Ulka Sasaki Explained

Yuta Sasaki
Native Name:佐々木 佑太
Birth Date:7 October 1989
Birth Place:Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
Nationality:Japanese
Weight:145lb
Weight Class:Featherweight
Bantamweight
Flyweight
Reach In:71
Reach Footnote:[1]
Style:Wrestling, BJJ, Shootfighting
Fighting Out Of:Garden City, New York, USA
Team:Serra-Longo Fight Team
Years Active:2010–2024
Mma Kowin:2
Mma Subwin:12
Mma Decwin:10
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:5
Mma Decloss:3
Mma Draw:2
School:Hiryū High School
Sherdog:63070

is a Japanese professional wrestler and former Mixed Martial Artist who currently competes in Pro Wrestling NOAH. A professional competitor since 2010, he formerly competed for Ultimate Fighting Championship, Shooto, DEEP, and Vale Tudo Japan. He is the former Shooto Pacific Rim (132 lbs) Champion.

Background

Born and raised in Shizuoka, Sasaki was a talented wrestler and also began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from a young age. He wrestled for three seasons at Hiryū High School, finishing in the top 16 at the All-Japan High School Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships, and in 2009 Sasaki won the All-Japan Combat Wrestling Open Championships for the under 66 kg division. That same year, he also finished second at the All-Japan Amateur Shooto Championships. Later in 2013, Sasaki won the ADCC Japan Trial for the under 66 kg division.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Shooto

Sasaki started his professional career in 2010. He fought mainly for Shooto, but also fought for DEEP and GCM early in his career. Sasaki faced Yo Saito on December 18, 2010, at Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2010 Final. He defeated Saito via unanimous decision after two rounds and became the 2010 Shooto 143-pound rookie champion.[3]

Sasaki faced Tetsu Suzuki on January 20, 2013, at Shooto: 1st Round 2013 for the Shooto Pacific Rim 132-pound title. He won via unanimous decision and became the new champion.[4] Sasaki defended his title on July 27, at Shooto: 3rd Round 2013 against Kenji Yamamoto. He won via knockout at 11 seconds in the first round and retained the title. Shortly after the bout, Sasaki relinquished his title in order to be able to fight for Shooto's world title.[5]

Sasaki faced current ZST 132 lb champion Keisuke Fujiwara[6] on January 13, 2014, at Shooto: 1st Round 2014. He won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In July 2014, it was announced that Sasaki had signed with the UFC. He made his debut against Roland Delorme at UFC Fight Night 48 on August 23, 2014.[8] Sasaki won via submission in the first round. The win also earned Sasaki his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[9] Sasaki faced Leandro Issa on December 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 58.[10] He lost the fight by submission in the second round.

Sasaki faced Taylor Lapilus on June 20, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 69.[11] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[12]

Sasaki faced Willie Gates May 8, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 87.[13] He won the fight via submission in the second round.[14] Sasaki was expected to face Matheus Nicolau on November 19, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 100.[15] However, on November 3, Nicolau was pulled from the bout after USADA revealed a potential anti-doping violation from a sample taken October 13.[16]

Sasaki next faced Wilson Reis on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208.[17] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[18] Sasaki faced Justin Scoggins on June 17, 2017 at .[19] Sasaki suffered almost two rounds of damage but managed to sink his arm around Scoggins' neck and submitted him via a rear-naked choke in the second round to win the fight.[20] This fight won Sasaki his second Performance of the Night bonus award.[21] Sasaki faced Jussier Formiga on September 23, 2017 at .[22] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.[23]

Sasaki was scheduled to face Magomed Bibulatov on April 21, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 128.[24] However, Bibulatov was removed from the card due to back injury,[25] and the bout was cancelled.[26] Sasaki faced Jenel Lausa on June 23, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 132.[27] He won the fight in round two via a rear-naked choke submission.[28] Sasaki faced Alexandre Pantoja on November 17, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 140.[29] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[30]

Rizin FF

Sasaki faced Manel Kape in a 130lbs catchweight bout at Rizin 14 on December 31, 2018.[31] He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Sasaki was then scheduled to face Kai Asakura at Rizin 15 on April 21, 2019. However, Sasaki was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a visceral injury and was replaced by Justin Scoggins.[32] He then faced Shintaro Ishiwatari at Rizin 17 on July 28, 2019.[33] Sasaki lost the fight via second-round submission.[34] The fight with Kai Asakura was then rebooked to take place at Rizin 19 on October 12, 2019.[35] Sasaki lost the fight via first-minute technical knockout due to a broken jaw.[36]

After recovering from two jaw surgeries to repair the damage sustained in his previous fight, Sasaki faced Kenta Takizawa at Rizin 26 on December 31, 2020.[37] [38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]

Sasaki faced Yoshinori Horie at Rizin 30 on September 19, 2021.[40] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[41]

Sasaki headlined Rizin Trigger 2 on February 23, 2022 against Kleber Koike Erbst.[42] Even after finding initial success with the stand-up in the first round, Sasaki lost the bout in the second round via rear-naked choke.[43] [44] Sasaki was expected to face Yoshiki Nakahara at Rizin 37 on July 31, 2022. He withdrew from the fight on July 26, after he tested positive for COVID-19.[45]

Sasaki faced Boyd Allen at Rizin 42 on May 6, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[46]

Professional wrestling career

Pro Wrestling Noah (2023–present)

On October 23, 2023, it was announced by Sasaki himself that he would be making his professional wrestling debut for Pro Wrestling Noah's November 13 episode of Monday Magic. In a statement made during the October 23 show, he specified that it had been a dream of his to perform in Noah, as he had been a fan of the promotion since he had been a child and later stated on social media that he will "throw all of [his] soul" to enable him to compete in professional wrestling.[47]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Grappling

Professional wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|24–10–2|Boyd Allen|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 42||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Tokyo, Japan||-|Loss|align=center||Kleber Koike Erbst|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Rizin Trigger 2||align=center|2|align=center|3:22|Fukuroi, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|23–9–2|Yoshinori Horie|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 30||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|23–8–2| Kenta Takizawa|Decision (unanimous)|Rizin 26||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|22–8–2|Kai Asakura|TKO (broken jaw) |Rizin 19||align=center|1|align=center|0:54|Osaka, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|22–7–2|Shintaro Ishiwatari|Submission (north-south choke)|Rizin 17||align=center|2|align=center|8:58|Saitama, Japan||-|Win| align=center|22–6–2|Manel Kape| Decision (unanimous) |Rizin 14||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Saitama, Japan||-|Loss|align=center|21–6–2|Alexandre Pantoja|Submission (rear-naked choke)| ||align=center|1|align=center|2:18|Buenos Aires, Argentina||-|Win|align=center|21–5–2|Jenel Lausa|Submission (rear-naked choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|4:04|Kallang, Singapore||-|Loss|align=center|20–5–2|Jussier Formiga|Submission (rear-naked choke)| ||align=center|1|align=center|4:30|Saitama, Japan||-|Win|align=center|20–4–2|Justin Scoggins|Submission (rear-naked choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|3:19|Kallang, Singapore||-|Loss| align=center|19–4–2| Wilson Reis| Decision (unanimous) | UFC 208| | align=center|3| align=center|5:00| Brooklyn, New York, United States||-| Win| align=center|19–3–2| Willie Gates| Submission (rear-naked choke)| | | align=center|2| align=center|2:30| Rotterdam, Netherlands| |-| Loss| align=center| 18–3–2| Taylor Lapilus| TKO (punches)| | | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:26| Berlin, Germany||-| Loss| align=center| 18–2–2| Leandro Issa| Submission (neck crank)| | | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:13| Barueri, Brazil||-| Win| align=center| 18–1–2| Roland Delorme| Submission (rear-naked choke)| | | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:06| Macau, SAR, China| |-| Win| align=center| 17–1–2| Hong Jung-Gi| KO (punches)| DEEP: Fujisan Festival| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:38| Fuji, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 16–1–2| Teruto Ishihara| Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)| Vale Tudo Japan 4th| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:46| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 15–1–2| Keisuke Fujiwara| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Shooto: 1st Round 2014| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:35| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 14–1–2| Geun Do Park| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Vale Tudo Japan 3rd| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:36| Ota, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 13–1–2| Kenji Yamamoto| KO (punch)| Shooto: 3rd Round 2013| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:11| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 12–1–2| Kota Onojima| Decision (majority)| Shooto: Gig Tokyo 14| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| [51] |-| Win| align=center| 11–1–2| Tetsu Suzuki| Decision (unanimous)| Shooto: 1st Round 2013| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Draw| align=center| 10–1–2| Manabu Inoue| Draw (majority)| Shooto: 12th Round| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 10–1–1| Teruyuki Matsumoto| Submission (guillotine choke)| Shooto: Gig Tokyo 10| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:42| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 9–1–1| Kazuhiro Ito| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Shooto: Gig Tokyo 9| | align=center| 2| align=center| 3:34| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 8–1–1| Satoshi Watanabe| Decision (unanimous)| DEEP: Fujisan Festival| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Fuji, Japan||-| Loss| align=center| 7–1–1| Guy Delumeau| Decision (unanimous)| Shooto: Shootor's Legacy 4| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 7–0–1| Kosuke Kindaichi| Decision (majority)| Shooto: Shootor's Legacy 3| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 6–0–1| Yoshifumi Nakamura| Decision (majority)| Shooto: Shootor's Legacy 2| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Draw| align=center| 5–0–1| Yusuke Kagiyama| Draw| DEEP: Shizuoka Impact 2011| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Shizuoka, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 5–0| Yo Saito| Decision (unanimous)| Shooto: The Rookie Tournament 2010 Final| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Motohiro Takenawa| Decision (unanimous)| Shooto: Kitazawa Shooto Vol. 4| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Keiji Sakuta| Submission (rear-naked choke)| GCM: Cage Force Preliminary Festival 1| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:03| Tokyo, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Shinji Maeguchi| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Shooto: Gig Central 20| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:24| Nagoya, Japan||-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Atsushi Masukura| Submission (rear-naked choke)| GCM: Cage Force 16| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:30| Tokyo, Japan|[52]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne. UFC.com. June 21, 2015. October 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181022170415/http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-berlin-germany-2015/printFightCard. dead.
  2. Web site: Ulka Sasaki | UFC. 14 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Shooto rookie kings crowned; 'Sarumaru' steals the show. Sherdog.com. Tony Loiseleur. December 18, 2010. December 19, 2013.
  4. Web site: Shooto: "Uruka" Sasaki captures Pacific Rim title. Adcombat.com. Shu Hirata. January 22, 2013. December 19, 2013. December 20, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131220235731/http://www.adcombat.com/shooto-01-20-2013-uruka-sasaki-captures-pacific-rim-title-full-results. dead.
  5. Web site: Shooto '3rd round' results: 'Uruka' scores 11-second KO, Miki-Saruta ends in draw after 5. Sherdog.com. Dean Marchand. July 27, 2013. December 19, 2013.
  6. Web site: Shooto: "Ulka" Sasaki to take on ZST champ Fujiwara. Adcombat.com. Shu Hirata. December 21, 2013. January 12, 2014. January 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112184033/http://www.adcombat.com/shooto-01-13-2014-ulka-sasaki-to-take-on-zst-champ-fujiwara. dead.
  7. Web site: Shooto 1st Round 2014 results and updates on VTJ 4, Shooto 2nd Round. MMA-in-Asia.com. Lee Li. January 13, 2014. January 29, 2014. January 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140129203429/http://mma-in-asia.com/breaking-news/results/shooto-1st-round-2014-results-and-updates/. dead.
  8. Web site: UFC signs top Japanese prospect Yuta Sasaki, set to debut against Roland Delorme in Macau. bloodyelbow.com. Anton Tabuena. July 20, 2014. July 31, 2014.
  9. Web site: UFC Fight Night 48 bonuses: No $50,000 'Fight of the Night' awards. Staff. mmajunkie.com. 2014-08-23. 2014-08-23.
  10. Web site: Evolve MMA's Leandro Issa vs Yuta Sasaki signed for UFC Fight Night 58. Wesley De Souza. thefightnation.com. 2014-10-10. 2014-10-10. 2014-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016185804/http://www.thefightnation.com/evolve-mmas-leandro-issa-vs-yuta-sasaki-signed-for-ufc-fight-night-58/. dead.
  11. Web site: UFC Fight Night 69 gets one more: Taylor Lapilus vs. Yuta Sasaki set for Berlin. Staff. mmajunkie.com. 2015-05-13. 2015-05-13.
  12. Web site: UFC Fight Night 69 results: Taylor Lapilus upsets Yuta Sasaki via second-round TKO. Ban Fowlkes. mmajunkie.com. 2015-06-20. 2015-06-20.
  13. Web site: With Paddy Holohan's retirement, Willie Gates gets new UFC Fight Night 87 opponent. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2016-04-26. 2016-04-26.
  14. Web site: UFC Fight Night 87 results: Ulka Sasaki taps out Willie Gates in flyweight debut. mmajunkie.com. Matt Erickson. 2016-05-08. 2016-05-08.
  15. News: Six additional bouts announced for UFC Fight Night 100 on Nov. 19 in Sao Paulo. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2016-09-25. 2015-09-25.
  16. Web site: Flyweight Matheus Nicolau pulled from UFC Fight Night 100 for potential anti-doping violation. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2016-11-03. 2016-11-03.
  17. Web site: Wilson Reis vs. Ulka Sasaki slated for UFC 208. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz. 2016-10-25. November 26, 2016.
  18. Web site: UFC 208 results: Wilson Reis outgrapples Ulka Sasaki for unanimous decision. mmajunkie.com. Steven Marrocco. 2017-02-11. 2017-02-11.
  19. News: UFC Fight Night 111 takes shape in Singapore. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-03-28. 2017-03-28.
  20. News: UFC Fight Night 111 results: Justin Scoggins dazzles early, but Ulka Sasaki gets tap. 2017-06-17. MMAjunkie. 2017-06-17. en-US.
  21. News: UFC Fight Night 111 bonuses: You know Holly Holm's sick kick was worth $50,000. 2017-06-17. MMAjunkie. 2017-06-18. en-US.
  22. Web site: UFC adds two Flyweight fights for UFC Japan. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 14 July 2017. nl. 2017-07-14.
  23. News: UFC Japan results and highlights: Saki wins debut by KO, Kim stops Gomi, Formiga taps Sasaki. Bloody Elbow. 2017-09-23.
  24. Web site: Magomed Bibulatov keert terug in de Octagon tegen Ulka Sasaki in April. DNA. MMA. mmadna.nl. 26 January 2018. en-US. 2018-02-01.
  25. News: Magomed Bibulatov out of UFC Atlantic City bout vs. Ulka Sasaki. 2018-04-20. MMAjunkie. 2018-04-20. en-US.
  26. Web site: UFC Fight Night 128 Bout Canceled Because of Injury MMAWeekly.com. www.mmaweekly.com. en-US. 2018-04-20.
  27. News: New additions for the UFC Singapore card in June. mmadna.nl. Marcel Dorff. 2018-05-08. 2018-05-08. nl.
  28. News: UFC Fight Night 132 results: Ulka Sasaki taps Jenel Lausa, calls out Sergio Pettis. 2018-06-23. MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. en-US.
  29. News: Alexandre Pantoja enfrenta Ulka Sasaki no UFC Buenos Aires, 17 de novembro. Sportv. 2018-10-23. pt-BR.
  30. News: UFC Argentina results: Alexandre Pantoja too slick on floor for Ulka Sasaki, calls out Joseph Benavidez. 2018-11-18. MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. en-US.
  31. Web site: Axed UFC flyweights Justin Scoggins, Ulka Sasaki head to Japan for Rizin FF 14. mmajunkie.com. November 29, 2018.
  32. Web site: Justin Scoggins replaces Ulka Sasaki, faces Kai Asakura at Rizin 15. April 3, 2019. asianmma.com. James Goyder.
  33. Web site: Six More Fights Added To Rizin 17 Card, Ulka Sasaki In Action. July 1, 2019. David Tees. fightful.com.
  34. Web site: Rizin 17 results and highlights: Mikuru Asakura dominates Yusuke Yachi in grudge match. Peter Carroll. July 28, 2019. mmafighting.com.
  35. Web site: Ulka Sasaki says Kai Asakura made a mistake by agreeing to fight him at Rizin 19. Hidetoshi Miura. October 11, 2019. asianmma.com.
  36. Web site: Rizin 19 results: Jiri Prochazka blasts through Fabio Maldonado, Kai Asakura overwhelms Ulka Sasaki. Peter Carroll. October 12, 2019. mmafighting.com.
  37. Ulka Sasaki returns from broken jaw much stronger, with a striker's mentality. December 21, 2020. Youtube. John Hyon Ko.
  38. Web site: Ayaka Hamasaki and Miyuu Yamamoto face off in super atomweight title fight at Rizin 26. December 2, 2020. asianmma.com.
  39. Web site: RIZIN 26 videos, results: Kyoji Horiguchi stops Kai Asakura, Ayaka Hamasaki wins title with scissor choke. Guilherme Cruz. December 31, 2020. mmafighting.com.
  40. Web site: Ulka Sasaki faces Yoshinori Horie at Rizin 30 . August 11, 2021. asianmma.com.
  41. Web site: 【RIZIN】堀江圭功が佐々木憂流迦との熱戦に勝利、フェザー級戦線に名乗りを上げる（ゴング格闘技）. 2021-09-20. Yahoo!ニュース. ja.
  42. Web site: Sherdog.com. Rizin 'Trigger 2nd' Cage Event Set for Feb. 23; Koike Erbst vs. Sasaki to Headline. 2022-01-21. Sherdog. en.
  43. Web site: 【RIZIN】クレベルがダウン喫するも佐々木憂流迦に一本勝ち「1、2、3、ボベガー！（極めるぞ）」（ゴング格闘技）のコメント一覧. 2022-02-23. Yahoo!ニュース. ja.
  44. Web site: Cruz. Guilherme. 2022-02-23. RIZIN Trigger 2 results, videos: Kleber Koike survives early scare, taps Ulka Sasaki in main event. 2022-02-23. MMA Fighting. en.
  45. Web site: 【RIZIN】佐々木憂流迦がコロナで欠場、関鉄矢が中原由貴と対戦「そろそろ試合もしたいと思っていた」＝7月31日（日）さいたま . gonkaku.jp . 26 July 2022.
  46. Web site: 【RIZIN】佐々木憂流迦、寝技でアレンに競り勝ち連敗脱出 . efight.jp . 6 May 2023.
  47. Web site: 23 October 2023 . Pro Wrestling NOAH Global on X: " OFFICIAL - Former #UFC fighter Ulka Sasaki (24-10-2) will make his professional wrestling debut on 13 November at NOAH #MONDAYMAGIC @Ulka_Sasaki: "I am in the ring of my dreams!" Watch LIVE on #wrestleUNIVERSE ▶️ https://t.co/FBBa0WSYVl #noah_ghc #MMA https://t.co/ALj7cY0kcU" / X . 2023-10-23 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  48. News: UFC Fight Night 48: Bisping, Woodley get bonuses. MMA Fighting. 2017-06-18.
  49. News: UFC Fight Night 111 bonuses: You know Holly Holm's sick kick was worth $50,000. 2017-06-17. MMAjunkie. 2017-06-18. en-US.
  50. Web site: ADCC Asia trial: "Kid" Yamamoto's sister and a four-time world wrestling champ Seiko Yamamoto wins under 60 kg division. Adcombat.com. Shu Hirata. March 24, 2013. December 19, 2013.
  51. Web site: Shooto: what's next for Pacific Rim champ "Uruka"?. Adcombat.com. Shu Hirata. May 16, 2013. December 19, 2013. December 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131221000017/http://www.adcombat.com/shooto-04-21-2013-what-s-next-for-pacific-rim-champ-uruka. dead.
  52. Web site: Yuta. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2018-10-23.

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