Rewatch Sakuraba vs. Newton: the myth (it isn’t an all-time great fight).

[panem-et-circenses]

Let me start by saying Sakuraba is one of my favorite fighters. Like a lot of people pre-TUF, he was one of the fighters I was drawn to, for a bunch of different reasons, including his strength of schedule, personality and quality of his fights (overall). Sakuraba-Newton was not an MMA fight. At the very least, considering all we know about fighting many years later, it’s clear that an agreement was made to not strike on the ground.

Both fighters pull punches, and no significant strikes are landed on the feet or ground, leading to some grappling sequences that are on par with a flow-roll. Someone brought up Rampage-Saku being an example of a ‘fake fight’ (they rewatched it and don’t say that anymore), which I didn’t agree with, but it’s clear that Newton-Saku is the example of a ‘fake’ MMA bout. Like some Rizin matches, it would be entered into the Sherdog database as an exhibition.

You can watch for yourself above. If the fight happened in 2023, it would be red flagged, both fighters would be suspended and Sherdog would go crazy. Within its proper context — does it really matter? No, not really. But I still see it being referenced today as an example of great grappling in an MMA bout. It isn’t that.

 

[KID Yamamoto]

It looked like they agreed to a grappling match to be honest. Both were attempting to win just without the whole... knocking each other out stuff lmao.

 

[tequilaboy]

Still a grappling master piece

 

[Heelhook71]

It looked like they agreed to a grappling match to be honest. Both were attempting to win just without the whole... knocking each other out stuff lmao.

That was my take away from that fight.

 

[panem-et-circenses]

Still a grappling master piece

it really isn’t, though.

 

[Sweater of AV]

GOAT of striking, grappling and everything else you would ever want in combat.

And yes, it's a fantastic fight, even with the agreement.

 

[VinceArch]

Still a grappling master piece

THIS was a grappling masterpiece.

 

[tequilaboy]

THIS was a grappling masterpiece.

Both are, Saku vs Newton for the time of the fight is one of the best grappling exchanges you will find

 

[Thawing Mammoth]

I used to think Carlos Newton was Vitor Belfort except he had dreads for a while

 

[2004 account]

It wasn't a fight, just a good display of grappling for that time. Nobody ever claimed it was a great fight

 

[Substance Abuse]

I used to think Carlos Newton was Vitor Belfort except he had dreads for a while

 

[Strychnine]

If I ever want to show someone what grappling is, I show them Sakuraba Vs. Newton.

It's GOAT tier.

End of.

 

[VinceArch]

Both are, Saku vs Newton for the time of the fight is one of the best grappling exchanges you will find

IMO it's brought down quite a few notches cause it is obvious they agreed to grapple only and even then, it seemed like both weren't fully giving it their all at times.

 

[SpiderCrawl]

Mid take

 

[Dionysian]

Wonder if TS would agree that more than half of all the UFC's higher weight class fights today are "fake" due to the fact that they're just kickboxing matches.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

It wasn't a fight, just a good display of grappling for that time. Nobody ever claimed it was a great fight

actually that’s very incorrect and I’m surprised you never noticed

i recall scratching my head when I first joined these forums and seeing the praise that fight received

 

[mirko>anyone]

We need more 2020+ accounts disparaging highly regarded fights.

 

[panem-et-circenses]

We need more 2020+ accounts disparaging highly regarded fights.

Read the op and rewatch the fight. Some people want to hold onto the myth, I understand, but view it in 2023 with the post-Pride files in mind.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Wild child brought up Rampage-Saku being an example of a ‘fake fight’....

Honestly, I always chalked this up to miscommunication.

If UFC folded and years later a fighter causally mentioned that Dana told them if they fought in a fun but stupid way and lost they'd earn $50k for FOTN, fans might call that suspicious too.

Now obviously Dana White wouldn't say "go ahead and fight hard and stupid", but that's where the miscommunication comes into play.

IMO no one in the game actually believes Sakakibara was asking Rampage to throw the fight, except a few fans trying too hard to find conspiracies.

 

[HP_Nut]

There are fights where fighters agree to keep it standing, no submissions, are those also just exhibitions (even if someone gets KO'd). I know those happen for sure in the UFC, where guys agree to not go for subs or to the ground