Augusto dos Santos Sakai (born 19 May 1991) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator MMA.
| Augusto Sakai | |
|---|---|
| Born | Augusto dos Santos Sakai 19 May 1991 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 77 in (196 cm) |
| Team | Gile Ribeiro Team (until 2022) Noguchi (until 2022) American Top Team (2022–present) |
| Rank | Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 22 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Sakai made his professional MMA debut in October 2011 in his native Brazil. In the first two years of his career, he amassed a record of six wins and no losses with all but one of his wins coming via knockout.
Bellator MMA
Sakai made his Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 94 in March 2013, defeating Rob Horton by knockout due to a knee.
Sakai returned to the promotion in 2015 with bouts against Daniel Gallemore and Alex Huddleston. He won both fights via TKO.
Sakai faced Dan Charles at Bellator 155 on May 20, 2016. The bout ended in a majority draw.
Sakai faced Cheick Kongo at Bellator 179 on May 19, 2017. He lost the fight via split decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Sakai made his promotional debut against Chase Sherman on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Sakai faced Andrei Arlovski on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. He won the fight via split decision.
In his third fight for the promotion, Sakai faced Marcin Tybura on September 14, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 158. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. Subsequently, Sakai signed a new, six-fight contract with the UFC.
Sakai was scheduled to face Blagoy Ivanov on May 9, 2020, at then UFC 250. Due to the event being relocated to the United States, Sakai being unable to compete due to visa issues. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed and the eventually the bout took place on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns. He won the fight via a split decision.
Sakai faced Alistair Overeem on September 5, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 176. Despite his early success, he was eventually dominated by the veteran and lost the fight via technical knockout in the fifth round.
Sakai was expected to face Shamil Abdurakhimov on May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 23. However Abdurakhimov pulled out of the bout with visa issues, and Sakai instead faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai. He lost the fight via knockout with one second left in the first round.
Sakai was expected to face Tai Tuivasa on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. However due to visa issues for Tuivasa, the bout was scrapped. The pair was rescheduled and met on December 11, 2021, at UFC 269. Sakai lost the fight via knockout in the second round.
Sakai faced Serghei Spivac on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 40. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Sakai faced Don'Tale Mayes on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
In late March 2023, Sakai was released from the UFC.
Personal life
Sakai is the grandson of Japanese immigrants to Brazil and he works at an aquarium store between fights.
Mixed martial arts record
| 22 matches | 16 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 4 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16–5–1 | Don'Tale Mayes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen | February 25, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–5–1 | Serghei Spivac | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill | August 6, 2022 | 2 | 3:42 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–4–1 | Tai Tuivasa | KO (punches) | UFC 269 | December 11, 2021 | 2 | 0:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–3–1 | Jairzinho Rozenstruik | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | June 5, 2021 | 1 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–2–1 | Alistair Overeem | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai | September 5, 2020 | 5 | 0:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–1–1 | Blagoy Ivanov | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–1–1 | Marcin Tybura | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje | September 14, 2019 | 1 | 0:59 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 13–1–1 | Andrei Arlovski | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | April 27, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sunrise, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 12–1–1 | Chase Sherman | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | September 22, 2018 | 3 | 4:03 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–1–1 | Marcos Conrado | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 1 | August 10, 2018 | 2 | 3:09 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–1–1 | Tiago Cardoso | TKO (punches) | Imortal FC 7 | November 11, 2017 | 1 | 2:17 | São José dos Pinhais, Brazil | |
| Loss | 9–1–1 | Cheick Kongo | Decision (split) | Bellator 179 | May 19, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Draw | 9–0–1 | Dan Charles | Draw (majority) | Bellator 155 | May 20, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Alex Huddleston | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 145 | November 6, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Daniel Gallemore | TKO (retirement) | Bellator 139 | June 26, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Matt Frembling | TKO (knees and punches) | Bellator 122 | July 25, 2014 | 3 | 3:32 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Edison Lopes | Decision (unanimous) | Golden Fighters 8 | December 12, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Novo Hamburgo, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Rob Horton | KO (knee) | Bellator 94 | March 28, 2013 | 2 | 4:01 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Arley Simetti | KO (knee) | Samurai FC 9: Water vs. Fire | December 15, 2012 | 1 | 2:04 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Dayvisson Daniel | TKO (punches) | Evolution Fight Combat 3 | May 20, 2012 | 1 | 0:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Marcio Fernando | TKO (punches) | Power Fight Extreme 6 | November 19, 2011 | 1 | 0:35 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Cesar Alberto | KO (punches) | Adventure Fighters Tournament | October 15, 2011 | 1 | 1:54 | Curitiba, Brazil | Heavyweight debut. |