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True connoisseurs of the sport of mixed martial arts could not possibly leave the name of Masakatsu Funaki off their list of the all-time greatest fighters. Funaki’s participation in MMA, like many of the Japanese competitors, had its origins in pro wrestling. He became a member of New Japan Pro Wrestling and later the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), which engaged in a form of wrestling called “shooting” that was not common in the United States.

Funaki was heavily involved in the formation of Pancrase, the shoot fighting organization that served as a forerunner to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. And Funaki was one of its greatest competitors, winning the King of Pancrase title twice. During his career, he defeated the likes of Bas Rutten, Guy Mezger and both Shamrock brothers - Ken and Frank. Of his 38 wins, 37 of them came inside the distance. He is, to this day, a living legend in his native Japan, and one of the yardsticks against whom all MMA combatants are measured. Funaki retied from active competition in 1999, then returned for an unsuccessful comeback attempt against the highly formidable Rickson Gracie. But there is yet another comeback in the works. Funaki is slated to fight another Japanese icon, Kazushi Sakuraba, on New Years Eve in Tokyo. Win or lose, the legend is secure.