21 Facts About Yuji Sakuragi

Yuji Sakuragi is known for his Kyokushin Karate background and his ability to score KO wins.

Yuji Sakuragi has worked in promotions like All Japan Pro Wrestling, Battlarts, Dramatic Dream Team and Riki Choshu's Legend The Pro Wrestling.

Yuji Sakuragi started training Kyokushin in middle school, and later joined the Japan Self-Defense Forces for a time.

Yuji Sakuragi moved to Sayama's Seikendo promotion and started training in order to be a professional mixed martial artist.

In 2005, after some unimpressive fights abroad, Yuji Sakuragi made his debut in Seikendo's partner company Pancrase with a high note, knocking out Kengo Watanabe with a head kick.

Yuji Sakuragi became famous for his Kyokushin background, exemplified by his refined striking and ability to score total KOs as opposed to TKOs or stoppages.

Yuji Sakuragi was famous for his flashy personal style, wearing hip hop and b-kei fashion, striking the military salute before his matches and paying his dues to the Yasukuni Shrine in special occasions.

In 2012, Yuji Sakuragi defeated Kazuo Takahashi at the promotion's Progress Tour event.

The wrestling expert chose to trade strikes with Yuji Sakuragi, who landed a left hook at the second round and knocked him out cold, winning the fight.

On October 27,2012, Yuji Sakuragi faced grappling expert Sanae Kikuta in a special fight in Grabaka under full vale tudo rules, without gloves and allowing elbows and headbutts.

In 2007, Yuji Sakuragi made his transition to professional wrestling as part of Sayama's Real Japan Pro Wrestling.

Yuji Sakuragi received the gimmick of Super Tiger II, the second incarnation of the character used by Sayama in Universal Wrestling Federation.

Yuji Sakuragi wrestled under a purple and silver attire and mask, utilizing a style based around kicks and suplexes.

Yuji Sakuragi's debut was against Ikuto Hidaka, a wrestler who had been especially approved by Sayama for Tiger II's debut, and later moved into a major feud with Tiger Shark.

Yuji Sakuragi then formed a steady team with Minoru Suzuki, getting victories over names like Yuki Ishikawa and Great Sasuke.

Yuji Sakuragi's last match in Battlarts was a tag team match with Chocoball Mukai as a special referee, teaming up with Sanshu Tsubakichi to face Ryuji Walter and Alexander Otsuka in a losing effort.

Yuji Sakuragi debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling as a RJPW representative for the Champion Carnival 2016.

Yuji Sakuragi didn't stop appearing in AJPW after the league aligning himself with Suwama's stable Evolution.

In 2017, Yuji Sakuragi switched AJPW by Pro Wrestling Zero1 as his main field.

Yuji Sakuragi participated in that year's Fire Festival, gaining high victories over Shogun Okamoto and Kohei Sato, but ultimately came short.

Yuji Sakuragi bounced back by winning the previously vacated Zero1 United National Heavyweight Championship against Hartley Jackson, which he retained until losing it in 2018 to Chris Vice.