Pride: Everything You Need To Know

2006 has been nothing short of a soap opera for Pride FC, which lead up to the cliff hanger that left the event without a Japanese television deal, haemorrhaging their star fighters and looking down the barrel of the proverbial gun.

However, thankfully the promotion is rallying, and enjoyed a highly successful Openweight Grand Prix Final which had a fairy tale ending for Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.

DSE are also putting together a nine bout super-card for their North American debut featuring:

Fedor Emelianenko vs Mark Coleman
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Kevin Randleman
Josh Barnett vs Pawel Nastula
Mark Hunt vs Eric "Butterbean" Esch

Kazuhiro Nakamura is rumoured to fight Kazuyuki Fujita

More bouts TBA

Pride’s President Nobuyuki Sakakibara held a press conference at the DSE office in Tokyo where he spoke of the upcoming Pride USA event:

Sakakibara on the NSAC Rules

Since Pride 32: The Real Deal is to be held in Las Vegas Nevada the event will have to be held under the local MMA governing body’s authority to be officially sanctioned. This sees a whole new format for the show, which is more akin to a cleaned up version of the UFC, than the more relaxed Japanese rules Pride fans are used to. Here is a summary:

• 3 x5 Minute Rounds
• No Kick or Knees will be allowed when the opponent is in the 4 point position.
• Elbows are allowed under NSAC rules but Pride have opted not to allow them as is the right of the promoter.
• Competitors will not be permitted to wear footwear or Gis

Sakakibara on Wanderlei Silva vs Chuck Liddell

When pressed on whether the mythical Wandy vs Chuck fight will ever actually happen, Sakakibara said:

“Speaking on behalf of PRIDE, we are ready anytime. Also, Wanderlei is ready; we just need the doctor's confirmation from his injury from last week. We are still waiting for UFC's response. Mirko even said that if Wanderlei is not fighting in November, he will fight in his place. In some interviews, Mr. Dana White stated that this fight won't happen, but speaking from PRIDE side, we are ready.”

But insider sources indicate that this could be a case of bluff and double bluff. According to these sources the Silva-Liddell has officially been off since mid-August. So it would seem that Pride and UFC are just taunting each other and perhaps the public.

Mike Tyson in Pride?

Another hot topic concerning Pride is the participation of the world’s former “baddest man” Iron Mike Tyson. According to our Japanese connections this year’s traditional end of year show Pride: Shockwave 2006 will, despite the rumours, be held in Japan at the Saitama Super Arena and Mike Tyson will be a part of the show!

As Tyson will not be allowed in to the country because of his criminal record, his marquee match will be held and beamed in from another country. That country is believed to be Macau.