| Yuji Sakuragi | |
|---|---|
 Sakuragi as Super Tiger in September 2016 | |
| Born | Yuji Sakuragi (桜木裕司,Sakuragi Yūji) (1977-07-20)July 20, 1977 (age 47) Miyazaki,Miyazaki Prefecture,Japan |
| Other names | Super Tiger (II) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight Middleweight |
| Fighting out of | Miyazaki,Japan |
| Team | Seikendo[1] |
| Teacher(s) | Satoru Sayama |
| Rank | Black belt inKyokushin Karate |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 12 |
| Wins | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 44 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 14 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 25 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Last updated on: January 8, 2014 | |
Yuji Sakuragi (Japanese:桜木裕司,Sakuragi Yūji, born July 20, 1977) is a Japanesemixed martial artist,kickboxer, andprofessional wrestler, currently associated withReal Japan Pro Wrestling (RJPW)'s team Seikendo.[1] He is known for hisKyokushin Karate background and his ability to score KO wins. In MMA, he competed for thePancrase,M-1 Global, andDEEP promotions.
Sakuragi wrestles under the name ofSuper Tiger, being the second incarnation of the name used by his trainerSatoru Sayama.[2] He has also worked in promotions likeAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW),Battlarts,Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) andRiki Choshu's Legend The Pro Wrestling.
Yuji started trainingKyokushin in middle school, and later joined theJapan Self-Defense Forces for a time. After his military tenure, he worked as a physical education teacher for theNippon Sport Science University, where he metSatoru Sayama. Sakuragi moved to Sayama'sSeikendo promotion and started training in order to be a professionalmixed martial artist.
In 2005, after some unimpressive fights abroad, Sakuragi made his debut inSeikendo's partner companyPancrase with a high note, knocking out Kengo Watanabe with a head kick. The victory, as well as his performance against veteranKazuo "Yoshiki" Takahashi, made him shine in the indy MMA scene. He became famous for his Kyokushin background, exemplified by his refined striking and ability to score total KOs as opposed to TKOs or stoppages. Sakuragi was also famous for his flashy personal style, wearinghip hop andb-kei fashion, striking themilitary salute before his matches and paying his dues to theYasukuni Shrine in special occasions.
In 2012, Sakuragi defeated Kazuo 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 expertSanae Kikuta in a special fight in Grabaka under fullvale tudo rules, without gloves and allowing elbows and headbutts. The bout was short, and saw Sakuragi landing a spinning back kick, sidestepping Kikuta's attempts to push him against the cage wall, and finally knocking him down with strikes.[3]
Sakuragi's next matchups against grapplers wouldn't be so successful, as he was choked out byDaiju Takase at DEEP Haleo Impact and defeated byRyuta Sakurai in an upset knockout by flying knee at Cage Impact 2013.
In 2007, Sakuragi made his transition to professional wrestling as part of Sayama'sReal Japan Pro Wrestling (RJPW). He received thegimmick ofSuper Tiger II, the second incarnation of the character used by Sayama inUniversal Wrestling Federation. Yuji wrestled under a purple and silver attire and mask, utilizing a style based around kicks and suplexes. His debut was againstIkuto Hidaka, a wrestler who had been especially approved by Sayama for Tiger II's debut, and later moved into a major feud withTiger Shark.
Super Tiger challengedAlexander Otsuka for the RJPW Legend Championship in 2008, but he was defeated. Sakuragi then formed a steady team withMinoru Suzuki, getting victories over names like Yuki Ishikawa andGreat Sasuke. In 2011, Super Tiger got finally the championship when he defeatedMitsuya 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 againstKazunari Murakami, Taka Kuno, Masashi Aoyagi andGreat Tiger. However, he lost it in 2015, againstMasakatsu Funaki.
The year of his debut, Super Tiger started wrestling inshoot-style promotionBattlarts as a RJPW representative. Tiger formed a tag team with Katsumi Usuda and competed extensely for the company, briefly feuding withMitsuya Nagai and Yuki Ishikawa. In 2008, he participated in the B1 Climax 2009 Block B, where he got big wins overMunenori 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 withChocoball Mukai as a special referee, teaming up with Sanshu Tsubakichi to face Ryuji Walter andAlexander Otsuka in a losing effort.
Sakuragi debuted inAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) as a RJPW representative for the Champion Carnival 2016. He scored important victories overJun Akiyama andDaisuke Sekimoto, but otherwise his success was little. He didn't stop appearing in AJPW after the league, however, aligning himself withSuwama'sstable Evolution. On 27 August, he and Suwama challenged Daisuke Sekimoto andYuji Okabayashi for theAJPW World Tag Team Championship, being defeated. In December, Super Tiger and fellow Evolution memberHikaru Sato competed at the Real World Tag League 2016, though scoring only one win.
In 2017, Sakuragi switched AJPW byPro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) as his main field. He participated in that year's Fire Festival, gaining high victories overShogun Okamoto andKohei Sato, but ultimately came short. He bounced back by winning the previously vacated Zero1 United National Heavyweight Championship against Hartley Jackson, which he retained until losing it in 2018 to Chris Vice. Super Tiger then repeated participation in the 2018 Fire Festival, achieving again important wins over names likeShinjiro Otani,Sugi andHiroshi Yamato, and returned again after a hiatus at the 2019 edition, adding another win overMasato Tanaka.
| 43 matches | 16 wins | 24 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 8 |
| By submission | 0 | 8 |
| By decision | 2 | 8 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–25–2 (1) | Luis Santos | TKO (punches) | Real Fight Championship 4 | March 12, 2016 | 1 | 1:27 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 16-24–2 (1) | Kang Chul Yoon | TKO (punches) | Real Fight Championship 3 | December 5, 2015 | 2 | 0:19 | Kanagawa, Japan | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 15–23–2 (1) | Alan Baudot | TKO (punches) | Grandslam MMA 3: Way of the Cage | September 12, 2015 | 1 | 2:35 | Tokyo, Japan | Openweight bout. |
| Win | 15–22–2 (1) | Shungo Oyama | TKO (corner stoppage) | Pancrase: 263 | December 6, 2014 | 2 | 1:03 | Tokyo, Japan | Openweight bout. |
| Loss | 14–22–2 (1) | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 | November 24, 2013 | 3 | 2:49 | Tokyo, Japan | Catchweight (88 kg) bout. |
| Loss | 14–21–2 (1) | Ryuta Sakurai | KO (punch and flying knee) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 1:04 | Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight debut. |
| 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 | For the vacant DEEP Openweight Championship. |
| Draw | 12–17–2 (1) | Ryo Kawamura | Draw | Pancrase: Passion Tour 11 | December 5, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For thePancrase Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 12–17–1 (1) | Alexander Grinchuk | Decision (unanimous) | FEFoMP: Impact League 4 | October 16, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Khabarovsk, Russia | Heavyweight bout. |
| 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 | |
| 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 | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 9–14–1 (1) | Rogent Lloret | Decision (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 | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| 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 | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| 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 | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase: Rising 8 | October 14, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–9 (1) | Katsuhisa Fujii | Decision (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 | Lost the Mayor Cup Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–7 (1) | Nikolai Onikienko | Decision (unanimous) | FEFoMP: Mayor Cup 2007 | May 26, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Khabarovsk, Russia | Return to Heavyweight. Won the Mayor Cup Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–7 (1) | Yasuhito Namekawa | Submission (heel hook) | Deep: 29 Impact | April 13, 2007 | 1 | 2:12 | Tokyo, Japan | 90 kg bout. |
| Win | 7–6 (1) | Fabiano Aoki | TKO (injury) | MARS 6: Rapid Fire | December 22, 2006 | 2 | 1:55 | Tokyo, Japan | 97 kg bout. |
| NC | 6–6 (1) | Fabiano Aoki | No Contest (accidental low blow) | MARS 5: Marching On | October 28, 2006 | 1 | 0:17 | Tokyo, Japan | 97 kg bout. |
| 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 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
| Loss |  Marcos de Souza | Submission (rear-naked choke) | DEEP X 3 | 2008 | 1 | 3:53 |
| 4 wins (1 KO), 8 losses | |||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2015 | Loss |  Kengo Shimizu | RISE 103 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (3 knockdowns) | 1 | 2:25 | 4–8 | -92 kg[5] |
| November 3, 2009 | Loss | Mitsugu Noda | Japan-Korea Friendship International Martial Arts Tournament GLADIATOR | Tokyo, Japan | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:05 | 4–7 | |
| September 13, 2009 | Win | Tensho Yama | New☆Jungle Square - Mr. Martial Arts Advent! | Tokyo, Japan | DQ (low blow) | 4 | 2:37 | 4–6 | Wins UKF International Heavyweight Championship |
| October 28, 2007 | Loss |  Gilbert Yvel | Shootboxing Battle Sumit Ground Zero Tokyo 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:48 | 3–6 | |
| March 6, 2006 | Loss | Keiichiro Yamamiya | RJPW - Legend Championship & City Area Style Battle | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 3–5 | |
| November 5, 2005 | Loss |  Will Riva | AJKF: Rock'n Roll☆U5 FIGHT☆Hill it! | United States | KO (punches) | 3 | 2:00 | 3–4 | |
| April 9, 2005 | Loss | Melvin Manhoef | Muay Thai Championships League XIV | Amsterdam,Netherlands | TKO (referee stop) | 2 | 2:53 | 3–3 | |
| March 6, 2005 | Win | Akihiro Gono | AJKF/Pancrase 2005 Spiral Tour | Tokyo,Japan | KO (punch) | 2 | 1:17 | 3–2 | |
| December 5, 2004 | Loss | Ryo Takigawa | AJKF: Fujiwara Festival 2004 | Tokyo,Japan | KO (punch) | 2 | 1:30 | 2–2 | |
| September 23, 2004 | Win | Kazushi Nishida | AJKF: Danger Zone | Tokyo,Japan | Decision (unanimous) | extra | 5:00 | 2–1 | |
| February 28, 2004 | Loss | Jan Lomulder | RISING SUN | Japan | KO (low kick) | 3 | 5:00 | 1–1 | |
| December 7, 2003 | Win | Suzuki 3:26 | AJKF: Fujiwara Festival | Tokyo,Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | 1–0 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest | |||||||||
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