White explained after UFC 225:
“Listen, he got clipped a lot in that fight, and it looked like he was hurt bad a couple of times. He stayed in there, he went for three rounds. I t should be a wrap. The guy’s 39-years-old. I love the guy. He’s the nicest guy in the world. We gave him two shots, and he had a lot of heart tonight in this fight, and yeah, I think he should call it a wrap… I wouldn’t put that kid in the Contender Series.”
Your favorite =/= goat.
Sak is probably the greatest warrior spirit of all time, but not the greatest fighter
Sakuraba is in the goat conversation. Always fought above his weight and still did great things.
He hung around way too long, so some of his losses need perspective.
The definition of Bushido is Sakuraba
No one cares what CM Punk thinks.
I have no problem with him choosing Sak. Was like the size of a welterweight now but always fighting the best no matter weight. The most inventive MMA star of all time probably.
I looked at a boat load of GOAT lists and none had Sakuraba listed… I think Punk naming Sak as the GOAT is plain wrong. Take your pick as either of the two below will do IMO.
Khabib Nurmagomedov 29 wins 0 losses
GOAT run: 2017 to 2020
Jon Jones 26 wins 1 loss The Hamill loss was for illegal elbows.
GOAT run: 2011 to present
I think it’s Jon Jones. If he was a model citizen we would be celebrating him more.
Sak has that warrior spirit that we all love. He smoked and had great entrances but still fought in the end. Love him but no where near goat.
Mentioning Khabib & goat in the same sentence is always amusing.
He has sex with goat’s.
Ehh good for punk lol
There are some fans who think that Khabib is the GOAT. But if you ask Nurmagomedov, there are seven GOATs . Speaking to ESPN, Nurmagomedov said that he is on the same level as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Demetrious Johnson, and Daniel Cormier.
I want to see Tyson Fury back in action soon as I’ve seen the fights with Wilder too many freaking times now. I especially want him to fight Usyk. (I had to add this)
Where there’s a will
39
“Where there’s a will”
Yeah like Rogan saying he can suck his own dick…WTF was Joe thinking saying that? I told my wife and she said Rogan has a screw loose anyway because he voted for Trump.
Baby hates Trump!
Hey in some cultures, that’s something to be proud of.
Yeah I hear Camel jockeys are into that sort of thing.