Masaaki Satake

Masaaki Satake (佐竹 雅昭) is a Japanese former heavyweight karateka, kickboxer, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist.

He is one of the pioneering heavyweight fighters in K-1, having been a member of Kazuyoshi Ishii's Seidokaikan school.

Satake began practicing karate after being inspired by the publications of Mas Oyama in junior high school.

After graduating from Kansai University with a major in English, he turned down a job at a television studio in order to practice martial arts full-time.

Within three years, he was fighting professionally at the national level, placing fourth in the 3rd All Japan Karate Championships of 1984.

Half a decade later, he was regularly placing first in Japan's largest tournaments and ranked among the country's most successful karateka.

During October 2–3, 1993, Satake participated in his final karate tournament to date - the K-1 Illusion 1993 Karate World Cup.

After defeating Patrick Smith and Adam Watt on the first day and Taiei Kin on the second, he met fellow karate superstar Andy Hug in the finals.

When judges were unable to determine a winner, four additional overtime rounds were called, but a decisive winner still couldn't be named.

The match went to sudden death via a tameshiwari content, wherein Satake bested his Swiss opponent to become world champion.

Satake made his kickboxing debut against WKA US Cruiserweight Champion Don Nakaya Nielsen.

Nielsen placed his opponent on the defensive in the opening moments, but Satake fought back with repeated headbutts that led to a foul being ruled.

Nielsen subsequently dropped his guard, allowing Satake to land a left hook too strong for Nielsen to recover from.

Despite taking a two-year break from kickboxing afterwards to focus on karate, Satake followed his initial victory up with an undefeated streak that included draws against world champions Rob Kaman and Peter Aerts - establishing himself as a Japanese powerhouse who could hold his own against the best of international competition.

Based on his initial kickboxing record, his status as one of Japan's top karate competitors, and his affiliation with K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii's Seidokaikan group, Satake was invited to participate in the first K-1 event - K-1 Sanctuary I.

Following a victory over American Chris Blanner, he was invited to the company's first-ever world tournament, the K-1 Grand Prix '93.

He bested future Olympic bobsledder Todd Hays in the quarterfinals before suffering his first defeat (and knockout) to Branko Cikatić, who would go on to win the tournament.

Despite this loss, Satake rebounded by winning his first world title – the vacant UKF World Heavyweight Championship – from his old rival Don Nakaya Nielsen.

He next defeated Stan Longinidis in a title-versus-title match, but Longinidis retained his WKA World Super Heavyweight Championship after arguing that the match was not conducted under WKA rules.

Satake made up for this denial by winning the KICK World Super Heavyweight and ISKA World Heavyweight Championships in a match against American Jeff Hollins at the K-2 Grand Prix '93.

Despite suffering a loss to future K-1 megastar Ernesto Hoost at K-1 Challenge, Satake was invited to the second world tournament, the K-1 Grand Prix '94.

After defeating karate champ Michael Thompson in the quarterfinals, he avenged his previous year's loss to Branko Cikatić with a decision victory over the Croatian Tiger.

Satake moved on to arguably the most important match of his career: the World Grand Prix final against Peter Aerts.

Despite throwing no shortage of powerful strikes at the Dutchman, Satake was unable to land many significant blows while enduring several from Aerts, and lost by unanimous decision.

It was the last time Satake reached the finals of a WGP tournament.

Again, Satake rebounded from his grand prix loss with a world title win, this time securing the WKA World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Championship in a match with Dennis Lane at K-1 Revenge.

However, he lost it less than three months later to Sam Greco.

It was the last world title he ever held.

He entered and won two Japanese qualifying tournaments – the K-1 Dream '97 Japan Grand Prix and the K-1 Japan Grand Prix '98 – and though these accomplishments helped lead him to the WGP three more times, he did not advance beyond the semifinals.

Though his wins always outnumbered his defeats, his achievements over world champion-level opponents dwindled, as he achieved little more than a 1997 decision victory over WKA World Muay Thai Champion Kirkwood Walker and a draw with hall-of-famer Maurice Smith.

On October 3, 1999, Satake attempted to qualify for the WGP one more time in a match against Musashi.

Musashi defeated him by unanimous decision.

Satake, who later described his opponent as "shameful" and a "bad student," disagreed with the outcome.

In addition to this, his ongoing disenchantment with Kazuyoshi Ishii moved him to retire from K-1 and kickboxing in general.

At the time of his retirement, Satake was the most successful Japanese fighter active in the heavyweight division.

He was a four-time world champion, a winner of two regional tournaments, and is one of only 18 competitors to have reached the WGP finals.

Satake debuted in professional wrestling in the shoot-style promotion Fighting Network RINGS.

Wearing the style's signature tights and knee boots, he fought to a draw against Hans Nijman in his first match.

He went on to face Gerard Gordeau in his second bout, but the match descended into chaos when Gordeau – after being kicked in the back by Satake while facing away – began shooting on Satake with punches and knees, resulting in a brawl.

Satake also had matches against Willie Peeters, Herman Renting and Maurice Smith.