Is Sakuraba back?

[Mr. Miyagi]

He was thought be washed up and fading after his recent losses including three conclusive losses to Silva, a beating from Filipovic, and an unlucky KO to Nino Schembri. But his recent win over Randleman makes me wonder. I think he is still a very dangerous opponent.
I don't think he's finished yet. In Silva, he was facing a better, stronger, and heavier fighter and would probably lose to him 9/10. Losing to Silva, who is either #1 or #2 LHW (depending on whether you think he's better than Couture) is no shame. Saku's weight is usually around 180 so he's more of a middleweight that has also had some success with bigger guys.
The loss to Schembri was a total fluke. Saku was schooling him and in no apparent danger at the time he received an unlucky shot (from a weak striker) and got KO'd. I think Saku would destroy him 99% of the time.
I didn't see the Filipovic fight but Filipovic is a damn dangerous striker, and also bigger than Saku.
His rear choke win over Quinton Jackson did happen quite a while back. Most people think Jackson would destroy him now. I'm not totally sure, Jackson would definitely be tougher. But let's not forget that Saku did take Jackson down in that fight and nearly armbarred as well as triangled him, while getting slammed. I still consider him to be far more skilled than Jackson, but Jackson is bigger, much stronger, and more explosive. And Jackson is an elite LHW.
I don't think Saku is finished. I think he would be a good matchup for Dan Henderson or maybe a rematch with Jackson. They wouldn't have him fight Yoshida, but that would also be a fun fight to watch.

[Maui Jim]

I like Sak but I believe his loses and body is about used up at the level needed to win consistently.

Randleman needs to control his enormous energy supply and would win Sak in a rematch IMO

What I what to see is Silva have a rematch with Victor Belford because of his lose in the UFC.

But big John is famous for stopping fights to quick.

[shadowkiller]

Sakuraba is my favourite MMAist but his career is over. He has been knocked out too many times. There is just so much someones body can take. His last fight with silva was going well I think, he had been working striking and was actually doing some damage to silva.

But Silva is just too strong with stand up. And he has such a good take down defense. If sakuraba had gotten him on the ground then I wouldn't be saying this right now cause saku is the best ground fighter IMO. He would have taken silva easily in that sort of fight.

[Maui Jim]

I think your wrong about Sak's ground fighting, he's very technical but
so many of the present fighters are much better now at the ground fight.

I've never seen anyone like Liddell able to get up off the mat and out of the other fighters grip, just amazining.

Don't underestimate Silva's ground fight considering how well he did in the last Pride against Hidehiko Yoshida wearing a ki!

And Fedor Emelianenko to me is the most powerful striker I've seen throw a punch on the ground.
Love to see Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Dan's is another under estimated fighter and quite a gentleman too.

[MMA fanatic]

What I what to see is Silva have a rematch with Victor Belford because of his lose in the UFC.

well big john only stops fight alittle early beacause the fighter already lost and doesnt to end his carrier. It only take a couple of extra seconds for one fighter to inflict serious damage to another in this sport. e.g. u really think silva was going to get back from that many puches from vitor???

[Maui Jim]

Do you think if Big John where to do this in Pride the Japanese audience would set back and not beat the sh** out of him?

Watch the Silva\Belford fight again.

It's very interesting that a rematch in Pride never happen.

I pretty much believe Silva would open a can of whoop ass on Victor and that's why Belford will stay clear of him.

Silva won't jeopardize his record now by fighting Victor in another UFC with quick stoppage by little John again.
Besides, John is parcel to the Graice clan form the start of UFC.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I've seen that 44 second Belfort-Silva fight a few times. I think Belfort got lucky and Silva was quite unlucky; Silva admitted he left himself open for that barrage. But the result was definitely that Silva was KO'd, apparently he didn't know where the hell he was after the fight was stopped. A rematch would be awesome, but I think Silva would break him; haven't even seen that much of Vitor's punching power in the last few years.

Big John was responsible for some screwups. The one that really got me was when Tsuyoshi Kosaka was fighting Bas Rutten. Kosaka was owning Rutten and taking him down at will. BJ kept standing them up for 'inactivity' although Kosaka was working on the ground. Kosaka got totally screwed. I think the UFC had decided that they wanted Bas to be a champ, they gave him a break in the fight against Randleman too, a fight in which he was totally dominated.

I'm not so sure Randleman could take Saku in a rematch. He definitely wouldn't KO him or even get a stoppage, his best chance to win would be a decision, just like all his other wins. Actually, I think Randleman is overrated and was hyped up by the UFC. Nothing wrong with losing to great fighters like Couture, Saku, and Jackson, but the way he lost and how great of an athlete he is make it look bad. And all his wins are GnP decisions. I don't remember him ever finishing anyone, actually.

I think Saku can still be dangerous. With the kinds of people he was facing his streak was bound to end and he ran into some problems. If he stopped fighting LHW opponents he could be pretty unstoppable. I still would like to see him fight Henderson.
Another matchup which I think could be interesting is Royce Gracie vs. Randleman. I know you all will tell me I'm crazy and that Randleman could KO Royce standing, but I don't think so. Randleman hasn't KO'd anyone standing, why would Royce be his first. And Royce is pretty amazing at not getting hit in the clinch. Randleman would eventually have to take him down and that would be interesting.

[shadowkiller]

Well I have to disagree with you about vitor. He would definitely beat silva again if given the chance. He has been working quite a bit on MT and knows how to use his legs very well now. His knees are very devastating now. But then again his hands are easily the fastest in UFC. He also has great submission skills, I mean to beat genki sudo in a submission tourney you have to be pretty good on the ground.

But getting back to saku, he is the best ground fighter because he has beaten all the greats easily and while showboating the entire match. If he was put into a grappling tournament he would win out easily. That is if he kept up his training. But this argument is not going to go anywhere because his career is over and we wont get to see him fighting in MMA again. Unless he finds a youth serum and becomes 20 again.