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Luiz Gustavo vs Taisei Sakuraba

Luiz Gustavo is 16-4-0; Taisei Sakuraba is 2-2-0. Luiz Gustavo is 3 years older than Taisei Sakuraba. Taisei Sakuraba has a 2" · 5 cm reach advantage over Luiz Gustavo. Taisei Sakuraba is 2" · 5 cm taller than Luiz Gustavo. They have met once: Luiz Gustavo 1, Taisei Sakuraba 0.

Luiz Gustavo
Brazil
Luiz Gustavo
“Killer” · 16-4-0
Win · KnockoutWin · KnockoutLoss · Decision
LightweightMet once
Taisei Sakuraba
Japan
Taisei Sakuraba
“Saku Jr.” · 2-2-0
Loss · KnockoutWin · SubmissionLoss · Submission
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Sig. strikes by zone

Where each fighter lands, as a share of significant strikes

75%
Head
59%
17%
Body
33%
8%
Leg
8%

Time in position

Share of fight time at distance, in the clinch and on the ground

Luiz Gustavolast 6 fights
61%14%25%
Taisei Sakurabalast 4 fights
81%18%
DistanceClinchGround

How good, really

Each stat against every UFC fighter, in plain words

Luiz Gustavo· incl. 6 fights outside the UFC Taisei Sakuraba· incl. 4 fights outside the UFC
Strikes landed / min
3.142.83
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Luiz Gustavo · Average · better than 42% of UFC fightersTaisei Sakuraba · Below avg · better than 32% of UFC fighters
Strikes taken / minfewer is better
2.273.66
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Luiz Gustavo · Elite · better than 85% of UFC fightersTaisei Sakuraba · Average · better than 42% of UFC fighters
Takedowns landed / 15 min
0.001.13
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Luiz Gustavo · Poor · better than 0% of UFC fightersTaisei Sakuraba · Average · better than 49% of UFC fighters
Takedown defence
29%0%
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Luiz Gustavo · Poor · better than 5% of UFC fightersTaisei Sakuraba · Poor · better than 0% of UFC fighters
Submission attempts / 15 min
1.101.10
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Luiz Gustavo · Good · better than 83% of UFC fightersTaisei Sakuraba · Good · better than 83% of UFC fighters

Ranked against 1490 UFC fighters with five or more UFC fights.

Striking & grappling

Same scale left and right on every row

3.14
Strikes landed / min
2.83
2.27
Strikes taken / minfewer is better
3.66
0.00
Takedowns landed / 15 min
1.13 / 2.8
29%
Takedown defence
0%
1:43
Control time / fight
0:23
1.10
Submission attempts / 15 min
1.10

Bars in a row share one scale. The stronger side is solid; the pale tail behind takedowns is attempts.

Where the strikes land

Range × target

Luiz Gustavo6 fights · by range and by target
Range
57%Distance · 132
29%Clinch · 68
14%Ground · 33
Target
75%Head · 123
17%Body · 28
8%Leg · 14

The range × target cross-tab is logged for UFC fights only.

Taisei Sakuraba4 fights · by range and by target
Range
78%Distance · 66
12%Clinch · 10
11%Ground · 9
Target
59%Head · 44
33%Body · 25
8%Leg · 6

The range × target cross-tab is logged for UFC fights only.

Share of significant strikes landed by range and target · landed / attempted in each cell.

Head-to-Head History

Common Opponents

How each fared against the same opponents.

Luiz GustavoTaisei Sakuraba

Frequently asked questions

Have Luiz Gustavo and Taisei Sakuraba ever fought?

Yes, once. Most recently at RIZIN 52 (Sat, Mar 7, 2026), where Luiz Gustavo won by Knockout.

What are the records of Luiz Gustavo and Taisei Sakuraba?

Luiz Gustavo is 16-4-0 and Taisei Sakuraba is 2-2-0.

Who has the longer reach, Luiz Gustavo or Taisei Sakuraba?

Taisei Sakuraba has the longer reach: 73" · 185 cm against 71" · 180 cm for Luiz Gustavo, a 2" · 5 cm advantage.

Who is taller, Luiz Gustavo or Taisei Sakuraba?

Taisei Sakuraba is taller at 5'11" · 180 cm; Luiz Gustavo stands 5'9" · 175 cm.

Who is older, Luiz Gustavo or Taisei Sakuraba?

Luiz Gustavo is 30 and Taisei Sakuraba is 27.

Who has more finishes, Luiz Gustavo or Taisei Sakuraba?

Luiz Gustavo has 14 wins inside the distance (9 by KO/TKO, 5 by submission); Taisei Sakuraba has 2 wins (1 by KO/TKO, 1 by submission).

More comparisons

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