Sakuraba Cleared To Fight

Kazushi Sakuraba is cleared to fight Royce Gracie June 2 in Los Angeles, California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer Armando Garcia informed Sherdog.com on Wednesday. Sakuraba, a former PRIDE star who recently joined the FEG-promoted ranks, will rematch 40-year-old Royce Gracie at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this Saturday.

The mixed martial arts legends first met in May 2000 in the quarterfinal round of PRIDE’s inaugural Grand Prix event. Featuring an unlimited number of 15-minute rounds, Sakuraba and Gracie (13-3-3) battled for 90 minutes before the UFC legend was forced to retire with an injured leg. That same night, Sakuraba went on to fight Igor Vovchanchyn for 15 minutes before bowing out of the tournament, which was eventually grabbed by American Mark Coleman.

Sakuraba, 37, arrived in the U.S. on May 23 to begin a battery of tests, including a 24-hour heart monitor, before finally gaining medical clearance from the CSAC.