# Ryuta Sakurai

Ryuta Sakurai Japanese: 桜井隆多(born September 8, 1971) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the middleweight division. A veteran who fought for many companies such as Shooto, Pancrase and PRIDE. Nicknamed Mr. DEEP, he is best known for spending most of his fighting career in DEEP, where he is a former DEEP Middleweight champion.

## Career
### DEEP

Sakurai defeated Ryuki Ueyama at Deep: 17 Impact on December 18, 2004, by technical knockout in the first round to win the championship. Sakurai would lose the title in February 2006 to Ryo Chonan at Deep: 23rd Impact in the first round due to a cut. He would challenge for the championship in a rematch against rival Riki Fukuda at Deep: 40 Impact, where he lost via unanimous decision.
His last fight in DEEP to date was at Deep: 87 Impact on December 21, 2018, to a second round submission loss to Tatsuya Mizuno.

## Championship and accomplishments

* DEEP
** DEEP Middleweight Championship (1 time)
* GRACHAN
** GRAND Welterweight Championship (1 time)
* Shooto
** 5th All Japan Amateur Shooto Light Heavyweight Championship tournament winner (1998)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 61 matches | 28 wins | 27 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 7 |
| By submission | 11 | 9 |
| By decision | 6 | 11 |
| Draws | 6 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 28–27–6 | Hidetaka Arato | Technical Decision (unanimous) | GRACHAN 58 | December 4, 2022 | 2 | 4:48 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Win | 28–26–6 | Radek Hecl | TKO (punches) | GRACHAN 57 | September 4, 2022 | 2 | 0:34 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Loss | 27–26–6 | Hiroki Nagaoka | Decision (unanimous) | GRACHAN 48 | June 20, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Ōta, Japan | Lost the GRACHAN Grand Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 27–25–6 | Daryl Lokoku | Submission (armbar) | GRACHAN 42 x GLADIATOR 011 | December 21, 2019 | 2 | 2:56 | Ōta, Japan | For the GRACHAN Grand Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 26–25–6 | Akihito Mamiya | Decision (unanimous) | BRAVE FIGHT 18 x GRACHAN 39 | March 10, 2019 | 2 | 2:53 | Ōta, Japan | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 25–25–6 | Tatsuya Mizuno | Submission (rear naked choke) | Deep 87 Impact | December 22, 2018 | 2 | 2:53 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 25–24–6 | Hikaru Sato | TKO (punches) | Pancrase 289 | August 20, 2017 | 2 | 0:23 | Tokyo, Japan | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 24–24–6 | Yoichiro Sato | Submission (guillotine choke) | Deep: 78 Impact | March 18, 2017 | 2 | 1:22 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 24–23–6 | Taisuke Okuno | Decision (split) | Deep: Cage Impact 2016 | October 18, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 24–22–6 | Yushin Okami | TKO (corner stoppage) | Deep: 75 Impact | February 27, 2016 | 2 | 4:23 | Tokyo, Japan | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 24–21–6 | Svetlozar Savov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Abu Dhabi Warriors 2 | March 26, 2015 | 1 | 4:20 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 24–20–6 | Ken Hasegawa | Submission (keylock) | Deep: 71 Impact | February 28, 2015 | 1 | 4:10 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 24–19–6 | Yoshiyuki Nakanishi | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 69 Impact | October 26, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 24–18–6 | Mamed Khalidov | Submission (triangle choke) | KSW 25: Khalidov vs. Sakurai 2 | December 7, 2013 | 1 | 2:03 | Wrocław, Poland | |
| Win | 24–17–6 | Yuji Sakuragi | KO (punch and flying knee) | Deep: Cage Impact 2013 | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 1:04 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 23–17–6 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Deep: Haleo Impact | December 22, 2012 | 3 | 0:46 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 22–17–6 | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Decision (majority) | Deep: 60 Impact | October 19, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 22–16–6 | Katsuyori Shibata | TKO (punches) | Deep: 55 Impact | August 26, 2011 | 2 | 3:04 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 21–16–6 | Yoshiyuki Nakanishi | Submission (armbar) | Deep: 52 Impact | February 25, 2011 | 3 | 3:48 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 20–16–6 | Riki Fukuda | TKO (knees) | Deep: 49 Impact | August 27, 2010 | 2 | 0:32 | Tokyo, Japan | For the DEEP Middleweight Championship. |
| Draw | 20–15–6 | Mamed Khalidov | Draw (unanimous) | KSW 13: Kumite | May 7, 2010 | 4 | 3:00 | Katowice, Poland | For the KSW Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–15–5 | Hiroki Sato | KO (punch) | Deep: Cage Impact 2009 | December 19, 2009 | 1 | 2:13 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 19–15–5 | Hosea Ware | Submission (straight armbar) | Deep: 44 Impact | October 10, 2009 | 1 | 3:46 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 18–15–5 | Hiromitsu Kanehara | Draw (majority) | Deep: 42 Impact | June 30, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 18–15–4 | Riki Fukuda | TKO (punches) | Deep: 40 Impact | February 20, 2009 | 1 | 0:45 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–14–4 | Sojiro Orui | Decision (split) | Deep: 38 Impact | October 23, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 17–14–4 | Kozo Urita | Submission (armbar) | Deep: 37 Impact | August 17, 2008 | 1 | 3:22 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 16–14–4 | Young Choi | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 35 Impact | May 19, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 15–14–4 | Riki Fukuda | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: 34 Impact | February 22, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 15–13–4 | Eiji Ishikawa | TKO (cut) | Deep: 32 Impact | October 9, 2007 | 1 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–13–4 | Murilo Bustamante | KO (punch) | Deep: 29 Impact | April 13, 2007 | 1 | 3:50 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–12–4 | Ryo Chonan | Decision (majority) | Deep: 28 Impact | February 16, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | For the DEEP Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–11–4 | Geovani Pereira | Submission (kimura) | Deep: 27 Impact | December 20, 2006 | 1 | 0:57 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 13–11–4 | Xavier Foupa-Pokam | Technical Submission (armbar) | Deep: 25 Impact | August 4, 2006 | 1 | 4:47 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–11–4 | Ryo Chonan | TKO (cut) | Deep: 23 Impact | February 5, 2006 | 1 | 1:57 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost the DEEP Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 12–10–4 | Paulo Filho | Submission (armbar) | Pride: Bushido 9 | September 25, 2005 | 1 | 3:49 | Tokyo, Japan | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 12–9–4 | Yasuhito Namekawa | Submission (armbar) | Deep: 19th Impact | July 8, 2005 | 1 | 4:40 | Tokyo, Japan | Catchweight (187 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 11–9–4 | Murilo Bustamante | Decision (unanimous) | Pride: Bushido 6 | April 3, 2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 11–8–4 | Ryuki Ueyama | TKO (punches) | Deep: 17th Impact | December 18, 2004 | 1 | 2:40 | Tokyo | Won the DEEP Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–8–4 | David Bielkheden | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: 7/16 in Korakuen Hall | July 16, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–8–4 | Yushin Okami | Decision (unanimous) | Pride: Bushido 2 | February 15, 2004 | 2 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 9–7–4 | Tetsuya Onose | KO (punches) | Deep: 13th Impact | January 22, 2004 | 1 | 0:56 | Tokyo | |
| Win | 8–7–4 | Hirohide Fujinuma | Submission (kimura) | Deep: 12th Impact | September 15, 2003 | 1 | 3:46 | Tokyo, Japan | Open Weight bout. |
| Loss | 7–7–4 | Eiji Ishikawa | TKO (punches) | Deep: 9th Impact | May 5, 2003 | 2 | 4:22 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7–6–4 | John Renken | Submission (kimura) | Shooto: 2/23 in Korakuen Hall | February 23, 2003 | 2 | 3:09 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–6–4 | Yuichi Nakanishi | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: 1/24 in Korakuen Hall | January 24, 2003 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–6–4 | Jun Kitagawa | TKO (cut) | Shooto: Gig West 3 | October 27, 2002 | 1 | 3:23 | Osaka, Japan | Welterweight bout. |
| Draw | 4–6–4 | Masato Nishiguchi | Draw (unanimous) | Shooto: Gig East 10 | August 27, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 4–6–3 | Marcelo Machado | Draw (unanimous) | Shooto: Treasure Hunt 4 | March 13, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–6–2 | Nathan Schouteren | Submission (armbar) | Shooto Holland: Night of the Warriors | November 4, 2001 | 1 | 1:27 | Deventer, Netherlands | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 3–6–2 | Shiko Yamashita | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: Gig East 3 | June 14, 2001 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Welterweight debut. |
| Draw | 3–5–2 | Izuru Takeuchi | Draw | Shooto: Gateway to the Extremes | November 4, 1999 | 2 | 5:00 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–5–1 | Jun Kitagawa | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: Renaxis 3 | August 4, 1999 | 2 | 5:00 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–4–1 | Yuki Sasaki | Submission (heel hook) | Shooto: Shooter's Passion | May 27, 1999 | 1 | 2:00 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–3–1 | Cyrille Diabate | TKO | GT: Golden Trophy 1999 | March 20, 1999 | 2 | 0:00 | France | |
| Win | 3–2–1 | Nobuhiro Tsurumaki | TKO (cut) | Shooto: Shooter's Soul | January 27, 1999 | 1 | 0:54 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 2–2–1 | Izuru Takeuchi | Draw (majority) | Shooto: Las Grandes Viajes 6 | November 27, 1998 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–2 | Masashi Kita | TKO (punches) | Shooto: Shooter's Dream | September 18, 1998 | 1 | 3:00 | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Masanori Suda | Submission (armbar) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '97 Heavyweight Tournament | July 27, 1997 | 1 | 4:25 | Japan | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Hiroyuki Yoshioka | Submission (armbar) | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96 | March 30, 1996 | 1 | 3:38 | Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Katsuhisa Fujii | Decision | Lumax Cup: Tournament of J '96 | March 30, 1996 | 2 | 3:00 | Japan | Middleweight debut. |