Kazushi Sakuraba’s magnificent response to being called to the UFC Hall of Fame

Over the weekend at UFC 212, the UFC announced that MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 6. Sakuraba will be joined by other legendary names including Urijah Faber, Maurice Smith, and former UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.

Sakuraba made the following honorable statement on social media following the UFC’s big announcement:

When I was told about being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, my first reaction was surprise.
I stepped into the Octagon 20 years ago at UFC’s Ultimate Japan tournament and I never could have dreamed at that time that one day I would be invited to join the other legends in the Hall of Fame.
That was an important fight for me as it was my very first entry into MMA fighting. I continued to fight on a square battlefield – a white canvas mat surrounded by ropes – and you could say that is where I built my career, but it has always been my mission, not only to become the best, but to show the world the excitement and glory of MMA.
I gave everything I could in the gym, to perfect myself and my technique, so that I could give the fans spectacle they deserved. With that belief in my heart, that it was my purpose in life, I’ve never stopped pushing the limits of what I can do.
In the process, if I’ve somehow influenced the sport of MMA, it was never in my power to do it alone. I couldn’t have achieved anything without my esteemed opponents with whom I fought the fiercest of battles, without the staff who make the events happen, without the media who tell our stories, and, most importantly, without the support of the amazing fans.
It is my wish to share this honor with everyone in the Japanese martial arts world that, through PRIDE, helped establish a new era in fighting sport.

Kazushi Sakuraba

今回の知らせを聞いて、とても驚いています。
ぼくがUFCのオクタゴンに足を踏み入れたのは、20年前に行われた日本大会のただ一度だけです。そんなぼくがUFCの殿堂入りを果たすとは考えもしませんでした。
たしかにMMAのデビュー戦と言えるのはオクタゴンのあの試合でした。ただ、その後のぼくの主戦場は四角いリングです。ぼくのキャリアのほとんどは、ロープに囲まれた白いマットの上で形作られたと言っていいでしょう。
強さを追い求めるだけではなく、MMAの面白さを世間に伝える。
お客さんに喜んでもらうために、とことん練習して自分を高める。
そんな使命感を胸にこれまで頑張ってきました。
その過程でMMAというジャンルになんらかの影響を与えることができたとしたら、それは決してぼくひとりの力ではありません。リング上で激戦を繰り広げた対戦相手はもちろんのこと、イベントスタッフ、メディア、なによりファンの方々の支えがあってのことです。
この名誉を、PRIDEで共に一時代を築いた日本の格闘技界すべての人たちと分かち合いたいと思います。

桜庭和志

When I was told about being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, my first reaction was surprise. I stepped into the Octagon 20 years ago at UFC’s Ultimate Japan tournament and I never could have dreamed at that time that one day I would be invited to join the other legends in the Hall of Fame. That was an important fight for me as it was my very first entry into MMA fighting. I continued to fight on a square battlefield – a white canvas mat surrounded by ropes – and you could say that is where I built my career, but it has always been my mission, not only to become the best, but to show the world the excitement and glory of MMA. I gave everything I could in the gym, to perfect myself and my technique, so that I could give the fans spectacle they deserved. With that belief in my heart, that it was my purpose in life, I’ve never stopped pushing the limits of what I can do. In the process, if I’ve somehow influenced the sport of MMA, it was never in my power to do it alone. I couldn’t have achieved anything without my esteemed opponents with whom I fought the fiercest of battles, without the staff who make the events happen, without the media who tell our stories, and, most importantly, without the support of the amazing fans. It is my wish to share this honor with everyone in the Japanese martial arts world that, through PRIDE, helped establish a new era in fighting sport. Kazushi Sakuraba 今回の知らせを聞いて、とても驚いています。 ぼくがUFCのオクタゴンに足を踏み入れたのは、20年前に行われた日本大会のただ一度だけです。そんなぼくがUFCの殿堂入りを果たすとは考えもしませんでした。 たしかにMMAのデビュー戦と言えるのはオクタゴンのあの試合でした。ただ、その後のぼくの主戦場は四角いリングです。ぼくのキャリアのほとんどは、ロープに囲まれた白いマットの上で形作られたと言っていいでしょう。 強さを追い求めるだけではなく、MMAの面白さを世間に伝える。 お客さんに喜んでもらうために、とことん練習して自分を高める。 そんな使命感を胸にこれまで頑張ってきました。 その過程でMMAというジャンルになんらかの影響を与えることができたとしたら、それは決してぼくひとりの力ではありません。リング上で激戦を繰り広げた対戦相手はもちろんのこと、イベントスタッフ、メディア、なによりファンの方々の支えがあってのことです。 この名誉を、PRIDEで共に一時代を築いた日本の格闘技界すべての人たちと分かち合いたいと思います。 桜庭和志

A post shared by Kazushi Sakuraba (@saku39ks) on Jun 3, 2017 at 8:51pm PDT

At 47-year-old, Sakuraba holds a 26-17 professional MMA record with one draw and two no contests. The Japanese MMA fighter only appeared twice in the UFC at the early stage of his career but built his name and popularity in the PRIDE organization. His battles with members of the Gracie family earned him “The Gracie Hunter” nickname. One of the most historic MMA fights between Sakuraba and Royce Gracie ended up going 90-minutes in the PRIDE FC Grand Prix 2000 Finals card where Sakuraba won after Gracie’s corner threw in the towel at the 90-minute mark.

on 6/5/2017.