Combat Chronicles
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Closet Classics #3
🕑 Added 2022-03-22 19:38:24 +0000 UTCSo, here it is: the third episode of 'Closet Classics'. This is an insanely violent bout, that features one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport.
Welcome to Hero's! Yes, it's Kazushi Sakuraba's K-1 Hero's debut against Lithuanian Judoka and RINGS and Shooto veteran Kestutis Smirnovas, one of the wildest brawls in MMA history!
The greatest fighter of MMA's first decade is a month removed from the anniversary of his tenth year in the sport, taking part in his first bout for a new promotion and his first appearance on a non-Pride or Pride affiliated card for eight years. His reward: a fight against a teak tough fellow veteran grappler that starts just about as badly as he could have hoped! Watch Saku take one of his patented beatings, in a fight that is as uncomfortable as it is inspiring. One of those Rocky-fights that you would sneer at for being implausible if you saw it in a movie, but which ACTUALLY F'N HAPPENED!
You can watch the bout HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJSpsYL6od0) and I recommend doing so before you listen to the episode as it contains SPOILERS. However it also includes plenty of context, and there's a moment in the recording where I prompt you to stop listening and watch the fight so you can start listening to me before you watch the bout if you wish. This fight really needs to be seen to be believed!
Comments
Kyle McLachlan
Hopefully you enjoyed this episode then!
Mrl2h2
i fucking love saku! got several of his shirts at home
Backpack Boom Bap (Tom)
One of those times where Sakuraba's reputation both helped and hurt him. A modern referee would never have let him take such a hellacious beating but he's Sakuraba so he's allowed to keep going. I can only imagine how much of a toll it took on his fighting career and his life afterwards. An old school MMA highlight creator, Genghis Con, did an amazing tribute video to this performance years ago - it hit all the right marks showing off Saku's heart.
Kyle McLachlan
Thanks so much for checking it out mate! Hope you enjoyed the episode and glad you liked the fight! Mental ain’t it? 😂👍
RR
Bonkers fight. Pride and K1 was before my time. I wouldn't have gone back and watched it without this. Thanks for the episode!
