Shinya Aoki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Shinya Aoki (青木 真也 Aoki Shin'ya?, born May 9, 1983) is a Japanese mixed martial artist, grappler, and former police trainee currently competing in ONE Championship's and Rizin Fighting Federation's[3][4] lightweight division. He is noted for being the DREAM Lightweight Champion, ONE Lightweight Champion, former WAMMA Lightweight Champion and former Shooto Welterweight Champion.[5] Aoki holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Yuki Nakai, as well as a black belt in judo. As of 2008, Aoki, along with DEEP champion Masakazu Imanari, and Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka have founded the "Nippon Top Team" as a group of elite Japanese grapplers competing in MMA. As well as his MMA credentials, Aoki has garnered several submission grappling accolades including two All Japan Jiu-Jitsu championships, a Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu championship, a Budo Open championship, and an ADCC Japan Championship.
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Kazushi Sakuraba (桜庭 和志 Sakuraba Kazushi?, born July 14, 1969 in present-day Katagami, Akita) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, currently signed to Rizin Fighting Federation.[4][5][6] He has competed in traditional puroresu for New Japan Pro Wrestling and shoot-style competition for UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream. He is known as the "Gracie Hunter"[7][8][9][10] or the "Gracie Killer"[11][12][13][14] due to his wins over four members of the famed Gracie family: Royler Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, and Royce Gracie. In particular, Sakuraba is famous for his initial fight with Royce, which lasted ninety minutes.