(NOAH) From mixed martial arts to professional wrestling. The gift-giving philosophy of Ulka Sasaki, the Tengu who continues to challenge himself and understands the true essence of strength.

17th November 2025

Gooda Brangista

Whether it's Christmas, a small thank-you gift for family or a partner, or a souvenir to take to a year-end party or other gathering, many people find gift-giving a challenge this time of year. This time, we spoke to those certain people who exude unique individuality and sensibility about their gift-giving habits, the gifts they're most happy to receive, and the thoughts they put into their gifts. The keywords are "taste" and "uniqueness."

The fifth person is Ulka Sasaki, a professional wrestler affiliated with the prestigious Pro Wrestling Noah, who made his professional wrestling debut in 2023. Some of you may recognize his name; he's a former mixed martial artist who competed for four years in the world's top mixed martial arts division, UFC, and has also fought in some memorable matches at RIZIN. Known for his genuine love of fashion and a penchant for style, he even runs his own fashion brand. We spoke to him about his current situation, his favorite things, his thoughts on gifts, and more.

Q: I was surprised to see how much bigger you've become since your days as a mixed martial artist. What made you switch to professional wrestling?

ULKA: My older brother was a fan of professional wrestling, and perhaps influenced by him, I've loved it since I was a child too. In fact, I even wrote "Am I ready to become a professional wrestler?" in a time capsule letter I buried when I was in elementary school. But when PRIDE and K-1 took off in Japan and martial arts became really popular, I had a strong desire to become a mixed martial artist, and although I was hesitant, I went down that path. But, I had always dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler in my heart. So, I watched the unforgettable match between Great Muta and Nakamura Shinsuke at the Nippon Budokan on New Year's Day 2023, and I realized how moved I was, to the point that it even surprised me. Watching that match made me realize that pro wrestling can do things like this. It's really cool, amazing. I felt like I had been shown one answer to the "fight art" I had been pursuing, and that was when my life changed.

Q: Mixed martial arts and pro wrestling are completely different sports, so were you not worried?

ULKA: Of course I was. Mixed martial arts and professional wrestling are completely different sports. I threw away all of the career I'd built up over a decade in mixed martial arts and started from scratch. If I'd been younger, like in my 20s, I'd understand, but I suddenly tried my hand at professional wrestling at 33, and I faced a lot of opposition from those around me. Still, I was determined to do it.

Q: It's been about a year since your pro wrestling debut. What are your honest thoughts?

ULKA: First, I started by building up my physique to compete as a professional wrestler, gaining about 30kg in weight and bulking up my body. I've been preparing for about a year, doing intensive basic training at the Pro Wrestling Noah dojo. Last year, I made my debut at Ariake Arena and was able to step into the ring as a professional wrestler, but it's been a turbulent year in which I've been completely immersed in professional wrestling. Since making my debut, I've once again witnessed the amazing skills of professional wrestlers, and I've come to realize that they are true professionals. I myself am constantly exploring and learning more about professional wrestling, but I still have a long way to go before I reach the quality I envision. I'm not a mixed martial artist stepping into the wrestling ring; I'm there as a professional wrestler named Ulka Sasaki, so I can't do anything half-heartedly. I hope everyone will look forward to seeing what happens next as a professional wrestler, but I'm the one who's most excited and looking forward to it. Another thing that surprised me about becoming a professional wrestler was the schedule. It's really crazy (laughs). I travel by bus around the country on tours, and get in the ring to fight three times a week, sometimes five times a week. After a match, I immediately get back on the bus and fight again. This goes on for a whole year, so you have to be really tough to be a professional wrestler. But when you do that much, you can see areas for improvement each time and make corrections, so you grow quickly. I want to hang in there and pursue a style that only I, a former mixed martial artist, can pull off.

Q: Speaking of which, you are also the director of an apparel brand? 

ULKA: Yes. I run a brand called LAZY GOD, and this year marks my sixth year. I design the clothes myself and carefully create them. LAZY GOD means the god of sloth, and the graphic that depicts him, is crowned with a rose, representing the concept of "relaxation and creativity." While acknowledging my own laziness, I pursue a coolness that doesn't try too hard, and I incorporate my outlook on life, my worldview, and my inner self into my designs. It's streetwear that can be worn casually, ut I'm always very conscious of incorporating funny elements to make it catchy.

I believe that clothes give people power, and they have saved me many times. I feel so happy when someone simply says, "That's cool," and that alone makes me happy all day. That's why making clothes is like my life's work, and one of the essential things to me. 

Q: You are known for your exceptional taste in the world of martial arts and professional wrestling, but what do you look for when choosing gifts?

ULKA: Gifts require a lot of thought. For me, I'm not good at having others choose things for me, like clothes or things I use myself. I generally prefer to choose them myself. When I give gifts to others, I end up overthinking it, which makes it difficult to give them. My wife and I have been talking about making photography a shared hobby this year, so I'd like to buy a camera for each of us. I've been looking for a camera that I can use for my YouTube channel and as a hobby. I'm quite obsessive, so once I start researching something, I can't stop researching it and can't focus on anything else, but right now I'm really interested in the Sony FX3. I've been asking a lot of people who are knowledgeable about cameras and reading reviews, and I'm really interested in it. If I buy it, I might be able to update my YouTube channel more often, which I haven't been able to do recently. I'm thinking of buying this mirrorless camera as a gift for my wife. It features a cutting-edge system but a compact body, so it seems easy for women to use, and I thought it would be perfect for her as she wants to take up photography as a hobby. However, my wife is quite an indoor person, so I'm worried she'll give up on it first (laughs), but if you both share a hobby it seems that it will broaden your horizons.

Q: Do you ever give gifts other than physical objects?

ULKA: Yes, and I think in my case it is more common. I'm planning to give my parents a trip to Okinawa as a gift soon. Part of it is due to my line of work, but I've also received so much love from my family, the people around me, and my fans, so now I want to give back to society, or at least give something back. As part of that, I recently started the "Tengu's Wing Project." It's a free martial arts class for elementary and junior high school students, and I started it this year with the hope that martial arts will inspire them to have dreams and hopes. My ring name, "Ulka" means "Tengu" in Sanskrit. I chose the name of the project in with the hope that children will grow up to be strong, like Tengu, and fly freely with big wings. When I see the pure emotions of children, I feel energized and it's a lot of fun. I believe martial arts is more than just a sport; it's filled with many important things in life. I hope that through this activity, even one child will feel positive and take flight. Classes are held regularly, so if you're interested, please check out the "Tengu's Wing Project" website.      

Translated from Gooda Brangista

Picture credit: Gooda Brangista