Pride FC (2003 - 2004)

In 2002, Pride FC co-promoted with K-1 the largest MMA show to date (as of 10 years later) and their momentum continued into the following year.  The year started off grimly with the death of the president of Dream Stage Entertainment (their parent company).  Speculation that he was involved with the yakuza or had been evading taxes died down in what was the most momentous year for the company, but rumors of shady goings-on with DSE would return.  The company expanded dramatically introducing the Bushido brand with lighter fighters and penalties for stalling, which held five events over the next two years.  Pride also brought back the tournament format for their middleweights, which led to a card of nearly 70,000 for the final fights at year's end.  The following year, a heavyweight tournament was highly success as well.  Amazingly, scandal and poor management was around the corner for Pride FC.

Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?

Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.

Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 25 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and U-Style).

**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride FC 2000 - 2002

Pride Fighting Championships reinvented Mixed Martial Arts in Japan and abroad.  Big money, big names and big events turned Pride FC brought the seemingly dead genre back and helped it reach the success in sees today.  After establishing themselves with some hit-or-miss cards in the late 1990s, Pride FC would reach amazing heights over the next few years.
Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?
Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.

Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 25 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and RINGS).

**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride 25 - Body Blow
Date of Event: 3/16/03
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten
- Opening Video featuring Vanderlei Silva
1. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Rogerio Noguiera - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Steibling interview
2. Akira Shoji vs. Alex Steibling - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Newton/Silva interviews
3. Anderson Silva vs. Carlos Newton - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Henderson interview
4. Dan Henderson vs. Shungo Oyama - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Elvis interview
5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Elvis Schembri - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Randleman/Jackson interviews
6. Quinton Jackson vs. Kevin Randleman - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Jackson/Silva confrontation, Noguiera & Fedor interviews
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight Championship) - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)


Pride 26 - Bad to the Bone
Date of Event: 6/8/03
Length: 2 hrs
Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten
- Show introduction, fighter intros
1. Elvis Schembri vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka - *** (Combo/Combo)
2. Anderson Silva vs. Daijyu Takase - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
3. Alistair Overeem vs. Mike Bencic - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)
- Jackson interview
4. Quinton Jackson vs. Mikhail Illhoukhine - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Jackson interview, intermission highlights
5. Fedor Emelinenko vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Herring & Crocop interview
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Heath Herring - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Frye & Coleman interview
7. Don Frye vs. Mark Coleman - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Coleman promo & interview


Pride Grand Prix - Total Elimination
Date of Event: 8/10/03
Length: 2 hrs 45 mins
Commentary: Damon Perry & Bas Rutten
- Preshow, Rutten-Perry intros, fighter intros
- Goodridge interview
1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Gary Goodridge - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Liddell video & interview, Overeem interview
2. Chuck Liddell vs. Alistair Overeem - ***3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Liddell, Jackson, Bustamante interviews
3. Quinton Jackson vs. Murillo Bustamante - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Rodriguez & Noguiera interviews
4. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera vs. Ricco Rodriguez - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Inoki with Shoji, Nakamura, Sakurai, Mishima and Oyama
- Crocop interview
5. Mirko Crocop vs. Igor Vovchanchyn - *** (Standing/Striking)
6. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - **** (Standing/Combo)
7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva - *** (Standing/Striking)


Pride Bushido
Date of Event: 10/5/03
Length: 3 hours
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Royce Gracie
- Show intro with drumming, fighter intros
1. Chris Brennan vs. Eiji Mitsuoka - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Brennan interview
2. Khalid Arrab vs. Rodney Faverus - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Gracie interviews
3. Carlos Newton vs. Renzo Gracie - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
4. Ralph Gracie vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima - ***3/4 (Combo/Combo)
5. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Daniel Gracie - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
6. Rodrigo Gracie vs. Daijyu Takase - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Royce & Yoshida interviews
7. Ryan Gracie vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
8. Mauricio Rua vs. Akira Shoji - **** (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop & Caras interviews
9. Mirko Crocop vs. Dos Caras Jr. - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)


Pride Grand Prix - Final Conflict
Date of Event: 11/9/03
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Damon Perry & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Randy Couture
- Total Elimination highlights, Preshow w/ Couture, Fighter Intros
1. Gary Goodridge vs. Dan Bobish - ** (Standing/Striking)
- Jackson/Liddell interviews & highlights
2. Quinton Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Silva interview
3. Vanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Hype Video
4. Dan Henderson vs. Murillo Bustamante - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Randleman interview
5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kevin Randleman - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Crocop/Noguiera interviews
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Interim Heavyweight Championship) - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Interim Championship presentation
7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Award Ceremony, Show Close


Pride - Shockwave 2003
Date of Event: 12/31/03
Length: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Commentary: Japanese commentators
- Opening with Takada, Fighter Intros
1. Quinton Jackson vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
2. Heath Herring vs. Giant Silva [no 2nd] - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Murilo Rua vs. Akira Shoji - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Hype for Hustle I w/ Takada, Hashimoto, Ogawa and Goldberg
4. Royce Gracie vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Clips of Frye, Tamura, Saku, Nogueira
5. Gary Goodridge vs. Don Frye - *** (Standing/Striking)
- Gooridge interview
6. Daniel Gracie vs. Wataru Sakata - *** (Ground/Combo)
7. Yuki Kondo vs. Mario Sperry - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
8. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Rony Sefo - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Ringside discussion, Highlights: Saku-Jackson, Saku-Randleman
9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Rogerio Nogueira - ****1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Closing Highlight Reel


Pride 27 - Inferno
Date of Event: 2/1/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
- Music Video, Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
- Bobish interview
1. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Dan Bobish - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Peterson interview
2. Sergei Kharitonov vs. "L.A. Giant" Cory Peterson - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Murillo "Ninja" Rua low blowing Alexander Otsuka
- Dos Caras Jr. interview
3. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Dos Caras Jr. - **1/4 (Combo/Combo)
4. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Alexander Otsuka - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Kerr interview
5. Mark Kerr vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Kerr interview, McGee & Herring interviews
6. Heath Herring vs. Gan McGee - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Ron Waterman - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Crocop interview, Pride Girls closing


Pride Bushido 2
Date of Event: 2/15/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Mario Sperry, Renzo Gracie
- Rutten/Ranallo Opening, Fighter Intros
1. Choi Mae Base vs. Yusuke Imamura - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
2. Yushin Okami vs. Ryuta Sakurai - *** (Ground/Combo)
3. Yasuhito Namekawa vs. Egidijus Valavicius - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Sherk interview
4. Sean Sherk vs. Ryuki Ueyama - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Sherk, Sperry and Bencic interviews
5. Mario Sperry vs. Mike Bencic - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Sperry, Noguiera and Brennan interviews
6. Daijyu Takase vs. Chris Brennan - **3/4 (Ground/Hooking)
- Rodrigo, Ryan and Renzo interviews
7. Rodrigo Gracie vs. Hayato Sakurai - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Crocop interview
8. Mirko Crocop vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Rutten spying on Chute Boxe team
9. Takanori Gomi vs. Jadson Costa - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Gomi promo
10. Mauricio Rua vs. Akihiro Gono - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)
11. Vanderlei Silva vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Silva promo


Pride GP - Total Elimination 2004
Date of Event: 4/25/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Heath Herring, Chuck Liddell
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
- Herring interview
1. Heath Herring vs. Yoshiki Takahashi - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Rua interview
2. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Sergei Kharitonov - ***3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Silva & Sentoryu interviews
3. Giant Silva vs. Sentoryu - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Silva-Kondo hype, Schilt & McGee interviews
4. Semmy Schilt vs. Gan McGee - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Leko interview
5. Naoya Ogawa vs. Stefan Leko - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Sakuraba promo, Crocop & Randleman interviews
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Kevin Randleman - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Mark Hunt promo, Nogueira interview
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Hirotaka Yokoi - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Fedor interview
8. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mark Coleman - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
- "Great Eight" intros & promos
- Interviews: Randleman, Noguiera, Hunt


Pride Bushido 3
Date of Event: 5/23/04
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Matt Hume
Guest Commentary: Renzo Gracie
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
1. Katsuhisa Fujii vs. Kim Jin Oh - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
2. Alexandre Emelienko vs. Matt Foki - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Kazuo Misaki vs. Jorge Patino - **** (Combo/Combo)
- Newton interview
4. Carlos Newton vs. Daijyu Takase - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
5. Akira Shoji vs. Tamakairiki - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Shoji promo, Chalid interview
6. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Chalid Die Faust - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Crocop interview
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Hiromitsu Kanehara - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Team Gracie interviews
8. Ricardo Almeida vs. Ryo Chonan - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
9. Ralph Gracie vs. Takanori Gomi - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
10. Ryan Gracie vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Hype for Critical Countdown


Pride Grand Prix - Critical Countdown
Date of Event: 6/20/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
1. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Elvis Schembri - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Saku promo, Arona & Jackson interviews
2. Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona - ***3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Sergei Kharitonov vs. Semmy Schilt - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Silva interview
4. Naoya Ogawa vs. Giant Silva - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Hunt interview
5. Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Mark Hunt - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Herring & Nogueira interviews
6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring - ****1/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Randleman & Fedor interviews
7. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kevin Randleman - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Fedor promo, Final Four presentation


Pride Bushido 4
Date of Event: 7/19/04
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Introduction with announcers and fighters
1. Luis Buscape vs. Hiroyuki Abe - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
2. Dokonjonosuke Mishima vs. Marcus Aurelio - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Mishima promo, Final Conflict commercial, Lister int.
3. Amar Suloev vs. Dean Lister
4. Hayato Sakurai vs. Brady Fink - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
5. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Kenichi Yamamoto - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
6. Takashi Sugiura vs. Giant Silva - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Crocop interview
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Shungo Oyama - *** (Standing/Striking)
- Crocop promo, BTT featurette
8. Paulo Filho vs. Akira Shoji - ** (Standing/Striking)
9. Takanori Gomi vs. Fabio Mello - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - *** (Combo/Striking)


Pride Grand Prix - Final Conflict
Date of Event: 8/15/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, drum & fighter intros
1. Murillo Bustamante vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Kharitonov & Noguiera interviews
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Sergei Kharitonov - ****1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Fedor interview
3. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Naoya Ogawa - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Waterman & Randleman interviews
4. Ron Waterman vs. Kevin Randleman - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Crocop & Alexandre interviews
5. Mirko Crocop vs. Alexandre Emelianenko - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Silva interview
6. Vanderlei Silva vs. Yuki Kondo - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Semifinal highlights
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight GP Finals) - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)


Pride Bushido 5
Date of Event: 10/14/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, drum & fighter intros
1. Mauricio Rua vs. Yasuhito Namekawa - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Sentoryu & Foki twins int.
2. Sentoryu vs. Mal Foki - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Sentoryu promo
3. Luis Buscape vs. Masakazu Imanari - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
4. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Ryuki Ueyama - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Katsuhisa Fujii - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Newton int.
6. Ryo Chonan vs. Carlos Newton - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Chonan promo
7. Crosley Gracie vs. Hayato Sakurai - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Bennett int.
8. Takanori Gomi vs. Charles Bennett - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Gomi promo, Bennett int., Frye-Takayama clip


Pride 28 - High Octane
Date of Event: 10/31/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Mario Sperry
- Intro w/ announcers, Herring int.
1. Heath Herring vs. Hirotaka Yokoi - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Pride Knockouts preview
2. Ricardo Arona vs. Sergei Ignatev - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Bushido 5 commercial, Thompson int.
3. Alexandre Emelianenko vs. James Thompson - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Overeem int.
4. Alistair Overeem vs. Hiromitsu Kanehara - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Hunt & Bobish int.
5. Mark Hunt vs. Dan Bobish - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Henderson int.
6. Dan Henderson vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Barnett & Crocop int.
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Josh Barnett - DUD
- Silva-Jackson hype
8. Vanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson - **** (Combo/Striking)
- Announcers closing, Takada promo, Gardiner-Yoshida hype, Gardiner int.


Pride Shockwave 2004
Date of Event: 12/31/04
Length: 3 hours
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Randy Couture
- Intro w/ announcers
1. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Stefan Leko - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
2. Giant Silva vs. Choi Mae Base - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
3. Ryan Gracie vs. Yoji Anjo - ** (Ground/Combo)
4. Ryo Chonan vs. Anderson Silva - **** (Combo/Combo)
5. Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Rulon Gardiner - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Kevin Randleman - **3/4 (Standing/Combo)
7. Dan Henderson vs. Yuki Kondo - **** (Combo/Combo)
8. Takanori Gomi vs. Jens Pulver - **** (Standing/Striking)
9. Vanderlei Silva vs. Mark Hunt - ****1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Fedor-Noguiera hype
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight Championship) - *** (Combo/Striking)