Augusto Sakai
Active 2018–present · rated in 1 edition · peak overall 78.0
Scouting report
Hailing from Curitiba, Brazil, Augusto Sakai carries Japanese-Brazilian heritage and a Muay Thai skillset into the heavyweight division. Known for high-volume inside combinations and clinch knees, Sakai rattled off four consecutive UFC victories, including wins over Andrei Arlovski, Blagoy Ivanov, and Marcin Tybura, his striking represented by an 86 Strength and 84 Boxing, earning a 78 Overall grade.
Peak ratings
Augusto Sakai and a heavyweight who was tough to put away
Augusto Sakai is a Brazilian heavyweight and the grandson of Japanese immigrants to Brazil. He started professionally in 2011, won his first six fights with all but one by knockout, and fought for Bellator before reaching the Octagon in 2018. His run there started with three straight wins over Chase Sherman, Andrei Arlovski and Marcin Tybura, and the Tybura win came by first round knockout.
How the Sakai ratings hold up
Boxing. 84. He knocked out Rob Horton with a knee in Bellator and finished Marcin Tybura in the first round in 2019.
Kickboxing. 80. The Chase Sherman win in 2018 ended by third round TKO, so he could accumulate damage over time.
Wrestling. 74. He has enough wrestling to stay upright, and nothing on his record shows him relying on takedowns to win.
BJJ. 72, his lowest number. His results mostly come from strikes and decisions, not submissions.
Strength. 86 and the top rating. He earned a split decision over Blagoy Ivanov and a unanimous decision over Don'Tale Mayes.
Durability. 80. He was stopped by Alistair Overeem in the fifth round and by Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the first.
Cardio. 80. He lasted into the fifth round against Overeem, which is a long night for a heavyweight.
Fight IQ. 78. He could build a game plan and make it work over three rounds, as the Arlovski split decision shows.
A big frame is the selling point
Strength at 86 is his best rating. It shows up in how he fought Arlovski and Ivanov, two experienced heavyweights he beat on the scorecards. In a game where every fighter faces opponents of similar size, that strength keeps him from being pushed around, which matters more at heavyweight than anywhere else.
Why the ground game holds him back
His BJJ rating of 72 is the lowest on the card, and the gap is real. His route to victory is standing and trading, and he has few options if a fight goes to the mat. Overeem stopped him in the fifth round, and Serghei Spivac beat him by second round TKO in 2022, so a fighter who mixes in grappling can take advantage.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Augusto Sakai, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Cheick Kongobest strength 89 · weakest bjj 70
- Travis Brownebest strength 88 · weakest bjj 74
- Marcos Rogerio de Limabest strength 89 · weakest bjj 76
- Andrei Arlovskibest boxing 88 · weakest bjj 74
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Augusto Sakai's strongest attribute, Strength.
Draft Augusto Sakai into your build
Augusto Sakai enters the pool on any spin landing on heavyweight between 2020 and 2022. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Augusto Sakai is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Augusto Sakai's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.