Pride Fighting Championship

[Ambulance Chaser]

Did anyone catch Pride Fighting Championship's "Real Deal" PPV this past Saturday night? I thought it was a pretty solid introduction of Pride to the U.S. audience, although most of the fights themselves weren't that exciting. I think Pride has a long way to go to challenge the UFC's hegemony in mixed martial arts in this country -- the sports bar where I saw the Real Deal is usually packed for UFC PPVs, but only had a handful of people watching the Pride PPV. If Pride didn't have to change its rules for the U.S. market, that might help.

 

[Brian SD]

I think Pride will get bigger than UFC, in time. The quality of fighters in Pride is a lot higher.. people will pick up on that eventually.

What rules did they change for the US?

 

[Dragon]

Yep. While UFC is respected, they are considered more like the minor leagues compared to Pride.

 

[Joffrey]

Is that why Rich Franklin got his ass so royally beat by Andersen Silva?

 

[MOCAZEN]

Originally Posted by Jodum5

Is that why Rich Franklin got his ass so royally beat by Andersen Silva?

yessss

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by Jodum5

Is that why Rich Franklin got his ass so royally beat by Andersen Silva?

That was a nice looking fight. The clinching + knee work was really great. Reminds me of Buakaw's style, although Silva's is much less elegant.

 

[AAA]

Pride is screwed if they don't get back on Japanese TV soon. With UFC now paying their main eventers in the 7 figures for a fight (depending on the buy rate), the economics of MMA has significantly changed over the past year. I will be interested to hear the number of buys the Pride PPV did.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Pride is the devil's favorite vice, and a very poor reason to fight over anything.