Sakuraba Cleared to Fight Royce
Josh Gross May 30, 2007
Kazushi Sakuraba
(Pictures) is cleared to fight
Royce Gracie (Pictures) June 2 in Los Angeles, California
State Athletic Commission Executive Officer Armando Garcia informed
Sherdog.com on Wednesday. Sakuraba, a former PRIDE star who
recently joined the FEG-promoted ranks, will rematch 40-year-old
Royce Gracie (Pictures) at the Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum this Saturday.
The mixed martial arts legends first met in May 2000 in the quarterfinal round of PRIDE's inaugural Grand Prix event. Featuring an unlimited number of 15-minute rounds, Sakuraba and Gracie (13-3-3) battled for 90 minutes before the UFC legend was forced to retire with an injured leg. That same night, Sakuraba went on to fight Igor Vovchanchyn (Pictures) for 15 minutes before bowing out of the tournament, which was eventually grabbed by American Mark Coleman (Pictures).
Sakuraba, 37, arrived in the U.S. on May 23 to begin a battery of
tests, including a 24-hour heart monitor, before finally gaining
medical clearance from the CSAC.
The licensing of Sakuraba (21-9-1, 2 NC) is a shot in the arm for FEG USA, which has scrambled to keep together a "Dynamite!! USA" card that's been plagued by medical issues. Saturday's pay-per-view main event was lost when South Korean Hong-Man Choi fell off the bill due to an undisclosed medical condition. His opponent, American Brock Lesnar (Pictures), is still slated to compete, likely against South Korean Olympic star Min Soo Kim (Pictures).
Pro Elite, which partnered with FEG USA to hold the event, recently lost one of its Showtime-televised bouts when Antonio Silva (Pictures) was removed, also due to an undisclosed medical condition. In Silva's place stands Tim Persey (Pictures), who faces Jonathan Wiezorek (Pictures). It was previously announced that Gina Carano (Pictures) had fallen off the card after suffering the effects of a virus she acquired while traveling in Thailand.
CSAC representatives, including Garcia, will meet with FEG USA and Pro Elite Wednesday evening go over final medical and licensing details.
The mixed martial arts legends first met in May 2000 in the quarterfinal round of PRIDE's inaugural Grand Prix event. Featuring an unlimited number of 15-minute rounds, Sakuraba and Gracie (13-3-3) battled for 90 minutes before the UFC legend was forced to retire with an injured leg. That same night, Sakuraba went on to fight Igor Vovchanchyn (Pictures) for 15 minutes before bowing out of the tournament, which was eventually grabbed by American Mark Coleman (Pictures).
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The licensing of Sakuraba (21-9-1, 2 NC) is a shot in the arm for FEG USA, which has scrambled to keep together a "Dynamite!! USA" card that's been plagued by medical issues. Saturday's pay-per-view main event was lost when South Korean Hong-Man Choi fell off the bill due to an undisclosed medical condition. His opponent, American Brock Lesnar (Pictures), is still slated to compete, likely against South Korean Olympic star Min Soo Kim (Pictures).
Pro Elite, which partnered with FEG USA to hold the event, recently lost one of its Showtime-televised bouts when Antonio Silva (Pictures) was removed, also due to an undisclosed medical condition. In Silva's place stands Tim Persey (Pictures), who faces Jonathan Wiezorek (Pictures). It was previously announced that Gina Carano (Pictures) had fallen off the card after suffering the effects of a virus she acquired while traveling in Thailand.
CSAC representatives, including Garcia, will meet with FEG USA and Pro Elite Wednesday evening go over final medical and licensing details.
