7. Kazushi Sakuraba
Former professional wrestler Sakuraba brought his sense of showmanship to Pride with him. His style in the ring was itself incredibly fun, with its high-risk submissions, exposing his back and slick takedowns, but Sakuraba’s contribution to the entertainment value of the show summed up the spirit of Japanese MMA for many, many years.
Sakuraba’s entrances ran the gamut, but they were always fantastic. Against Kevin Randleman in 2003, Sakuraba walked out to the “Super Mario Brothers” theme wearing a hat and mustache. He wore a variety of masks as tributes to older Japanese professional wrestlers, including the legendary Tiger Mask. He took advantage of the commitment to spectacle that Japanese MMA offered in both Pride and Dream, and no fighter better reflected what that period was all about than Sakuraba.
Number 6 » Not all entrances are about spectacle. He was never flashy or over the top, but his walks to the ring or cage always conveyed the understated, ice-cold menace that made him one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. His demeanor never changed, no matter the opponent, what was at stake in the fight or the venue.