Sakuraba Could Return at DREAM.10

by Chris Nelson on Apr 13, 2009 11:30 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

During a press conference at Laughter7 Dojo on Monday -- held to announce the addition of a Kazuhiro Hamanaka (4-5-1) vs. Karl Amoussou (9-2-1) superfight to the April 29th DEEP/M-1 Challenge card -- founder Kazushi Sakuraba spoke briefly to Sportsnavi about the future of his own MMA carer.

"The IQ Wrestler" told the site that there's a strong chance he'll be back in action on July 20th (the date for DREAM.10 at Saitama Super Arena), though his return may have to wait until September, when the as-yet-unannounced DREAM.11 is tentatively scheduled.

Sakuraba suffered a fractured left ulna in his June 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix bout with Melvin Manhoef, had surgery, then reinjured the arm on New Years Eve against Kiyoshi Tamura (who, perhaps not coincidentally, also just announced plans to return this summer). Sakuraba said he had a second surgery done in February. He also joked about K-1's Masato retiring at 30 while he (Saku) will turn 40 in July.

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Cool. I’m always down with some Sakuraba. Just so long as he never fights Melvin Manhoef or Wanderlei Silva again.

by AnonymousA on Apr 13, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sakuraba vs. Either Shamrock.

Book it.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Apr 13, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Frank Shammy...

would probably take it.

I think Ken is still on suspension for steroids, but that wouldn’t necessarily stop him from doing the fight. I’d prolly take Saku by decision in that fight.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Apr 14, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m about as excited for this match as I am for the next time Mark Coleman gets beaten up…er fights. Not at all.

by ilostmydog on Apr 14, 2009 1:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So did he just out and out call Masato a pussy or…

by subo on Apr 14, 2009 2:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shibata or Minowaman vs. Sakuraba gets my puro all wet.

by George Lucas on Apr 14, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

That’s nothing if not honest. Rec’d?

by subo on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the best thing for him – someone who won’t take any more years off his life.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Apr 14, 2009 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

He’s already fought Shibata and Minowa, but those three (plus Tamura and Funaki) can just fight each other into infinity for all I care.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 14, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sakuraba needs to fight Coulture, I know it won’t happen but I can dream can’’t I?

by Bandaka on Apr 14, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

See Sakuraba-Arona.

Couture would slaughter him.

FEG needs to keep him in the middleweight division. No more fights where he is outweighed by 30+ pounds PLEASE.

by Steve4192 on Apr 14, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As long as FEG never allows him in the ring with another striker or another grappler who outweighs him by 30 pounds, I’m fine with it.

I really don’t want see a repeat of the Wand/Manhoef/Smirnovas/Arona massacres.

by Steve4192 on Apr 14, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saku vs Rickson damnit!

by Pandanus on Apr 14, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i really don’t want to see Sakuraba become one of the first truly punch drunk MMA fighters. the language barrier makes it difficult to tell, but he has taken some hellacious beatings over his long career.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
http://theworldsoldestsport.blogspot.com/

by theworldsoldestsport on Apr 14, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saku is my all-time favorite mma fighter and i love watching him. but for his own sake its time to retire.

If he dedicated 100% back into fighting tho i think he could give couture a decent fight.

by JaTinkles on Apr 14, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When the hell is Roger Gracie going to fight?

by DirtyML on Apr 14, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Man, who knows. He was supposed to fight Travis Wiuff in Sengoku last year, but pulled out with a rib injury. I’m sure he’ll be at ADCC in NYC this year – there was a rumor he would face Robert Drysdale in a superfight, but I doubt it.

by Chris Nelson on Apr 14, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs