Best of Pride 2001

1. Renzo Gracie vs. Dan Henderson (Pride 13) - The most versitile Gracie takes on perhaps the well-rounded American wrestler go head-to-head. Henderson strengths really show here as he fends off takedowns and shows us his right-hand bomb. This one is fast so keep your eyes open...it's vicious.
Rating: ***

2. Mark Coleman vs. Allan Goes (Pride 13) - Another BJJ fighter and American wrestler. Only this time one isn't a middleweight, he's a heavyweight and the Grand Prix champion at that! While neither is as talented as their counterparts in the first, this is another quick KO with Goes doing some crowd-pleasing shadow-kicks and that's it...again this has a violent finish.
Rating: ***



3. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva (Pride 13) - With UFC's Tito Ortiz giving out the flowers, we have the three best active middleweights in the world. Sakuraba's New Year's Eve drinking catches up with him as he definitely isn't at 100%. While 2000 was the year of Saku, Silva conquers him and begins what would be his year! Another gruesome finish and the beginning of the type of money feud which MMA had never seen.
Rating: ***

4. Daijiri Matsui vs. Jose "Pele" Landi (Pride 14) - Takada Dojo vs. Chute Boxe Academy again. Matsui is a spirited fighter, but is often considered a jobboy, while Pele is a talented fighter, who was finally getting a shot in the big leagues. I'd call this the biggest upset of 2001 and it rejuvenated Matsui.
Rating: ***1/4



5. Guy Mezger vs. Chuck Liddell (Pride 14) - An excellent standup battle between two guys with a nice share of kickboxing experience. Liddell became the first UFC fight er to come into (and not stay in) Pride. Liddell had a great summer with a big KO of Kevin Randleman and then a win here, which was another solid right to the chin knockout. While this wasn't a complete fight, this is as good as standup in MMA gets.
Rating: ***3/4

6. Dan Henderson vs. Akira Shoji (Pride 14) - This fight shocked me as Shoji brought his best game and though it wasn't enough he made for an excellent and exciting fight. This is more of a MMA hardcore-type fight, but it is not wholly precise matwork or anything. If Pride had fights like this every single show, I know I'd be happy.
Rating: ***1/2

7. Kazayuki Fujita vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (Pride 14) - Two pro-wrestlers from athletic backgrounds, whose pro careers are very different than their MMA careers. Fujita (New Japan), was a strong amateur and weak pro, who was skyrocketed after winning his first Pride fights. Takayama (NOAH) trained in Muay Thai and fought in the UWFI and Kingdom before getting into more traditional pro-wrestling. This is a great fight with Takayama showing he's all man and Fujita brutalizing him regardless.
Rating: ***1/2



8. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Maasaki Satake (Pride 15) - Two kickboxers who have taken different routes in their respective careers. Vovchanchyn, a decent kickboxer, went into MMA and took to it instantly. Satake, went from karate to K-1, where he was the first native star. However Sataka is in Pride and Igor's world and though he's always an exciting and spirited fighter, he just lacks the experience. A brutal fight centered around strikes that pleases the bloody fans, but adds fuel to the critics.
Rating: ****



9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Quinton Jackson (Pride 15) - Saku's "return fight" after getting damn near killed by Silva at Pride 13. Jackson is a powerhouse of lesser-known MMA groups who makes for an excellent opponent. Saku brings his style, but it is "Rampage" really having the best showing with all his slams and charisma. This is not only a fun fight, but a surprisingly diverse one with something for everyone. It's fights like this that really pop the crowd.
Rating: ****

10. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Daijiro Matsui (Pride 16) - Takada Dojo - Chute Boxe Academy look for a tiebreaker of their feud. "Ninja" makes his Pride debut here against one of the company's long-running fighters. Rua also fights to avenge the upset of his teacher, Pele, and in the process shows he is one of the most vicious fighters ever. This is (IMO) the most merciless fight of the year and one that should make any human wince.
Rating: ***3/4

11. Semmy Schilt vs. Akira Shoji (Pride 16) - A surprisingly good fight despite a HUGE size difference. Schilt, making his Pride debut, against lil' Shoji, the Pride veteran, in what could never be allowed in the States. Shoji, despite the odds, scores an amazing takedown and gives Schilt way more than he had any right to. A visual fun fight with an underdog gimmick that can have anyone marking out.
Rating: ***1/4



12. Don Frye vs. Gilbert Yvel (Pride 16) - Some people just loved this fight. Personally, I thought it wasn't great, but had an interesting story. Frye came back to MMA after a five-year hiatus with a torn quad (same injury as Triple H only not so severe) and took on a dangerous striker. Yvel showed why he's considered one of the dirtest fighters around getting DQ'd and rightly so...he hasn't returned since.
Rating: ***

13. Mark Coleman vs. Antonio Noguiera (Pride 16) - The Pride Grand Prix Champion taking on RINGS last King of Kings. Coleman is so overmatched here it's scary with Noguiera making him look almost overrrated. This fight doesn't last long and ends with as good of a submission application as you'll ever see. If his first win over Gary Goodridge didn't convince people this match certainly did.
Rating: ***3/4

14. Antonio Noguiera vs. Heath Herring (Pride 17) - Take my rating of this one with a big grain of salt because this may very well be the best fight ever and definitely one of the top five. How appropriote to have the first Heavyweight champion decided in such an outstanding contest. This fight really has everything and is fundamentally as good as it gets. Though Couture-Rizzo had more drama, this was a strong vote for FOTY of 2001.
Rating: ****



15. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva (Pride 17) - The first fight was brutal and one-sided, but this one shows how well Saku can hang when he's at 100%. This only lasts one round, but it is a damned good one with both man looking excellent and a super fight shaping up. Unfortunately a slam by Silva injures Saku, who is disappointed to tears that he let down his fans. However he just got a bad shake here against Silva...again.
Rating: ***1/4

16. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Valentijn Overeem (Pride 18) - The third fight of the RINGS star in Pride against a Pride favorite. Overeem to seem to be shaking off his funk early on, until he underestimates (IMO) Vovchanchyn and gets hooked. Not very long but a good fight with another Igor submission win, this time against a grappler and using that grappler's speciality (leglock).
Rating: ***1/2

17. Semmy Schilt vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (Pride 18) - While not a "great" fight and MMA hardcores would armbar me for putting this on a compilation, I think puro-fans (who haven't already seen this) may enjoy it. Takayama shows he is a true warrior, taking on a bigger man in Schilt and in Schilt's domain (stand-up). A fun fight, I guess, that ends with Schilt raining punches down on Takayama's blonde hair that prompted a "it looks like he's punching a cat" out of one of my friends.
Rating: **1/2