3. Sakuraba vs. the Gracies
One of the biggest stories ever in PRIDE was Kazushi Sakuraba, the Japanese “Gracie Killer”. It was huge for Japanese mixed martial arts that their homegrown fighter was able to take out fighters in the legendary Gracie family.
It started at PRIDE 8 when Sakuraba defeated Royler via kimura, but the next fight would be the one that would turn Sakuraba into a legend. The rules of the fight between Sakuraba and Royce Gracie on May 1st 2000 were modified to allow for unlimited rounds and no referee stoppages, just like the Gracies like it. Royce’s corner would throw in the towel at the end of the 6th however, earning Sakuraba the nickname “the Gracie Killer”.
Sakuraba would then defeat Renzo Gracie (PRIDE 10)and Ryan Gracie (PRIDE 12) as well.
It would appear as though Royce finally had got revenge on behalf of his family when he defeated Sakuraba via unanimous decision on a show in LA on June 2nd 2007, but Gracie would fail a steroid test afterwards and the commission would throw out the victory.
Finally Ralek Gracie would defeat Sakuraba in 2010 at Dream 14, but Sakuraba was into his 40s by that point.
