Hendo (left) catches Sakuraba (right) in grappling (Photo: Reproduction Twitter ks_saku39)
Former PRIDE champion in two weight divisions, Dan Henderson will compete again in Japan. Retired from MMA, the North American will face another legend in Kazushi Sakuraba. The two will compete in a grappling match for Rizin, which will take place on October 15th in Fukuoka. The two were at the last event organized by the company, which came to fill the void left by Pride in Japanese MMA, and they made the fight official in Rizin's ring.
See too
Both fighters are revered in Japan. Hendo was PRIDE welterweight (now middleweight) and middleweight (nowadays light heavyweight) champion and was the only fighter to hold two PRIDE titles in two different categories simultaneously. The feat was repeated recently by Conor McGregor in the UFC – the Irishman became featherweight and lightweight champion at the same time, with victories over José Aldo and Eddie Alvarez. In Pride, Henderson has victories over Wanderlei Silva, Vitor belfort, Murilo Bustamante and Murilo Ninja.
Sakuraba, who came from telecatch, was known at the beginning of the century as “Caçador de Gracies”, for his epic victories over members of the family that created Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Japanese beat Renzo, Royler and Ryan Gracie, in addition to taking away his unbeaten record Royce gracie, who at the time had three titles in the first four UFC tournaments, including a legendary victory in the first event organized by Ultimate, in 1993. At the beginning of the month, the Japanese was elected to the UFC Hall of Fame, despite having only made two fights in the promotion. Dana White recognized “Saku’s” contribution to international MMA.
Comments