Ralek in his win over Sakuraba. Photo: Feg

Ralek Gracie didn’t have the easiest of missions in his third MMA outing. At Dream 14 in Japan, the young fighter faced an old acquaintance of the family, locking horns with Kazushi Sakuraba, who has beaten Royler, Renzo, Ryan and Royce in the past. Still finding his feet in the style, Ralek had an opponent known as “The Gracie Hunter” in his way, adding to the weight on his shoulders. Nevertheless, after three rounds, he secured victory via unanimous decision.

“I’m really grateful to my crew, my cornermen. Everything went according to plan. Sakuraba is really tough, strong, but I was in really good shape and he wore out in the end,” said Ralek in analysis at the post-event press conference.

“He’s good on the ground, but not like my brothers. My training partners got me in great shape to win. He’s tough, has a solid game, so can train with us,” added the Gracie.

At one point Sakuraba caused some discomfort with his traditional kimura lock, which he has used on Renzo and Royler in the past.

“It seemed like he was close (to finishing), but he wasn’t. I felt comfortable,” said the fighter, who said he countered the move just right. Nevertheless, even in victory, Ralek admits that he faced a great opponent, despite Sakuraba’s advanced age.

“He threw some good body shots. I’ve taken some damage around the eye; he hits hard”

The Jiu-Jitsu black belt had nothing but good things to say about the Dream promotion, and remarked that in the future he may drop weight to fight in the division under his, the 88 kg weight class.

“It was a great show and everything went smoothly. I enjoyed it a lot. I’ll probably fight at middleweight in the future,” he said in finishing.

Ralek Gracie in photo by Susumo Nagao

Known as the “Gracie Hunter”, for having beaten four members of Jiu-Jitsu’s royal family, Kazushi Sakuraba might need a new nickname. In 2007, the Japanese idol lost a rematch with Royce. At this Saturday’s Dream 14 event in Japan, it was Ralek Gracie’s turn to avenge his family members.

Ralek didn’t wilt at Sakuraba’s menacing kimura attempt and came close to sinking a fully extended armbar (see video below with some highlights from the fight). When all was said and done, Gracie took the win via unanimous decision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_TFpZcDiak

There was more that went on last night, though. Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz submitted Hayato Sakurai via armbar. Another of the evening’s much-anticipated bouts saw Hiroyuki Takaya knock out Joachim Hansen.

Check out the results.

Dream 14
Saitama, Japan
May 29, 2010

Nick Diaz submitted Hayato Sakurai via armbar in R1

Ralek Gracie defeated Kazushi Sakuraba via unanimous decision

Hiroyuki Takaya defeated Joachim Hansen via KO in R1

Kid Yamamoto defeated “Kiko” Lopez via KO in R1

Akiyo Nishiura defeated Hideo Tokoro via TKO in R1

Kazuyuki Miyata defeated Takafumi Otsuka via split decision

Kenji Osawa defeated Yoshiro Maeda via split decision

Ikuhisa Minowa submitted Imani Lee via rear-naked choke in R1

Ralek has two MMA wins. This one he won by armbar. Photo: Susumo Nagao

Ralek Gracie, 24, faces mythological Japanese fighter Kazushi Sakuraba at Dream 14 on the coming 29^th of May, in Japan. Here, between training sessions at Reign Training Center, he talks of how he has been adjusting his game with UFC middleweight Mark Munoz.

Ralek tem duas vitórias no MMa. Aqui, o Gracie finaliza em foto de Susumu Nagao.

Ralek Gracie, 24 anos, encara o mitológico japonês Kazushi Sakuraba no Dream 14, no Japão, no próximo dia 29 de maio. Aqui, ele fala sobre a luta entre um treino e outro no Reign Training Center, onde tem ajustado seu jogo com o peso médio do UFC Mark Munoz. Teste seu inglês e comente!

O filho de Rorion será o quinto integrante da família a enfrentar o astro japonês do pro-wrestling de 40 anos, que venceu Royler, Renzo, Royce e o falecido Ryan, tendo perdido para Royce em sua última luta.

Saku contra Royce na Califórnia, em foto de Susumu Nagao. A briga agora é no Japão contra o sobrinho, também casca-grossa.

Uma das novidades é que a luta será na grade, e não nos ringues como em seus clássicos embates com a família Gracie.

Sakuraba (26v, 12d, 1e, 2NC) comentou o combate, na clássica Saitama Super Arena: “Para mim não há muita diferença entre lutar no ringue e na grade”, explicou ele, que estreou no cage do Dream em sua última luta. Antes disso, já havia lutado na jaula do Ultimate Japan, em 1997.

“Eu nunca fui de me apoiar nas minhas lutas, então não sei se meu jogo casa com a grade ou não. Mas quando treino aqui na minha academia, realmente o pessoal me empurra muito de costas para as paredes, e nessas horas isso me faz pensar em lutas nas grades. Vamos ver, na minha última luta tudo se desenrolou no meio do ringue, vamos ver como me saio agora”, disse sem maiores comentários, conforme reportado por Tony Loiseleur, do Sherdog.com.

O japonês vem de duas vitórias, a última a 9 de outubro por finalização com uma chave de joelho sobre Zelg Galesic, no Dream 12, já na jaula. Já Ralek, de 25 anos, está com duas lutas e duas vitórias, por finalização no braço no primeiro assalto.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69oZ8lVu-x8

No Dream 14, os pesos leves veteranos Yoshiro Maeda e Kenji Osawa também se enfrentam.

E você, acredita que o jovem Ralek pode ser o primeiro a finalizar Saku desde sua derrota para Kimo Leopoldo, na estreia em 1996?