Rickson Gracie had regret for not fighting Kazushi Sakuraba

1:25:00 PM Tkd kwan 0 Comments

In a recent interview with Sherdog, Rickson Gracie expressed regret for never having fought Kazushi Sakuraba, who famously defeated multiple members of the Gracie family. Gracie explained that a potential fight with Sakuraba was close to becoming a reality, but it was ultimately derailed by a series of unfortunate events.

Gracie, a multiple-time Vale Tudo Japan tournament winner, also revealed that he had missed the opportunity to fight Mark Coleman, the former Pride heavyweight Grand Prix winner. Gracie expressed particular disappointment about never facing Sakuraba, as he was given the title of "The Gracie Killer" and would have been a significant rival during his prime.

Gracie explained that he had accepted an offer to fight Sakuraba after a previous fight but had to refocus his priorities when his son tragically passed away. Despite being willing to fight Sakuraba later, Gracie stated that Japanese promoters lost interest, and the matchup ultimately fell through.

Additionally, Gracie discussed the missed opportunity to fight Coleman, citing differences in rules and financial offers between the UFC and Japan as major factors that prevented the highly anticipated matchup.

Ultimately, Gracie's competing during a different era than Sakuraba and Coleman and their retirement means that the long-awaited fights will remain as historical "what if" matchups in MMA history.

Kazushi Sakuraba is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, known for his fights in PRIDE Fighting Championships and UFC. He is often referred to as the "Gracie Hunter" for his victories over members of the famous Gracie family. Sakuraba is considered a pioneer of MMA and is widely respected for his skill, toughness, and resilience in the ring.

Rickson Gracie is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and jiu-jitsu practitioner. He is a member of the famous Gracie family, known for their contributions to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rickson has a highly successful career in martial arts and is considered one of the greatest jiu-jitsu practitioners of all time. He has also competed in MMA and has remained undefeated throughout his career.