was looking at the list of fights he's had and there is no one even close to him...baddest man ever.
this thread has run it's course.
I've been re watching his fights and he has to be the most exciting fighter ever..
JOB - this thread has run it's course.
yes sir.
living legend
He should end his career in UFC.
Fight some grapplers with no kicks/knees on the ground.
I'd love to see him against Maia or Lister.
^ I love Saku and thats why I think he should end his career- period. There's just no point anymore for the man to take even a smidgen of punishment.
i often wonder how well he'd have done had he been on as many roids as several of his opponents
Sakuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!
Without question one of the greatest ever. At one time he was universally recognized as the best in the world.
And imo, along with Fedor and Royce, Sak's the only other even reasonable choice for being considered THE greatest ever, depending on the standard of measure you use.
On the basis of just being the absolute best and the most dominant ever, Fedor is the greatest ever by that measure.
In terms of being the original, the revolutionary, Royce is the Babe Ruth of U.S. MMA, with the UFC being the house that he built.
And like with Royce for the U.S., Sak is the single most seminal figure in Japanese MMA history, its most lasting legend. Although ironically, he actually cemented the eternity of that legend by being the first one to finally dispel the myth of Gracie invincibility upon which this very sport was founded - while at the same time actually doing for Japanese MMA what Royce himself did for the U.S.
Sakuraba is THE greatest ever.
Noone else stepped up like he did.
I wish I could yell his name like the lady did for PRIDE.
Royce will never be in a list of 'best ever'.
He was the first MMA champion in America and he's a legend for it.
Mongolian Chops son!
"Noone else stepped up like he did. "
+1
FingerorMoon - Royce will never be in a list of 'best ever'.
Completely agree, and I never claimed otherwise. Like I said, it all depends on how you define "greatest" - and what particular standard of measure you use.
By the standard of seminal influence, of being the revolutionary original, you could definitely argue for Royce as being the "greatest" in that sense (NOT the "best").
But does Royce's list of wins even come close to Sak's? Certainly not.
But then again, in terms of sheer dominance and being the absolute best, by that standard Sak isn't the greatest ever, either - not over Fedor.
But based on a combination of best wins, overall dominance, and legendary significance and influence, you could definitely make a strong and reasonable argument for Sak as being the "greatest" ever.
the fact that pride regularly worked fights rules him out for best ever
sorry
it was painful watching him and manhoef. Gotta love Saku.
Beninger - it was painful watching him and manhoef. Gotta love Saku.
It was painful watching most of his last dozen fights....
Sakuraba was the total package: skill and marketability. He had a huge influence upon the way training in MMA was done IMO (due in large part to his run as the Gracie Hunter)