Kazushi Sakuraba Quiz Questions and Answers

Q1. In which year was Kazushi Sakuraba born?
A. 1967
B. 1969
C. 1971
D. 1973
Answer: B. 1969

Q2. What is Kazushi Sakuraba’s most famous nickname?
A. The Pride King
B. The Gracie Hunter
C. The Japanese Tiger
D. The Catch King
Answer: B. The Gracie Hunter

Q3. Where was Kazushi Sakuraba born?
A. Tokyo, Japan
B. Osaka, Japan
C. Katagami (formerly Showa), Akita Prefecture, Japan
D. Yokohama, Japan
Answer: C. Katagami (formerly Showa), Akita Prefecture, Japan

Q4. What was Sakuraba’s primary amateur wrestling style background?
A. Greco-Roman
B. Freestyle
C. Folkstyle
D. Sumo
Answer: B. Freestyle

Q5. At which university did Sakuraba compete in collegiate wrestling and serve as team captain?
A. Waseda University
B. Keio University
C. Chuo University
D. University of Tokyo
Answer: C. Chuo University

Q6. Which professional wrestling promotion did Sakuraba join after university, training under Billy Robinson and Nobuhiko Takada?
A. New Japan Pro-Wrestling
B. All Japan Pro Wrestling
C. Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi) / Kingdom
D. Pro Wrestling Noah
Answer: C. Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi) / Kingdom

Q7. In which year did Sakuraba make his UFC debut and win a tournament?
A. 1997
B. 1994
C. 1995
D. 1996
Answer: A. 1997

Q8. What tournament did Sakuraba win at UFC Japan (Ultimate Japan) in 1997?
A. Lightweight Tournament
B. Welterweight Tournament
C. Middleweight Tournament
D. Heavyweight Tournament
Answer: D. Heavyweight Tournament

Q9. Whom did Sakuraba defeat in the finals of the UFC Japan Heavyweight Tournament?
A. Kevin Randleman
B. Marcus Silveira
C. Mark Coleman
D. Tank Abbott
Answer: B. Marcus Silveira

Q10. Sakuraba is widely credited as the first Japanese fighter to achieve what milestone in the UFC?
A. Win a UFC title
B. Win a UFC tournament
C. Fight in the Octagon
D. Submit an opponent
Answer: B. Win a UFC tournament

Q11. Against which member of the Gracie family did Sakuraba first score a high-profile victory (via armbar/kimura) in Pride?
A. Royce Gracie
B. Renzo Gracie
C. Royler Gracie
D. Ryan Gracie
Answer: C. Royler Gracie

Q12. How long did the legendary Pride Grand Prix 2000 fight between Sakuraba and Royce Gracie last?
A. 30 minutes
B. 45 minutes
C. 60 minutes
D. 90 minutes
Answer: D. 90 minutes

Q13. How did the Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie fight at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals end?
A. Submission by Sakuraba
B. Knockout by Sakuraba
C. Doctor/corner stoppage due to Royce’s exhaustion
D. Decision for Royce
Answer: C. Doctor/corner stoppage due to Royce’s exhaustion

Q14. Which submission did Sakuraba use to finish Renzo Gracie at Pride 10 (breaking Renzo’s arm)?
A. Armbar
B. Kimura (keylock)
C. Triangle choke
D. Heel hook
Answer: B. Kimura (keylock)

Q15. How many members of the Gracie family did Sakuraba defeat in MMA?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Five
D. Four
Answer: D. Four

Q16. What is Sakuraba’s professional MMA record (approximate final official record)?
A. 20-10-1
B. 26-17-1
C. 30-15-0
D. 22-12-2
Answer: B. 26-17-1

Q17. How many of Sakuraba’s MMA wins came by submission?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 19
D. 22
Answer: C. 19

Q18. Which former UFC champion did Sakuraba submit with a kneebar early in his Pride career?
A. Vitor Belfort
B. Carlos Newton
C. Kevin Randleman
D. Quinton Jackson
Answer: B. Carlos Newton

Q19. Sakuraba defeated which future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion by rear-naked choke at Pride 15?
A. Wanderlei Silva
B. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
C. Chuck Liddell
D. Tito Ortiz
Answer: B. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Q20. Against which fighter did Sakuraba suffer three knockout losses in Pride?
A. Mirko Cro Cop
B. Igor Vovchanchyn
C. Wanderlei Silva
D. Fedor Emelianenko
Answer: C. Wanderlei Silva

Q21. In which year was Sakuraba inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame (Pioneer Wing)?
A. 2015
B. 2016
C. 2017
D. 2018
Answer: C. 2017

Q22. Sakuraba is known for blending which grappling styles into his unique fighting approach?
A. Pure Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
B. Catch wrestling and shoot wrestling
C. Judo and Sambo
D. Greco-Roman and freestyle only
Answer: B. Catch wrestling and shoot wrestling

Q23. Which British catch wrestling instructor significantly influenced Sakuraba’s grappling?
A. Billy Robinson
B. Karl Gotch
C. Lou Thesz
D. Danny Hodge
Answer: A. Billy Robinson

Q24. At Pride Shockwave 2002, Sakuraba faced Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovi? in front of a record outdoor crowd of approximately how many fans?
A. 40,000
B. 55,000
C. 71,000
D. 90,000
Answer: D. 90,000

Q25. Which submission specialist and rival did Sakuraba face in his final MMA bout (Rizin, 2015)?
A. Shinya Aoki
B. Kazuo Misaki
C. Hayato Sakurai
D. Caol Uno
Answer: A. Shinya Aoki