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pr0nmast3r

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    Mixed Martial Arts

    in Martial Arts

    Posted

    I see, they'll unify the rules. CB will lose some of its advantages I guess.

     

    This thread gets alive if there are fights.. UFC 69 and Pride 34 are on consecutive days so I guess thread will be alive during those days. I'll probably be out during that week. So I might post on the 10th or the 11th!

     

    Cheers!

    Mixed Martial Arts

    in Martial Arts

    Posted

    IT IS OFFICIAL!

     

     

    3.27.07 PRESS CONFERENCE Comments from Pride Worldwide Owner Lorenzo Fertitta

     

    I'm very happy tonight to announce the combination of the two biggest and two most important MMA organizations in the world. I've been a fan of Pride for many years, and I have enormous respect for what Mr. Sakakibara and the rest of the Dream Stage team has been able to accomplish over the last 10 years.

     

     

    It was about 7 years ago that I was sitting in my home in Las Vegas and I had the opportunity to buy a show on PPV. It was a new show for me, and it was called PRIDE. And for me, that was the beginning of the love affair with this brand. I sat there and watched an epic battle between Kazushi Sakuraba and Royce Gracie that lasted for an hour and a half. And I saw the production and the quality of the show and I was completely blown away.

     

    And a short time later, I was invited to come out to a live event, and I had the pleasure of going to the Saitama Super Arena to see Wanderlei Silva beat Kazushi Sakuraba in another great epic battle. After seeing the event live and seeing the incredible level of the production and the quality of the fighters and the athleticism, I was hooked on PRIDE forever.

     

    3.27.07 PRESS CONFERENCE Comments from DSE President and CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara

     

    Thank you very much for attending today's press conference, despite the fact that this was announced on short notice and on a weekday. I'm very happy to see so many fans and media people. Thank you very much.

     

    I must warn you that I don't have a speech written. I tried to write one, but I just couldn't find the right words. I've written out how I want to start this speech, and I'll read these words, but after a few sentences, I may simply speak from my heart.

     

    On October 11th 1997 at the Tokyo Dome, Rickson Gracie fought Nobuhiko Takada. That event gave birth to PRIDE FC, and this year we commemorate the 10-year anniversary. Our success is due in no small part to the support of fighters, fans, and other pertinent people. For that, I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your help, we would not have made it this far. Thank you very much.

     

    Over the past 10 years, we made history, presenting 60 PRIDE events and more than 600 fights. We sought out the best and strongest in the world, echoing a theme that harkens as far back as Pankration matches during the Greek Olympics. This decade was a big success, but now we face a moment in time that will separate our past from our present.

     

    This past year was a very difficult one for PRIDE, Dream Stage, its fans, and myself. There were numerous times when I wanted to give up and run from my position as the head of PRIDE and Dream Stage. But then I would remember the faces of the fighters and their matches. I remembered the support. I remembered how the staff, the fans, and the people around me pushed and encouraged me. And I remembered that I wanted to ensure that the PRIDE that I love would continue.

     

    I want to make sure that the PRIDE ring, where miracles happen, will be here in the future. That is my goal here today.

     

    As the representative of Dream Stage Entertainment, there were two things I wanted to accomplish in 2006: to return to broadcast television and rebuild our credibility in Japan. Our credibility was hurt due to being removed from broadcast television, and while I realized that we could easily resolve our problem if I resigned and left Dream Stage, such a drastic solution would not resolve the second, larger problem.

     

    In 2006, MMA saw the birth of several new organizations, such as BodogFight, and also the sudden success of the UFC. Competing against these companies was going to take a lot of power, including financial stability.

     

    I represent a small company, with only 200 million yen as capital. Comparatively, we were a rowboat going up against major ships and bigger boats, and we were about to enter very rough water. I realized that in order to assure PRIDE's continued success, I needed to find a solution to save our rowboat. Subsequently, I started to look for a faster boat with a stronger engine. One that could deliver us that much quicker. There were many different people who were interested in PRIDE, but I determined that there was one person worthy of being introduced to you today.

     

    With that, I present Mr. Lorenzo Fertitta as the new owner of PRIDE.

     

    Mr. Fertitta is the co-owner of Station Casinos, and also the co-owner of the UFC, which has been PRIDE's biggest competitor. He also was the commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which obviously is an important role in the world of MMA.

     

    I first met Lorenzo when he assumed the position of UFC owner in 2001 and since then, we have been each other's toughest rivals. In some ways, however, we also have been fighting with the same goals, to nurture the growth of MMA as a sport. Lorenzo has a vision about the future of MMA and we've talked about it numerous times for hours at length. As such, in many respects, I also see Lorenzo as a comrade-in-arms.

     

    Since last summer, Lorenzo and I have been talking about the future of MMA. Lorenzo has a large heart, and I know that he doesn't want our sport to be damaged, especially in light of how far it's come. Even though he owns the UFC, Lorenzo loves and respects PRIDE. He told me "OK, I'll give you a new ship to replace that rowboat. I'll give you an aircraft carrier."

     

    Lorenzo believes that PRIDE should maintain its luster, and he will make sure that PRIDE is here to stay. I trust and believe in Lorenzo. PRIDE is like my baby, and I've decided to give the future of my baby to him.

     

    But please don't misunderstand the situation. This is not a speech about the UFC purchasing PRIDE. The UFC will forever stay as a competitor to PRIDE, because the UFC is operated by Zuffa Entertainment and Mr. Dana White. And the position that Lorenzo is assuming is similar to that of a commissioner of MMA. He will create a new enterprise to represent PRIDE and I will transfer all of PRIDE's rights to the new company. As of PRIDE.34, to be held on April 8th, I will resign from my post as the President and CEO of PRIDE. I relinquish the future of PRIDE to Lorenzo, and I trust that he will keep PRIDE and the UFC as two separate major brands.

     

    The UFC / PRIDE rivalry in the past has been the equivalent of a street fight. However, we can now fight in the future officially as a new major brand. And just think about what is now possible: UFC fighters in the PRIDE Lightweight Grand Prix, a rematch of Mirko Cro Cop and Fedor Emilianenko, and of course the dream match that fight fans have been talking about for years � Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva. I promise that fight fans' dreams will come true.

     

    And to the fighters, not only can you be a PRIDE champion, but also a UFC champion as well, because now there really will be fights between PRIDE and UFC fighters. The sky is the limit.

     

    Being just barely more than a decade old, MMA has a considerably short history. However, it has clearly captured the hearts of people throughout the world, and I think its safe to say that PRIDE had a lot to do with building this sport's foundation. But now, I entrust the staff of PRIDE and the future of MMA to Lorenzo Fertitta.

     

    I'm quite emotional right now, and I have so much more to say. PRIDE is not just my child; it's my baby girl, and I would ask Lorenzo to take very good care of my baby, so she can continue to grow. As of PRIDE.34, Dream Stage will relinquish all involvement with PRIDE, and I will take my leave as the representative of PRIDE.

     

     

     

    I regret not being able to realize PRIDE's return to broadcast TV during my tenure as the President and CEO of PRIDE, but I would like to erase all the negativity and bad publicity with my resignation. With my departure, there will be no obstacles, and PRIDE will have its luster again, shining bright and clean. Lorenzo is an excellent man with a lot of talent. Lorenzo, please make sure that you get our broadcasting rights back. It would make my staff very happy to see the Fuji TV staff running around the Saitama Super Arena, shooting a PRIDE fight again. Also, I'd like to wish great success for the Dream Stage staff, who will resign from DSE and become employees of the new company.

     

    But fear not, for PRIDE is here to stay, and PRIDE still is made in Japan. The spirit of PRIDE still lives in Japan, and in the hearts of fans worldwide. This is the beginning of something bigger than we've ever known, and it is all thanks to the love and support that the fans have shown PRIDE and its fighters. Please take a good care of PRIDE, and thank you very much for your help over the past decade.

    Mixed Martial Arts

    in Martial Arts

    Posted

    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!

    Mixed Martial Arts

    in Martial Arts

    Posted

    woogie is no1 for middleweight? in my own ranking hendo should be no1 for middleweight and nog should be no2 for heavy and cc on no 3 , i think the only time cc will be no2 is if he beat nog for their rematch

     

     

    I think he was ranked #2 because he won the Open Weight Grand Prix 2006

    Mixed Martial Arts

    in Martial Arts

    Posted

    Here are the rankings as of March 20

     

    LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (160 pounds and lower)

     

    1. Hayato Sakurai

    2. Takanori Gomi

    3. Gilbert Melendez

    4. Nick Diaz

    5. Tatsuya Kawajiri

    6. Shinya Aoki

    7. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro

    8. Joachim Hansen

    9. Mitsuhiro Ishida

    10. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

     

    WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)

     

    1. Georges St. Pierre

    2. Matt Hughes

    3. BJ Penn

    4. Diego Sanchez

    5. Karo Parisyan

    6. Jon Fitch

    7. Jake Shields

    8. Akira Kikuchi

    9. Josh Koscheck

    10. Josh Burkman

     

    MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185-pound limit)

     

    1. Matt Lindland

    2. Anderson Silva

    3. Paulo Filho

    4. Rich Franklin

    5. Dan Henderson

    6. Denis Kang

    7. Frank Trigg

    8. Nathan Marquardt

    9. Kazuo Misaki

    10. Jeremy Horn

     

    LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)

     

    1. Chuck Liddell

    2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

    3. Ricardo Arona

    4. Dan Henderson

    5. Wanderlei Silva

    6. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

    7. Quinton Jackson

    8. Tito Ortiz (pinagod ni Jenna Jameson, kaya lagpak sa 8th spot) :lol:

    9. Kazuhiro Nakamura

    10. Jason Lambert

     

    HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)

     

    1. Fedor Emelianenko

    2. Mirko Cro Cop

    3. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

    4. Josh Barnett

    5. Randy Couture

    6. Tim Sylvia

    7. Andrei Arlovski

    8. Fabricio Werdum

    9. Aleksander Emelianenko

    10. Mark Hunt

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