In this three-part series, we honor the impending UFC retirement of the all-time great Anderson Silva with a look at three of his most important victories: today, his battle with legendary shootist, Hayato “Mach” Sakurai.
Bad matchmaking is the bane of any combat sport. When it occurs it confuses newcomers and irritates, sometimes infuriates, long time watchers. To most who prepared to watch the undefeated 18-0-2, Hayato “Mach” Sakurai defend his Shooto Middleweight (168 lbs, so a UFC welterweight) strap against some 6-1 nobody from Brazil, this must have seemed just a formality.