Could Sakuraba be conpetitive with modern Welterweights?

[ClosetVitorFan]

Sakuraba is probably one of the best Japanese fighters to have ever lived. So yeah.

 

[Flex Plexico]

Very interesting debate going, here

Some good Sherdogging

 

[Melas Chasma]

Uh oh. Prepare to be shredded to bits but you are correct. With modern weight cutting, chances are Saku would likely not even fight at WW and a guy like Fedor would be a middleweight.

To those who say "he would catch a sub", do you think he is better than Maia? Do you think he would sub TWood and be able to withstand getting KO'd? Would he outgrapple Colby? Sub and outstrike Gunni? Would he hang with Wonderboy? Sure, he could beat some ww's out there, but practically none in the top 50.

The sport has simply progressed too greatly and you could well be right that a guy like Zabit would eat him for lunch.

He beat Rampage, Vitor, Randleman and some HWs. Idiot.

 

[Seiryoku Zenyo]

Too many guys that never watched Saku talkingon this thread.

1. His striking was better than you think.

2. If MMA evolved, prime Saku would evolved aswell. He was a gifted fighters with great grappling and decent striking. He was brave as hell.

3. He fought Rampage, Vítor, Crocop, Wand, etc. He would be fine fighting guys like Colby, every day. Even If he losses, he won't be hurt nor tried. He could fight Royce for an hour after fighting Colby or Usman.

 

[smart.feller]

uh?

"of first generation fighters."

Where did u find this gem?

If he was 1st Gen, then Hoyce was Gen Zero?

You do realize he had his first professional fight in 1996, right?

 

[scottjoebob]

I ask this because it took him 90 mins to finish royce, and most current top 10 guys would finish royce in 2 minutes, even worse than what matt did.

So do u think hed be ranked if he fought in his prime today?

Personally i think he wouldnt be ranked, but he could probably beat mike perry and mike jackson

Saku was 180 pounds , so nowadays he would probably cut to a lower weight class than 170 . To 155 is a hard cut though . He would need a 160 or 65 class to perform optimally .

 

[scottjoebob]

I ask this because it took him 90 mins to finish royce, and most current top 10 guys would finish royce in 2 minutes, even worse than what matt did.

So do u think hed be ranked if he fought in his prime today?

Personally i think he wouldnt be ranked, but he could probably beat mike perry and mike jackson

 

[DespicablePeep]

I wish Saku was 20 tired of all the boring fighters in the UFC.

Also Rampage has been subbed only twice in his career, Jones and Sakuraba.

 

[DespicablePeep]

Also Royce was young then ffk

 

[ImNotSurpisedDonks!]

Mate, the point you're making is fair.
The point I'm making is that Thompson is as far from a 'well rounded complete mixed martial artist' as you will find lol.
If anything, Thompson strengthens your later argument that someone one dimensional doesn't stand up to questions in modern mma.
He's as one dimensional and as much of an old school mma fighter as you'll get.

Hes a karate fighter. <- this is a full stop.

Fair enough, probably poor wording on my behalf. He is a singular specialist by today's standards but much more well rounded than the singular specialists of past.

 

[315MMAFighter]

You're a . You actuallt "liked" a post that consisted of, "ok."

Yea Saku is better than me, no argument here. He'd have had his way with me for sure.

Psssst....


Saku>>>>>>>>>you also.
Everry UFC/Pride fighter ever>>>>>>>you & me.

Good observation. Very astute. Moron

 

[koquerelle]

He had serious cojones, but no way could he be competitive with modern top ww's. I don't know if there is really anyone from his era that could be competitive with modern top fighters. This game has increased more over the past three decades than any sport in the world, and the fighters are bigger, stronger, more well tested, more athletic, better trained and infinitely more well rounded.

Sadly, MMA has the most nostalgic fans on the planet so you won't find many people that will feel this way. Saku subs Usman in 2, AmIRite, Sherbros?

Ah, the whole evolution myth. Guess that’s why Vitor wasn’t able to keep up. I also assume that’s why Couture had a short career. That’s also why you would never see a one dimensional Maia have a good career.

Sakuraba was a stud. He would certainly benefit from today’s camps and be a solid fighter, just like he was in his days.

 

[Flex Plexico]

this debate is too fun to let die...

just enjoying it from the river

 

[Summoning]

I ask this because it took him 90 mins to finish royce, and most current top 10 guys would finish royce in 2 minutes, even worse than what matt did.

So do u think hed be ranked if he fought in his prime today?

Personally i think he wouldnt be ranked, but he could probably beat mike perry and mike jackson

Reported...

 

[ThunderStruck]

Saku is the most overrated fighter on sherdog.

 

[gono btw]

Saku is the most overrated fighter on sherdog.

Says the No Rush´s Nutthugger...

 

[gono btw]

IMO its the greatest (not the best) fight in MMA history it bridged the forgotten Vale Tudo past to the modern Mma present.

 

[gono btw]

You do realize he had his first professional fight in 1996, right?

Hmmmm... You do realize that b4 UFC 1, there were BJJ vs Luta Livre Challenges in the 1980s & 90s, right?

You do realize that Hickson fought Rei Zulu twice in the 1980s, right?

So, is Hickson Gen -1?

 

[ThunderStruck]

Says the No Rush´s Nutthugger...

GSP is rightfully rated : Right at the top of the goat list.

Hearing Sherdog, Saku would be champ at LHW, MW and WW. Just like Royce he benefitted from fighters knowing batshit about submissions.

He would get destroyed by the modern mma fighters.

 

[gono btw]

GSP is rightfully rated : Right at the top of the goat list.

Hearing Sherdog, Saku would be champ at LHW, MW and WW. Just like Royce he benefitted from fighters knowing batshit about submissions.

He would get destroyed by the modern mma fighters.

oh yeah, Im with ya on this one...

Goes,Vitor Gracie, Ebenezer Braga,Royler,Conan,Ronin,Lil Nog,Arona,Minowa...etcetc

..knew absolutely shit about subz...