Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 2

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Hayato Sakurai
“Mach” Shooto (1996-97, 1998, 1999, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008); Vale Tudo Japan (1997, 1998, 1999); Golden Trophy (1999, 2001); Ultimate Fighting Championship (2002); Deep (2003); Pride Fighting Championships (2003-05, 2005-07); Yarennoka (2007); Dream (2008, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011-12); K-1 (2008, 2009, 2010); Gladiator (2013)
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CASE FOR: One of Japan’s most well-respected fighters, Sakurai beat many of the best fighters of his era, from Caol Uno, Shinya Aoki and Dave Menne to Frank Trigg, Jens Pulver and Joachim Hansen. He was one of the fighters most instrumental in attracting elite lighter-weight talent to the Shooto organization. CASE AGAINST: Sakurai could be an inconsistent competitor, looking great against tough opposition in one fight only to struggle against weaker competition in the next. He also fell flat in the two most significant fights of his career, as he was dominated by Matt Hughes in a UFC welterweight title fight and knocked out by Takanori Gomi in the 2005 Pride Fighting Championships lightweight grand prix. VERDICT: Should he go in? No.

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