Return of Pride?

Is Zuffa planning on bringing back PRIDE?

During a recent interview with the Toronto Sun, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the company may consider holding future events under the PRIDE FC banner:

"You never know, anything is possible."

Zuffa had purchased the PRIDE assets back in 2007 and many people felt as though that was the last we had ever seen of PRIDE. However, the UFC and Spike recently started airing a "Best of PRIDE Fighting Championships" weekly television series which gave some fans hope that the UFC would possibly hold a PRIDE show in the near future.

What do you think, just bullshit or could something come out of this? If they do bring it back will be unified rules (no soccer kicks ) and in a cage? If so, whats the point exactly? I hope they do bring it back, and bring it back right. One reason id be tempted to beleive its true is because Dana wants to go to Japan, using the Pride format and rules would be huge over there, imagine the first show. Another reason is because he would want a partner to help him against the DREAM/Strikeforce partnership and thirdly it could give more grounds for Fedor to come to the UFC.

If they do re-make Pride the right way, they would have a few Pride legends among there ranks already. Guys like:

Rampage
Wandy
Cro Cop
Gomi
Minataro
Lil Nog
Arona (possibly)

Then you would have to consider guys like Kimbo and Lesner would be huge over there, if they were willing to fight under Pride rules which im sure they wouldn't mind. If its done properly it could be amazing, hopefully we would have a return of the Grand Prix.

Somehow I don't think so, even if they do bring it back I don't think it will be done right

For those Pro-wrestling fans, Think Vince McMahon reinventing ECW.

It'll be Vince trying to recreate ECW all over again.

It'll be a pathetic effort to get the UFC brand into Japan. It'll be the UFC with the Pride logo being disgraced.

Dana statement doesnt exactly convince me of them holding a Pride event....


I think they will go to Japan, this year or next and put on a UFC event, titled "Pride returns" or somthing like that, and put on a card with the likes of Wandi, Shogun, Nogs etc...

in a perfect world, (they would never have bought pride lol)
but they would hold an annual "PRIDE" event in Japan.

-in Saitama super arena.
-in a PRIDE ring.
-with PRIDE rounds, judging and rules.
-All the old PRIDE guys: Nog bros, Wand, Crocop, Gomi, Rampage, Hendo, Shogun, Okami + Akiyama & Uno (even though the were not in PRIDE, they are big in japan).
-UFC titles on the line.
-All the production values + stage, entrances, screaming lady and the guy with nohawk and shades.
- get goldy the fuck out for 1 event per year.

what we will probably get is:
nothing, maybe an occasional regular UFC event in Japan with some of the old pride fighters.

What im afraid of is that they do a really big show for the first event and from then on its Pride "Legends" like Gilbert Yvel and James Thompson.

Out of intrest, who would you want as the commentaters in the Pride events?

THE VOICE

Quadros and Bas if you want to be authentic.

UFC's version of authentic would probably be Frank Trigg.

I dont think we will see it. Its a lot to assume based on the 1 comment from Dana...

They need to have it in Japan because of the rules,

UFC havnt had an event in Japan in forever and because of Mafia envolvment Dana is shit scared to bring and event to Japan, I dont see it going ahead.

Interesting thing about the Rules of MMA and some State in Canada has said it wont conform to the Unified rules, they use 2 round, 1st 10min 2nd 5min. and use the Japanese scoring system, as well as allowing Knees to the head of a grounded opponent, and allowing a fighter to wear a Gi or Shoes!! Maby this is an option? take Pride to Canada? They dont allow Soccer kicks though I think I read...

Ill have a look now

The Edmonton Combative Sports Director – Pat Reid has proposed some of the following rules be in place for 2010 in Edmonton:

• Knee strikes to the head of a downed/grounded opponent are legal.
• Gi and shoes can be worn during a bout.
• Two rounds will be utilized, the first being ten minutes and the second round lasting five minutes.
• Bouts will be judged on their entirety, no ten-point must system will be used
• Kicks to the head of a downed/grounded opponent are legal when both fighters are down/grounded.

Don't like the Shoes rule but everything else is but everything else is really good. A bit suprising but its good to see more of these matches.

They would have to make it exactly the same as the original, or else theres no point at all. I think if they changed it no one would be interested and they would loose alot of money, i'm sure there clever enough not to change it too much, also would they bring back a GP???? Now that would be very interesting!!

m1 have a rule where you can wear wrestling shoes, but you cant head kick with them on.
thats a pretty good one in my opinion.

i would love to see this happen but theres no chance it will

Shanemc wrote:i would love to see this happen but theres no chance it will

Theres a Pride rules show in edminton (spelling) in Canada. They have all the PRide Rules (Bar Soccer Kicks I think) But if your both on the ground you can kick your opponents head.

Knees to the head are ok
You can wear Gi or Shoes
10 min 1st round 5min 2nd round
No 10 point must for scoring
and its in a ring

This is already going ahead so its pride minus the soccer kicks and im sure UFC could make them come around. They are taking a lot of stick for these rules but I dont get why...

Knees to the head are a great Idea, Id love to see them in the Unified rules, they really really keep a fight from getting stale on the ground because you can inflict damamge from far more angles with punches and knees in your arsenal...

Although Im not sold on Gi's in MMA, I think they can cause a lot of stalling, though I do love Judo throws!!!