26 Facts About Alexander Otsuka

Takashi Otsuka, better known by his ring name Alexander Otsuka and Otoko Sakari, is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler.

Alexander Otsuka earned a notable victory over Vale Tudo pioneer Marco Ruas in 1998.

Alexander Otsuka went to compete in the promotion until its closure, time in which he moved to Battlarts.

Alexander Otsuka became one of the greatest Battlarts stars, feuding with Daisuke Ikeda and Yuki Ishikawa in violent matches and brawls, and being part of the Love Warriors tag team along with Mohammed Yone.

Alexander Otsuka competed as a Battlarts representative in Zero-One, U-STYLE, Universal Fighting-Arts Organization and other promotions.

Alexander Otsuka had his first contact with mixed martial arts when he was sent as a PWFG representative to the Lumax Cup 1995, a tournament of gi-clad MMA, but he was submitted in less of a minute by Shooto representative Egan Inoue.

Alexander Otsuka retaliated by defeating Haseman in another Rings event, Battle Genesis Vol.

In 1998, Alexander Otsuka debuted in worldwide MMA for PRIDE Fighting Championships in PRIDE 4, the same event in which fellow pro wrestler Nobuhiko Takada had his rematch against Rickson Gracie.

Otsuka was pitted against Marco Ruas, a Brazilian luta livre exponent from the Ruas Vale Tudo, while Alexander himself represented his home promotion Battlarts.

At the second one, Alexander Otsuka took Ruas down again and continued throwing punches, drawing blood from Ruas's face, and finally making the doctors call the fight.

Alexander Otsuka returned to the promotion at PRIDE 8, facing this time Renzo Gracie.

Alexander Otsuka still competed in pro wrestling around the time and came to the fight with a head injury, but he did not back down.

However, Alexander Otsuka kept on, escaping from a locked triangle choke and seeking the ground and pound again.

Renzo executed a German suplex-like takedown and tried an arm triangle choke, but Alexander Otsuka was never inactive and even threatened with a Kimura lock before the match ended, with a unanimous decision for Gracie.

Two years later, Alexander Otsuka returned to PRIDE to take part in the Grand Prix 2000, and was pitted against feared kickboxer Igor Vovchanchyn.

Alexander Otsuka, who had worked a wrestling match the same day, was cornered by The Great Sasuke, and showed off further his pro wrestling roots by throwing a dropkick against Vovchanchyn.

The Ukrainian landed several hard punches and knocked Otsuka down several times, but Alexander kept himself away from being finished and managed to stun Igor with a right punch, though still losing by unanimous decision.

At PRIDE 11, Alexander Otsuka got his first victory against American wrestler Mike Bourke, who had taken the fight in short notice, yet in turn outweighed Alexander Otsuka by 60ibs.

At the third one, Alexander Otsuka was finished by a broken nose due to a knee strike.

At Pride 20, Alexander Otsuka fought Sanae Kikuta after the two fighters had trashtalked each other since a long time.

Similarly, Alexander Otsuka threw several low blows to Kikuta and disrespected his opponent through the fight, despite being controlled and receiving a soccer kick by Sanae which caused a protruding hematoma in Alexander Otsuka's head.

Kikuta seemed to finish the fight with a completely extended armbar, but Alexander Otsuka typically got out and led the match to a decision, it going to Kikuta.

Alexander Otsuka faced fellow shoot-style wrestler Yoshihisa Yamamoto in a special match in PRIDE.

Alexander continued dominating, hitting hammerfists to the head and even locking a crucifix, but the injury was too grave to keep on and Yamamoto came back with his own knees, making Otsuka throw the fight.

Alexander Otsuka had his last apparition at PRIDE 27, where he went against Murilo Rua, but the fight had to be postponed later in the event when Rua landed an accidental low blow.

The restarted fight was fast, with Alexander Otsuka absorbing knee strikes and attempting heel hooks until Murilo got an arm triangle choke, making him tap out.