UFC buys Pride

[Mr.X]

Dream Clash between PRIDE and UFC! Steps Finally Taken Towards MMA Version of the World Series As DSE CEO Sakakibara Resigns; New PRIDE Owner Lorenzo Fertitta Takes Office


On Tuesday, March 27th, at the Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo, PRIDE Executive Director Nobuhiko Takada and UFC President Dana White appeared together to announce that the two largest MMA organizations in the world, America's UFC and Japan's PRIDE FC, will finally come to blows.


Since the dawn of the sport, PRIDE FC and the UFC have continued to be the driving forces behind mixed martial arts. Under the new leadership of PRIDE owner Lorenzo Fertitta, the MMA world is one step closer to determining who truly is the world's toughest man. This momentous event will similarly resemble baseball's World Series, soccer's World Cup, and football's Super Bowl.

In addition, DSE President and CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced that his resignation from PRIDE FC will take place immediately after PRIDE.34, scheduled to take place April 8th at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Lorenzo Fertitta will assume Mr. Sakakibara's responsibilities as PRIDE's new owner.


Details of the press conference will be posted here shortly, so stay tuned for updates!

[Hanger]

OH man, this could make for some fights I have been wanting to see for awhile. Finally we should be able to see more top fighters in the US...

[Mr.X]

I heard they snatched up the main prizes of Pride
Fedor #1 prize
Shogun #2 prize

they are keeping the Orgs seperate... which is good.

[Hanger]

Good, I just am anticipating some huge crossover shows, champ vs champ and what not, only downside, is definately can see ufc upping their PPV prices now LOL since they have well, bought the competition.

I just hope this is for the better for MMA in the US, and not like when WWE bought WCW, and made wrestling nothing but horrible storylines instead of almost all action......

[Mr.X]

well the problem, from what I hear, is that UFC might put unified rules into Pride

like no soccer kicks (fedor), no stomps (shogun), no knees on the flood etc..

that's horrible
what's next, wear body padding

[Hanger]

I heard the same thing, and it really sucks, I am not sure why they are going to implement that, unless they plan on doing more Pride shows in Vegas, with the Nevada Athletic Commision? Oh well...wonder how many times the Pride fighters will get warned in a fight about soccer kicks and knees.

[Reverend Satan]

When will Stone Cold come out of retirement to put the stunner on Fedor?

Stay tuned.

[Mr.X]

Originally Posted by Old Dirty Satan

When will Stone Cold come out of retirement to put the stunner on Fedor?

Stay tuned.

stone cold did come out of retirement so to speak
I think he was on ECW and he's the ref. at the billionares match

[Gator_Mclusky]

Originally Posted by Mr.X

well the problem, from what I hear, is that UFC might put unified rules into Pride

like no soccer kicks (fedor), no stomps (shogun), no knees on the flood etc..

that's horrible
what's next, wear body padding

Lets give em regulation boxing gloves too...that sucks!!!!!!!!

Bring back the peoples champ....TANK ABBOTT!

[Mr.X]

lol TANK had no gas...like a 30sec fight man

if they take away kicks on the ground/soccer kicks and stops with knees...that'll be the end of my interest in PRIDE ...minus watching fedor