Yuji Sakuragi
| Yuji Sakuragi | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 20, 1977 Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan |
| Other names | Super Tiger (II) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st) |
| Division | Light heavyweight Middleweight |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Team | Seikendo[1] |
| Teacher(s) | Satoru Sayama |
| Rank | Black belt in Kyokushin Karate |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 12 |
| Wins | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 41 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By submission | 0 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 23 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Yuji Sakuragi (桜木裕司 Sakuragi Yūji?, born July 20, 1977) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler, currently associated with Real Japan Pro Wrestling's team Seikendo.[1] He is known for his Kyokushin Karate background and his ability to score KO wins.
Sakuragi wrestles under the name of Super Tiger, being the second incarnation of the name used by his trainer Satoru Sayama.[2] He has also worked in promotions like Battlarts, Dramatic Dream Team and Riki Choshu's Legend The Pro Wrestling.
Contents
Early life
Yuji started training Kyokushin in middle school, and later joined the Japan Self-Defense Forces for a time. After his military tenure, he worked as a physical education teacher for the Nippon Sport Science University, where he met Satoru Sayama. Sakuragi moved to Sayama's Seikendo promotion and started training in order to be a professional mixed martial artist.
Mixed martial arts career
In 2005, after some unimpressive fights abroad, Sakuragi made his debut in Seikendo's partner company Pancrase with a high note, knocking out Kengo Watanabe with a head kick. The victory, as well as his performance against veteran Kazuo Takahashi, made him shine in the indy MMA scene. He became famous for his Kyokushin background, exemplified by his refinated striking and ability to score total KOs as opposed to TKOs or stoppages. Sakuragi was also famous for his flashy personal style, wearing hip hop and b-kei fashion, striking the military salute before his matches and paying his dues to the Yasukuni Shrine in special occasions.
In 2012, Sakuragi defeated veteran Pancrase fighter Kazuo "Yoshiki" Takahashi at the promotion's Progress Tour event. The wrestling expert chose to trade strikes with Sakuragi, who landed a left hook at the second round and knocked him out cold, winning the fight.
On October 27, 2012, Sakuragi faced grappling expert Sanae Kikuta in a special fight in Grabaka under full vale tudo rules, without gloves and allowing elbows and headbutts. The bout was short, with Sakuragi landing a spinning back kick, sidestepping Kikuta's attempts to push him against the cage wall and knocking him down with strikes.[3]
Sakuragi's next matchups against grapplers wouldn't be so successful, as he was choked out by Daiju Takase at DEEP Haleo Impact and defeated by Ryuta Sakurai in an upset knockout by flying knee at Cage Impact 2013.
Professional wrestling career
Real Japan Pro Wrestling (2007-present)
In 2007, Sakuragi made his transition to professional wrestling as part of Sayama's Real Japan Pro Wrestling. He received the gimmick of Super Tiger II, the second incarnation of the character used by Sayama in Universal Wrestling Federation. Yuji wrestled under a purple and silver attire and mask, utilizing a style based around kicks and suplexes. His debut was against Ikuto Hidaka, a wrestler who had been especially aproved by Sayama for Tiger II's debut, and later moved into a major feud with Tiger Shark.
Super Tiger challenged Alexander Otsuka for the RJPW Legend Championshp in 2008, but he was defeated. Sakuragi then formed a steady team with Minoru Suzuki, getting victories over names like Yuki Ishikawa and Great Sasuke. In 2011, Super Tiger got finally the championship when he defeated Mitsuya Nagai in a title match. Tiger retained it successfully against Black Tiger V before trading the title once more with Nagai, and this time his reign was longer, defending it against Kazunari Murakami, Taka Kuno, Masashi Aoyagi and The Great Tiger. However, he lost it in 2015, against Masakatsu Funaki.
Battlarts (2007-2011)
The year of his debut, Super Tiger started wrestling in shoot-style promotion Battlarts as a RJPW representative. Tiger formed a tag team with Katsumi Usuda and competed extensely for the company, briefly feuding with Mitsuya Nagai and Yuki Ishikawa. In 2008, he participated in the B1 Climax 2009 Block B, where he got big wins over Munenori Sawa, Usuda and Bison Tagai, and went to face Ishikawa in the block's final match, but he was defeated. Super Tiger then teamed up with his long time rival Tiger Shark, though they broke up shortly after. His last match in Battlarts was a tag team match with Chocoball Mukai as a special referee, teaming up with Sanshu Tsubakichi to face Ryuji Walter and Alexander Otsuka in a losing effort.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
-
- Bridging German suplex[2]
- Tiger suplex[4] – adopted from Satoru Sayama
- Rear naked choke[4]
- Tornado Kick (Jumping corkscrew roundhouse kick)[4]
- Signature moves
-
- Multiple suplex variations
-
- Bridging belly to back[6]
- Bridging fisherman,[2] sometimes while applying a wrist-clutch[2]
- Release German
- Underhook[2]
Championships and accomplishments
Kickboxing
- Universal Kickboxing Federation
- UKF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Mixed martial arts
- World Absolute Fighting Championship
- WAFC Pankration Openweight Crown (2009)
Professional wrestling
- Real Japan Pro Wrestling
- RJPW Legends Championship (2 times)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 41 matches | 15 wins | 23 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 7 |
| By submission | 0 | 8 |
| By decision | 2 | 8 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 15–23–2 (1) | Alan Baudot | TKO (punches) | Grandslam MMA 3: Way of the Cage | September 12, 2015 | 1 | 2:35 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 15–22–2 (1) | Shungo Oyama | TKO (corner stoppage) | Pancrase: 263 | December 6, 2014 | 2 | 1:03 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–22–2 (1) | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 | November 24, 2013 | 3 | 2:49 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–21–2 (1) | Ryuta Sakurai | KO (punch and flying knee) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 1:04 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–20–2 (1) | Daiju Takase | Submission (guillotine choke) | DEEP: Haleo Impact | December 22, 2012 | 2 | 1:33 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 14–19–2 (1) | Sanae Kikuta | KO (knee and soccer kick) | Grabaka Live 2 | October 27, 2012 | 1 | 0:35 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 13–19–2 (1) | Kazuo Takahashi | KO (punch) | Pancrase: Progress Tour 9 | August 5, 2012 | 1 | 4:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–19–2 (1) | Shinso Anzai | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Progress Tour 3 | March 11, 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–18–2 (1) | Kazuhisa Tazawa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Deep: 52 Impact | February 25, 2011 | 2 | 0:54 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 12–17–2 (1) | Ryo Kawamura | Draw | Pancrase: Passion Tour 11 | December 5, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the Light heavyweight King of Pancrase title |
| Loss | 12–17–1 (1) | Alexander Grinchuk | Decision (unanimous) | FEFoMP: Impact League 4 | October 16, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Khabarovsk, Russia | |
| Win | 12–16–1 (1) | Ryo Kawamura | TKO (Punches) | Pancrase: Passion Tour 8 | September 5, 2010 | 1 | 3:55 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 11–16–1 (1) | Christian M'Pumbu | TKO (punches) | Deep: 46 Impact | February 28, 2010 | 1 | 2:29 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 11–15–1 (1) | Alavutdin Gadjiev | KO (knee) | FEFoMP: Impact League 2 | October 17, 2009 | 1 | 0:30 | Khabarovsk, Russia | For the WAFC Pankration Openweight Crown title |
| Loss | 10–15–1 (1) | Hans Stringer | TKO (punches) | Deep: 43 Impact | August 23, 2009 | 2 | 2:11 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 10–14–1 (1) | Minoru Kato | KO (punch) | Deep: 41 Impact | April 17, 2009 | 2 | 0:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–14–1 (1) | Rogent Lloret | Decisioun (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 8: USA | October 29, 2008 | 2 | 0:59 | Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 9–13–1 (1) | Stefan Struve | Submission (triangle choke) | M-1 Challenge 6: Korea | August 29, 2008 | 1 | 2:30 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Loss | 9–12–1 (1) | Kamil Uygun | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 5: Japan | July 17, 2008 | 1 | 4:52 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–11–1 (1) | Besiki Gerenava | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 2: Russia | April 3, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 9–10–1 (1) | Kenichi Shinohara | TKO (punches) | MARS 11: 2nd Anniversary | February 2, 2008 | 1 | 1:34 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 8–10–1 (1) | Hidetada Irie | Draw | Deep: 33 Impact | December 12, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–10 (1) | Yuki Kondo | Decisioun (unanimous) | Pancrase: Rising 8 | October 14, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–9 (1) | Katsuhisa Fujii | Decisioun (majority) | Deep: Glove | July 26, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–8 (1) | Basil Yamilkhanov | TKO (doctor stoppage) | FEFoMP: Mayor Cup 2007 | May 26, 2007 | 1 | 0:38 | Khabarovsk, Russia | |
| Win | 8–7 (1) | Nikolai Onikienko | Decision (unanimous) | FEFoMP: Mayor Cup 2007 | May 26, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Khabarovsk, Russia | |
| Loss | 7–7 (1) | Yasuhito Namekawa | Submission (heel hook) | Deep: 29 Impact | April 13, 2007 | 1 | 2:12 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7–6 (1) | Fabiano Aoki | TKO (injury) | MARS 6: Rapid Fire | December 22, 2006 | 2 | 1:55 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| NC | 6–6 (1) | Fabiano Aoki | No Contest (accidental low blow) | MARS 5: Marching On | October 28, 2006 | 1 | 0:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–6 | Tatsuya Mizuno | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Blow 7 | September 17, 2006 | 2 | 2:30 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–5 | Riki Fukuda | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: 2006 Neo-Blood Tournament Finals | July 28, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–4 | Poai Suganuma | TKO (punches) | Pancrase: Blow 4 | May 2, 2006 | 1 | 1:47 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |
| Win | 6–3 | Hikaru Sato | TKO (soccer kicks) | Pancrase: Blow 1 | January 26, 2006 | 1 | 0:55 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–3 | Jimmy Akishige | KO (punch) | RJPW: Legend Championship | December 16, 2005 | 1 | 1:55 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Hideki Tadao | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Pancrase: Spiral 8 | October 2, 2005 | 2 | 3:33 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |
| Win | 4–2 | Yuta Nakamura | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Z | September 3, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Kumamoto, Japan | |
| Win | 3–2 | Aslan Dzeboev | KO (body kick) | Pancrase: Spiral 6 | July 31, 2005 | 2 | 1:31 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Kazuo Takahashi | Submission (armbar) | Pancrase: Spiral 5 | July 10, 2005 | 2 | 3:01 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |
| Win | 2–1 | Kengo Watanabe | KO (high kick) | Pancrase: Spiral 1 | February 4, 2005 | 3 | 0:06 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–1 | Sung Chu Kim | TKO (punches) | Gladiator FC: Day 2 | June 27, 2004 | 1 | 0:42 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Eduard Churakov | Decision (unanimous) | Seikendo: SWA Ultimate Boxing | October 29, 2000 | 3 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
Submission grappling record
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
| Loss |  Marcos de Souza |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | DEEP X 3 | 2008 | 1 | 3:53 |
Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4 wins (1 KO), 8 losses
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest |
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Grabaka Live! 2 – 10/27/2012: Sakuragi KO’d Kikuta in a Bare Knuckle MMA Fight – Full Result
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 清水賢吾、桜木裕司に1R KO勝ち。菅原勇介、復帰戦は判定負け：1.24 後楽園(Japanese)
External links
- Professional MMA record for Yuji Sakuragi from SherdogLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Articles with Japanese-language external links
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- 1977 births
- Living people
- Japanese mixed martial artists
- Middleweight mixed martial artists
- Japanese kickboxers
- Japanese karateka
- Male karateka
- Kyokushin kaikan practitioners
- Japanese male professional wrestlers
- Masked wrestlers
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Kyokushin kaikan
- People from Miyazaki Prefecture
