Who Is Kazushi Sakuraba? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Kazushi Sakuraba was born on July 14, 1969, making him 55 years old in 2025. He is renowned as a trailblazer in the world of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, particularly known for his incredible wrestling skills and submission techniques. Often referred to as "The Gracie Hunter," Sakuraba holds the distinction of defeating several members of the famed Gracie family, cementing his legacy in MMA history. His innovative style and charisma have made him a beloved figure in both Japanese and international combat sports.
For more information, visit his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Martial Artist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1969 |
| Age | 56 Years |
| Birth Place | Shōwa, Akita, Japan (now Katagami, Akita, Japan) |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Japan |
Popularity
Kazushi Sakuraba's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Kazushi Sakuraba stands at an impressive height of 6 feet (183 cm) and weighs around 190 lbs (86 kg). As an athlete, he maintains a well-conditioned physique, essential for both his wrestling and MMA career. His body stats reflect years of dedication to fitness and training.
Kazushi Sakuraba is a Japanese professional wrestler, submission wrestler and former mixed martial artist, currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was formerly one-half of the former GHC Tag Team Champions with Takashi Sugiura.
He has also competed in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW). He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, Hero's, Dream and most recently Rizin Fighting Federation.
He is known as the Gracie Hunter or the Gracie Killer due to his wins over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie. Sakuraba is famous for beating 15 champions of different top MMA organizations; opponents who were often many weight-classes above him.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Kazushi Sakuraba remains private about his personal relationships. However, he has been previously linked to notable figures in the sport. While it is unclear if he is currently dating anyone, he has often expressed his dedication to his family and children, underscoring their importance in his life.
Sakuraba's victory over Royler constituted the first loss by a Gracie in professional fighting in several decades and as such, sent ripples of shock and controversy through the mixed martial arts community.
Some protested that the victory was tainted due to the fact that Royler (although placed in a debilitating submission hold) never conceded defeat and was little time away from the final bell when the bout was stopped.
It is worth noting that the last Japanese athlete to defeat a Gracie prior to Sakuraba's win against Royler, legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, had used the very same technique Sakuraba utilized to beat Royler. That time, the recipient had been Royler's father, Hélio Gracie, who had, like Royler, also refused to submit but likewise lost.
Net Worth and Salary
Kazushi Sakuraba's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million as of 2025. His earnings come from various sources, including his successful career as a professional wrestler, mixed martial arts fighter, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, he has partaken in promotional events and endorsements, further enhancing his financial status.
On August 12, 2012, Sakuraba, alongside Katsuyori Shibata, started appearing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was Sakuraba's first work for the company since 1995, and the first ever as a free agent instead of a representative from another promotion.
Sakuraba and Shibata wrestled their first match on September 23, defeating Hiromu Takahashi and Wataru Inoue in a tag team match.
Sakuraba and Shibata, collectively dubbed Laughter7, continued their winning ways at the following two pay-per-views, King of Pro-Wrestling on October 8 and Power Struggle on November 11, both times defeating the team of Togi Makabe and Wataru Inoue.
Also at Power Struggle, Shinsuke Nakamura nominated Sakuraba as the next challenger for his IWGP Intercontinental Championship. On December 2, Sakuraba won his first exchange with Nakamura, when Laughter7 defeated Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii in a tag team match to remain undefeated since their return.
On January 4, 2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Sakuraba suffered his first defeat since his return to professional wrestling, when he unsuccessfully challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Sakuraba and Shibata returned to their winning ways at the following pay-per-view, The New Beginning on February 10, where they defeated Hirooki Goto and Wataru Inoue in a tag team match.
On April 7 at Invasion Attack, Sakuraba and Shibata suffered their first tag team loss, when they were defeated by Hirooki Goto and Yuji Nagata via referee stoppage, when Sakuraba injured his right elbow, after taking a belly-to-back suplex from Nagata, and unable to continue the match.
New Japan later announced that Sakuraba would be sidelined for two to three months. Sakuraba wrestled his return match on July 20, defeating Yuji Nagata via submission. On September 8, Sakuraba and Shibata took part in the Wrestle-1 promotion's inaugural event, defeating Masakatsu Funaki and Masayuki Kono in a tag team match.
Sakuraba continued his rivalry with Yuji Nagata at the September 29 Destruction pay-per-view, where he and Shibata defeated Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi with Sakuraba pinning his rival for the win.
Career, Business and Investments
Kazushi Sakuraba's career has spanned multiple decades, showcasing his versatility and passion for combat sports. Starting as a professional wrestler, he later transitioned into MMA, where he achieved significant success. Beyond the ring, Sakuraba has engaged in several business ventures related to fitness, including gyms and training facilities. His investments in health-related enterprises reflect his commitment to promoting wellness and martial arts.
Known for his excellent skills in catch wrestling and unorthodox fighting style, he is considered to be one of the greatest mixed martial art fighters of all time, and also holds notable victories over 7 UFC champions, 3 Pancrase Champions, a DREAM champion, a King of the Cage champion and Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion; former Welterweight C
hampion Carlos Newton, two former Light heavyweight champions Vitor Belfort and Quinton Jackson, former Heavyweight Champion Kevin Randleman, 3-time UFC Tournament champion Royce Gracie, former Superfight champion and King of Pancrase Ken Shamrock, former King of Pancrase Masakatsu Funaki, DREAM Super Hulk Tournament Champion Ikuhisa Minowa, former
King of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion Vernon White, and former Battlecade Extreme Fighting champion Marcus Silveira.
He is also the first of only two Japanese champions in UFC history. Sakuraba's Pride fights routinely draw more than 20 million viewers in Japan. Sakuraba is the founder of the submission wrestling promotion Quintet, where he has competed since 2018.
Social Network
Sakuraba maintains a presence on various social media platforms, allowing fans to stay updated on his activities. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter provide a glimpse into his life, where he shares training tips, personal insights, and moments from his career. Fans can connect with him to appreciate his contributions to combat sports further.
Though his record remained below .500, Sakuraba continued to edge his way closer to mid-card status through the rest of the year. Then, in 1995, the UWFi began an interpromotional feud with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
The vast majority of UWF-i workers came out on the losing end of the booking to the larger and more mainstream promotion and Sakuraba was no exception. He was defeated in high-profile bouts to Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Koji Kanemoto and Shinjiro Otani, bringing Sakuraba a new level of exposure to the public.
The ring psychology and technical prowess he displayed in the bouts also impressed the management of the UWF-i enough that he was finally pushed towards main event status.
Education
Kazushi Sakuraba attended high school in Japan before pursuing a career in wrestling. Although there are limited details about his formal education, his extensive experience in martial arts and professional wrestling signifies a continuous learning process, both in techniques and personal development.
