Kazushi Sakuraba: Tempting Tragedy
Posted by Jonathan Snowden on October 5th, 2009
Tomorrow night, Kazushi Sakuraba makes his return to the ring for DREAM in Japan. It’s a return to action that literally no one has been awaiting with baited breath. As I point out at Heavy.com, Sakuraba is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Now the hall of famer is firmly in the Ali-Holmes stage of his career. He’s clearly no longer the man he once was, and just as clearly needs to stop fighting to protect his long term health. Yet, promoters keep dragging him back to the ring. And he goes willingly. And audiences still want to watch him fight and in an ugly business that trumps all. Everyone is responsible for the tragedies, yet no one is.
I run down Sakuraba’s back story in the piece. He’s clearly one of the most important figures in MMA history. It’s a shame to see him come to this. Remember this up and coming fighters: save your money so you can save your brain.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
>Remember this up and coming fighters: save your money so you can save your brain.
This is idiotic. Just dont do a sport where youre getting blows to the head.
Youre solution is fight until you are slightly retarded but stop before you get brain dead retarded.
Couture has been a sub 500 fighter for the past 5-6 years and yet they still take out his old carcass because it sells tickets.
Rampage has delusions, heard god speak to him and got some serious beatings in PRIDE not to mention his recent hallucinating drive where he was chased and taken down by cops in which he was driving on the sidewalks with people jumpiing out of the way, then hitting a car with that pregnant women who miscarried.
No psychiatric care or evaluation needed, it was because he was ‘driving when he hadnt eaten’ (!!!).
Nope, right back in the ring.
Because he puts butts in seats.
You want healthy? Go watch golfers.
This is prize fighting where every blow to the head is brain damage.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
To a lot of us, MMA (etc) is a sport, and when regulated with even a bit of a conscience, we can minimize some risks in the ring.
I’ve been calling for Saku to retire for years and won’t pay to watch any show he’s on. Sapp too.
I seriously don’t know why people like Neil even bother watching a sport when they have so little regard for its participants, but I guess the choice is yours.
BTW Jon, the expression is “with bated breath”