Sakuraba’s son loses his 2nd ever MMA match, now 1-1 in MMA

Claudio Martin

At RIZIN: Otoko Matsuri on May 4, 2025, Taisei Sakuraba, the son of Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba, suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of veteran Daisuke Nakamura. The bout ended at 2:01 of the second round when Nakamura secured an armbar submission.

 

The loss brings the younger Sakuraba’s professional record to 1-1, following his impressive debut victory last December at RIZIN 49: Decade, where he defeated Yusuke Yachi via TKO just 26 seconds into the first round with a counter left followed by ground strikes.

Nakamura, now improving to an impressive 34-28-1 record, showcased why experience remains invaluable in mixed martial arts. The veteran fighter executed a technical performance that culminated in the submission victory, prompting excited commentary from ringside: “It happened! It happened! It happened! Daisuke Nakamura defeats Taisei Sakuraba! It happened! With a freaking alpha!”

The emotional announcement continued with exclamations of “Pride never dies!” and “I can’t believe it, the veteran wins again! Wins again!” highlighting the significance of Nakamura’s triumph over the second-generation star.

Despite this setback, Taisei Sakuraba remains one of Japan’s most closely watched prospects due to his famous lineage. His father, Kazushi Sakuraba, is revered in MMA circles particularly for his historic victories against members of the Gracie family during his career.

The RIZIN: Otoko Matsuri event once again demonstrated the promotion’s ability to create compelling matchups that honor Japan’s rich martial arts tradition while developing new talent for the future.

Claudio Martin