Pride - Best of 2003

1. Dan Henderson vs. Shugo Oyama (Pride 25)
Henderson is coming off a very strong performance against the Pride champion, Antonio Nogueira, and Oyama is trying to become the native star that Pride is begging for. Both have pretty good rights and are ballsy fighters, but only one can win. Both go straight at one another for the first few minutes before taking it to the mat for a breather. The war continues and the winner is clear.
Rating: ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

2. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Elvis Schembri (Pride 25)
The ever-injured Saku and a high-end BJJ fighter. This seemed like a safe fight for Pride's top draw as Schembri isn't much of a striker and Saku has a slight size edge. He really dominates too with standup that has Elvis in major trouble and it almost seemed like Saku might score an unlikely KO. However Schembri scores this knee out of nowhere and follows it up with the strikes to get the job done. An amazing upset that had people calling for Sakuraba's retirement.
Rating: **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

- Vanderlei Silva and Quinton Jackson (Pride 25)
The confrontation that had the fight world buzzing. Following a convincing victory over Kevin Randleman, Jackson called out the champ and they had an intense meeting. We thought they'd meet in the near future, but we had to wait a while...they meet though and it's everything you'd expect.

3. Antonio Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight Championship) (Pride 25)
A big match here with two of the very best heavyweights you'll ever see. Nog is a submission wiz with good standup and Fedor is a GNP monster. When we look at common opponents: Kohsaka, Herring, Schilt and we get some interesting insight. Fedor lost to TK from a cut, beat Schilt in a snoozer and destroyed Herring; Nog drew TK in a majority draw that he had an edge in, beat Herring in a close decision and handily beat Schilt. Theoretically, Nogueira is the favorite here. Fedor changes all that with his devastating punches and he neutralizes the BJJ completely. Exciting parts, slow parts, but a major fight without question that sees Nog's first loss in Pride.
Rating: ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

4. Anderson Silva vs. Daijyu Takase (Pride 26)
Silva is a heavy favorite in this one, coming off a win over Carlos Newton and Takase has been fighting on Pride's B-shows. Coming in with Saku-spoof shorts, Takase summons the MMA icon's skill here showing great submission knowledge. A huge upset here in what is the unusual match on this tape, but this is a really good one.
Rating: ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)

5. Quinton Jackson vs. Mikhail Illhoukhine (Pride 26)
Jackson takes on a skilled Russian Top Team Sambo practioner whose RINGS career is impressive and his losses are understandable and he holds wins over Couture, Kohsaka, Han, Vovchanchyn and others of strong skill. However people from RINGS often struggle with loose brawlers like Rampage. Mikhail really struggles with the striking and even half jumps out the ring to avoid it. Jackson shows the depth of his striking ability and he's developing into a war machine.
Rating: ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)

6. Fedor Emelienko vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Pride 26) After a lengthy absence, Fujita returns to challenge the new champ in what is likely to be the Pride FOTY. Two good wrestlers here with different strengths: power to Fujita and balance to Fedor. Also how will Fujita's iron head work against Fedor's iron fists? This is really fun and shows that GNP fighters aren't all Mark Coleman. Fedor does a Terry Funk stagger that adds a funny spot you seldom see in MMA. Finish is sudden and decisive, but it is fitting of this barnburner. Quinton Jackson is on color too.
Rating: ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)

7. Mirko Crocop vs. Heath Herring (Pride 26) Crocop's first time under Pride rules and he's with a strong opponent. Herring is trying to get back in the mix after being slaughtered by Fedor. This is similar to Rodriguez-Sylvia as you can tell Herring realizes he's in trouble early and is just trying in vain to do anything. Crocop senses this and it is all a matter of time after that point. He's arrived in Pride and he wants the championship.
Rating: ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)

8. Mirko Crocop vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (Pride GP - Total Elimination) Another heavyweight coming off losses, who needs a big win to jump back in the fray. Herring and Vov were about even in a decision, but Herring won and Crocop destroyed him. So what becomes of the hard-hitting Ukrainian? This does not take long and this is even more decisive and we see what we never have before - Igor Vovchanchyn knocked out! Who's next?
Rating: *** (Standing/Striking)

9. Mirko Crocop vs. Dos Caras Jr. (Pride Bushido) Looking at Crocop's past opponents, each had a fighting chance. Dos Caras Jr., despite a 3-2 record is not exactly a world caliber MMA heavyweight. He does have the power of lucha libre on his side though. Dos Caras claims to be confident, despite taking this on two weeks notice, but really this is the fight that will make him an even bigger star. Convincing win though for Mirko and he wants the heavyweight title.
Rating: **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

10. Mirko Crocop vs. Antonio Noguiera (Interim Heavyweight Championship) (Pride GP - Final Conflict) After Fedor was injured a little while before this fight, Noguiera jumped in and we get this so-called "interim" fight. Nog, after looking great last year, has not had an important and decisive since Semmy Schilt (a year prior to this bout). His goal is simple - ground the Croatian killer and submit him. He gets Crocop in his guard early, but he does not get it done as Crocop is too fresh and fiesty. The remaining minutes of the round are spent trying to get things back to the ground and taking a lot of damage in the process and never having success. Then he gets a break in the second round and he ceases this opportunity in a great finale to a dramatic contest. The Crocop train is finally stopped and in a very fitting manner. While this is the best technical fight or even the most action-packed, this has a great story that is hauntingly similiar to Noguiera-Sapp from last year. A FOTYC for sure.
Rating: ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)

11. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kevin Randleman (Pride GP - Final Conflict) Kevin Randleman, after blowing a
lot of hot air about how great he will be manages to have a dull fight with Saku. "Donkey Kong," as they call him in Japan, is conquered by Super Mario here in what could be a considered an upset. I edit out the first and second rounds because, well, they're boring. But the entrances, flower presentation by Couture and armbar victory are all worth seeing. Basically, Randleman was poised to explode the whole fight and never did. I save the highlights though and you can get the jest of the rounds and get all of the third, which is really all you want to see of this. I'd probably rate this aborted version like ***, but I drop half a star for the fifteen minutes of Randleman's impression of his mentor Mark Coleman against Don Frye, i.e. having a snoozer with one of the most exciting fighters in the world.

12. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Akira Shoji (Pride Bushido) The Pride debut of "Shogun", younger brother of "Ninja," who are actually Brazilians. Here he takes on a Pride veteran who has turned into something of a stepping stone. Shogun is coming off his only loss thusfar to Renato "Babalu" and Shoji has done well since slimming down. A really fast and action-packed fight that was the best on the first Bushido show in my opinion.
Rating: **** (Combo/Striking)

13. Carlos Newton vs. Renzo Gracie (Pride Bushido)
The first fight in the 5-on-5 series of Gracies versus Japan. After Hayato Sakurai was injured, the Japanese-speaking Newton got into one of the biggest fights of his career. While most of the fights from this series are good and worth seeing, this one was perhaps the best and had the name fighters in it. Some might say it does not live up to its full potential, but it's good stuff.
Rating: ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

14. Chuck Liddell vs. Alistair Overeem (Pride GP - Total Elimination)
Liddell's return to Pride where he hoping to meet the Middleweight chamipon, Vanderlei Silva. Furthermore, he's coming off a stunning loss to Randy Couture. Overeem looks good early and cuts Liddell, who comes back with knees on the ground and punches standing. A convincing win that eliminates the tournament's dark horse and makes one wonder why Liddell got him. A good brawl, while it lasts.
Rating: ***3/4 (Standing/Striking)

15. Quinton Jackson vs. Murillo Bustamante (Pride GP - Total Elimination)
After Arona was injured late, stablemate Bustamante jumped in and rest assured, he gives us a better fight. Jackson cuts the promos you expect, but you can sense a lack of something in what he says. Busta is smaller than Arona, but has better cardio and is better technically. This is the fight makes Rampage look very human as Busta counteracts much of his offense and nearly hooks some submissions along the way. A stoppage to pull up Jackson's shorts arguably saves him as he gets a valuable rest and it cuts off Bustamante's momentum. It comes down to a split decision that really could have gone either way, but Jackson gets the nod.
Rating: ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)

16. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hidehiko Yoshida (Pride GP - Total Elimination)
I'd dare say the two of most popular three or four fighters on the card meeting - this has to be heated. Tamura, sporting a new goatee, comes right at Yoshida and exposed his inability to deal with strikes. This is really one of those fights that many might not be into because of those involved, but the ramifications were huge and Tamura showed some real skill. Once he gets pulled into the gi game though he's in a new world. Great battle of styles and the heat is spectacular. I'm tempted to call this the best fight of the tournament.
Rating: **** (Standing/Combo)

17. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva (Pride GP - Total Elimination)
The third meeting between these two and this has no controversy to it, though Saku's always banged up. Silva, coming off double knee surgery, looks like he has not missed a beat since his previous fight (nine months prior against Saku's former Kingdom mate - Hiromitsu Kanehara). This stays standing and Sakuraba is just not able to really do much. Jackson is on color here as well and he continues to hype a fight with Silva.
Rating: *** (Standing/Striking)

- Quinton Jackson and Chuck Liddell (UFC 44 - Undisputed)
Joe Rogan hypes the pending Rampage-Iceman battle from UFC 44, both men comment on the fight and this is a nice little deal rather than the unnecessary lengthy package Pride puts together. The fight is good, but all the hype they give it kills the thing in my opinion. Also Nobuhiko Takada is in the house and announces Sakuraba and Fujita will come to the UFC to represent Pride in 2004.

18. Quinton Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell (Pride GP - Final Conflict)
A nice battle of styles. Jackson is a better wrestler, Liddell is a better striker, however Jackson can strike and Liddell can wrestle. Basically it becomes a standup battle, where cardio makes all the difference. Liddell strays from his gameplan and gets pulled out of a quick, technical fight into a grinding brawl. It seems like a toss up, but Chuck is tired and they throw in the towel.
Rating: ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

19. Vanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida (Pride GP - Final Conflict)
The match that convinced people that Yoshida's fights aren't worked. This is brutal and entertaining bout that sees a conflict in styles can provide super fights. Yoshida goes right at Silva and shows no fear. His strength is amazing and he gives the champ a tough challenge and you almost think he might actual score the upset a few times. Yoshida really controls the action much of the first round, but he does not in the second, in fact he's pulled into Silva's game, and that makes all the difference.
Rating: ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)

20. Vanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson (Pride GP - Final Conflict)
The fight that was hyped up in March for June finally comes true. Many thought the bracketing here was dangerous, but we get the finals that everyone wanted to see and it delivers...while it lasts. Both had tough prior fights, but Jackson is able to get things on the ground and you'd think he'd be able to GNP Silva significantly. Fatigue is a factor though and Wand just plays rope-a-dope on the mat it seems. Once it gets up standing Silva opens things up with knees, kicks and punches to get the win. A strong tournament finale that is so much better than Coleman's win in the first Grand Prix, mostly because he didn't fall on his head after like a jackass. Takada presents flowers and stuff in a nice closing ceremony.
Rating: ***1/4 (Combo/Striking) 

The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin

Director: Kevin Dunn
Distributor: WWE Home Video
Released: 2/08
Featured Talent
Steve Austin...that's it.

The Good
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is one of the greatest pro-wrestlers that the sport has ever seen. He was a transformative character whose legacy cannot be understated. While people were acting like him before, wrestling like him before and being the anti-hero/top babyface before, he put it all together in a way that with the WWF machine behind...magic happened. This disc, like the Ric Flair and The Undertaker collections, tries to tell Steve Austin's story through his matches. Some people's wrestling, like Austin's, are probably more interesting than a standard WWE documentary would be. Steve Williams' life story could certain play well in a well-done documentary, but past efforts by the WWE and even A&E have not exactly probed deeply. This collection features 20 matches that are largely excellent, some great and some only good. There are six matches that are probably **** or better and another four or five that are close. The addition of TV matches and Clash of the Champions matches were good and all but two were worthwhile. A few matches that were surprising to see, but were certainly not unwelcome were the strap match with Savio Vega, a `97 match with Shawn Michaels and the lesser known but excellent Bret Hart match. The match quality on this is exeptional.

The Bad
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is a legend. That said, this three disc "legacy" collection is gross disappointment. It has no documentary, no special commentary, no easter eggs even (!), just Austin giving input on some of the matches and angles throughout his career. The WWE has released numerous Stone Cold videos, but this could have been so much more. It basically runs through his career and contains 20 matches and a lot of clips and comments in between each. It left out some of his best matches and included some of the most unnecessary. The ECW stuff seems overblown in terms of the impact in his career and seeing he and Chris Adams or even some Dangerous Alliance era stuff would be preferrable. The Owen Hart match where he broke his neck was important, but does not make the cut. The two Kane matches were totally unwanted. The Triple H match with the car-crane BS was just bad for workers of that caliber. The Eddy Guerrero squash was stupid and only the fact that the two legendary Austin-Beonit matches could not be included seems to justify its inclusion. Although another DVD or two of matches that were omitted could be made, a few that jump out for WWF matches are: his KOTR battle with Marc Mero, a heel-versus-heel match he and Hunter had at an In Your House in late `96 and one they had at No Mercy `99.

The Extras
The extras on this were like the matches - a mixed bag. A "match", Austin-Yokozuna is pointless, a bit about McMahon is fine, the Redneck Triatholon is what it is, but the Austin angle with Terry Funk is tremendous. That last bit gets a huge thumbs up.

The Rating: ***1/4

The Legacy of DEEP 2001

In 2001, an MMA promotion was born that would become famous for its use of numerous pro-wrestlers.  DEEP 2001 ran 12 shows between 2001 and 2003 before dropping the "2001" from their name, took on a new role as the farm league for Pride FC and undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the Japanese MMA scene.  They remain in operation to this day, although MMA in Japan has dwindled in popularity.

In these first 12 shows, they used former UWFi stars, BattlARTS regulars, independent pro-wrestlers, the roster of Kiyoshi Tamura's U-Style group and most famously a variety of luchadors.  Dos Caras Jr. (now known as "Alberto Del Rio") had 5 fights for them.  They ran MMA tag matches.  They offered excellent fights with smaller fighters that led Pride to create their "Bushido" brand.

DEEP 2001
Date of Event: 1/8/01
1. Hitoyo Kimura vs. Vanlentin Siouljine
2. Gia Chirragishvilli vs. Yoji Anjo
3. Ryuki Ueyama vs. Kousei Kubota
4. KENGO vs. Tachihikari
5. Jorge Patino vs. Daisuke Ishii
6. Marcelo Tigre vs. Katsuhisa Fujii
7. Paulo Filho vs. Kei Yamamiya - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
8. Ricardo Liborio vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - ** (Combo/Combo)
9. Royler Gracie vs. Takehiro Murahama - *3/4 (Combo/Combo)

DEEP 2001: Heatwave
Date of Event: 8/25/01
1. Kazuki Okubo vs. Kato Kung Lee - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
2. Kousei Kubota vs. Ryuki Ueyama (clipped)
3. Dos Caras Jr. vs. Kengo Watanabe - ** (Standing/Striking)
4. Akihiro Gono vs. Dustin Denes - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
5. Wataru Sakata vs. Adrian Serrano - ** (Ground/Combo)
6. Rogerio Nogueira vs. Katsuhisa Fujii - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
7. Sanae Kikuta vs. Pshemek Walach - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
8. Joao Roque vs. Takehiro Murahama - *** (Ground/Combo)
9. Paulo Filho vs. Yuki Kondo - *** (Ground/Combo)

DEEP 2001: 3rd Impact
Date of Event: 12/27/01
1. Shinya Sato vs. Wataru Miki (clipped)
2. Koji Oishi vs. Takaharu Murahama (clipped)
3. Ryo Chonan vs. Takaku Fuke (clipped)
4. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Kazuki Okubo - *** (Combo/Combo)
5. Ryuki Ueyama vs. LaVerne Clark - ** (Combo/Combo)
6. Wataru Sakata vs. Kousei Kubota - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
7. El Canek vs. Osamu Tachihikari - *** (Combo/Striking)
8. Somdert Loshizawa vs. Takumi Yano - *** (Combo/Combo)
9. Takehiro Murahama vs. Victor Rabanales - **1/2 (Ground/Hooking)

DEEP 2001: 4th Impact
Date of Event: 3/30/02
1. Azteca vs. Ryougaku Wada - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Highlights of Doi-Sasaki, Nagai-Kurahashi
2. Yasuhito Nawekawa vs. Daisuke Watanabe - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)
3. Gustavo Ximu vs. Yuki Sasaki (clipped)
4. Takehiro Murahama vs. Joao Roque - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
5. Memo Diaz vs. Hirotaka Yokoi (clipped)
6. Solar vs. Minoru Suzuki - ** (Standing/Striking)
7. Toro Irisson vs. Wataru Sakata - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
8. Kick Boxer vs. Yuki Kondo - *** (Ground/Combo)
9. Dos Caras Jr. vs. KENGO - **** (Standing/Striking)

DEEP 2001: 5th Impact
Date of Event: 6/9/02
1. Takaharu Murahama vs. Yuji Hoshino
2. Ryuki Ueyama vs. Seiki Ryo
3. Kousei Kubota vs. Yuji Hisamatsu
4. Eiji Ishikawa vs. Ryo Chonan
5. Takafumi Ito vs. Ikuto Hidaka - *** (Ground/Combo)
6. Ryuki Ueyama vs. Takaharu Murahama
7. Kousei Kubota vs. Eiji Ishikawa
8. Darren Uyenoyama vs. Lumber Somdert Yoshizawa
9. Max Miyazawa vs. Ryogaku Wada
10. Ryuki Ueyama vs. Eiji Ishikawa

DEEP 2001: 6th Impact
Date of Event: 9/7/02
1. Shoichi Ichinomiya vs. Kazuki Okubo - **1/4 (Combo/Combo)
2. Ryo Chonan vs. Katsumi Usuda - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
3. Yashihito Namekawa vs. Max Miyazawa - ***3/4
4. Ryan Bow vs. Joao Roque - *** (Ground/Combo)
5. Dos Caras Jr. vs. Tatsuo Nakano - ** (Combo/Hooking)
6. Takumi Yano vs. Fabio Mello
7. Ryuki Ueyama vs. Gilson Ferrera
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
9. Dokonjonesuke Mishima vs. Takafumi Ito - *** (Combo/Hooking)
10. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Kiyoshi Tamura - **** (Ground/Combo)

DEEP 2001: 7th Impact
Date of Event: 12/8/02
1. Manabu Hara vs. Kaze - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
2. Azteca vs. Shoichi Ichimiya - *** (Ground/Combo)
3. Tomoyuki Fukami vs. Koichi Watanuki - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
4. Hirohide Fujinuma vs. Dai Moriyama - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
5. Max Miyazawa vs. Hiroyuki Ito - *** (Combo/Striking)
6. Ryuki Ueyama/Kazuki Okubo vs. Kosei Kubota/Ichiro Kanai - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
7. Taisho vs. Tappayar Crosspoint Jim - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
8. Lumber Somdet Loshizawa vs. Takeyasu Hirono - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
9. Takeshi Yamazaki vs. Nalupon Tackhornthin - ** (Ground/Combo)
10. Yasuhito Namekawa vs. Yuki Ishikawa - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
11. Masanori Suda vs. Ryo Chonan - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

DEEP 2001: 8th Impact
Date of Event: 3/24/03
1. Tomomi Iwama vs. Masashi Kameda
2. Koji Takeuchi vs. Tashirou Nishiuchi
3. Hidetada Irie vs. Max Miyazawa
4. Osami Shibuya vs. Yasuhito Namekawa
5. Dokonjonosuke Mishima vs. Fabio Mello
6. Hayato Sakurai vs. Ryuki Ueyama

DEEP 2001: 9th Impact
Date of Event: 5/5/03
1. Ryu Echigo vs. Crafter M - *** (Ground/Combo)
2. Katsuo vs. Tomoyuki Fukami - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
3. Kengo Mashimo vs. Hirohide Fujinama - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
4. Eiji Ishikawa vs. Ryuta Sakurai - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)
5. Kazuki Okubo vs. Kato Kung Lee Jr. - *** (Combo/Striking)
6. Hikaru Sato vs. Electro Shock - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
7. Giant Ochiai vs. Bengadoll Bolikua (Memo Diaz)
8. Takumi Yano vs. Brazo de Plata - *** (Combo/Combo)
9. Hiroyuki Ito vs. Dos Caras Jr. - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

DEEP 2001: 10th Impact
Date of Event: 6/25/03
1. Crafter M vs. Shoichi Ichimiya
2. Tetsuya Onose vs. Kazuki Okubo
3. Hidetada Irie vs. Hirohide Fujinuma
4. Max Miyazawa vs. Yoshinori Oniki
5. Tomomi Iwama vs. Noboru Asahi
6. Hayato Sakurai vs. Dave Menne - **** (Ground/Combo)

DEEP 2001: 11th Impact
Date of Event: 7/15/03
1. Tomoyuki Fukami vs. Masashi Kameta - *** (Combo/Combo)
2. Hiroyuki Ito vs. Koji Okiyama - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
3. Seichi Ikemoto vs. Kyosuke Sasaki - *** (Combo/Combo)
4. Eiji Mitsuoka vs. Tibaru - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
5. Ryo Chonan vs. Yuji Hisamatsu - *** (Combo/Striking)
6. Anna Michele Dantez vs. Yuka Tsuji - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
7. Hayato Sakurai & Masanori Suda vs. Kiuma Kunioku & Hidetaka Monma - ***3/4 (Combo/Combo)
8. Dokonjonosuke Mishima vs. Masakazu Imanari - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

DEEP 2001: 12th Impact
Date of Event: 9/15/03
1. Hagane Samurai vs. Jun Ishii - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
2. Ryuta Sakurai vs. Hirohide Fujinuma - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
3. Yoshinori Momose vs. Max Miyazawa - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)
4. Dokonjonosuke Mishima vs. Tetsuji Kato - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
5. Dos Caras Jr. vs. Brad Kohler - ** (Ground/Striking)
6. Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato Sakurai - ***3/4 (Ground/Striking)
7. Masanori Suda vs. Ryuki Ueyama - *** (Ground/Combo)

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)

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.  Not since their initial card in 1997 had they neared the 50,000 attendance number, but they did several times in 2000 and had their biggest card of over 90,000 in the summer of 2002.  While they saw bigger business years in the next few years, Pride reached a level of mainstream success while still maintaining their distinct appeal and style during this era.

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 15 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 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 Grand Prix Tournament - Opening Round

Date of Event: 1/30/00

Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Ken Shamrock, Maurice Smith, Gary Goodridge

- Show Opening with Fighter Introductions

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Bob Schibjer - **1/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Shamrock announces deal with Pride

2. Gary Goodridge vs. Tachihikari - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

3. Akira Shoji vs. Ebenezer Fontes Braga - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Fujita interview

4. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Hans Nyman - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Guy Mezger - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Sakuraba-Mezger-Shamrock post-match

- Satake interview

- Drummer show

6. Mark Coleman vs. Maasaki Satake - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Alexander Otsuka - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Inoue interview

8. Mark Kerr vs. Enson Inoue - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Helio, Royce, Takada interviews

9. Royce Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada - *1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Royce Gracie interview

Pride Grand Prix Tournament - Finals

Date of Event: 5/1/00

Length: Tape 1, Tape 2 (2 hours)

Commentary: Stephen Quadros, Bas Rutten, Maurice Smith

- Show opening, Sakuraba interview

1. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie (Quarterfinals)

- Vovchanchyn and Goodridge interviews

2. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Gary Goodridge (Quarterfinals) - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Interview with Shoji and Coleman preparing

3. Mark Coleman vs. Akira Shoji (Quarterfinals) - *** (Ground/Striking)

- Fujita & Kerr interviews

4. Mark Kerr vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Quarterfinals) - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (Semifinals) - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Satake and Mezger interviews

6. Guy Mezger vs. Maasaki Satake - ** (Combo/Striking)

7. Mark Coleman vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Semifinals) - n/a

- Shamrock-Otsuka hype

8. Ken Shamrock vs. Alexander Otsuka - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Shamrock promo, Main Event hype

9. Mark Coleman vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (Finals) - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Coleman promo, closing ceremony with runner-ups

Pride 9 - New Blood

Date of Event: 6/4/00

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Pre-show analysis and opening

- Herring & Peeters interview

1. Heath Herring vs. Willie Peeters - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Telligman & Barreto interviews

2. Tra Telligman vs. Carlos Barreto - ** (Combo/Striking)

- White & Goes interviews

3. Vernon White vs. Allan Goes - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Sano & Newton interviews

4. Carlos Newton vs. Naoki Sano - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Shoji & Recken interviews

5. Akira Shoji vs. John Recken- **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Goodridge & Rodriguez interviews

6. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Gary Goodridge - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Matsui & Vovchanchyn interviews

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Daijiro Matsui - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Yvel & Belfort interviews

8. Vitor Belfort vs. Gilbert Yvel - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors

Date of Event: 8/27/00

Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Eddie Bravo

- Pre-show analysis and opening

1. Vitor Belfort vs. Daijiro Matsui - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Belfort promo

2. Vanderlei Silva vs. Guy Mezger - **** (Standing/Striking)

- Silva promo

3. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Giant Ochiai - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Ochiai/Rodriguez promos, Yvel/Goodridge warmups

4. Gilbert Yvel vs. Gary Goodridge - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Yvel promo

5. Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Kerr promo

6. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Enson Inoue - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Shamrock interview, prefight warmups

7. Ken Shamrock vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)

- Fujita promo, Ryan-Ishizawa warmups

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Tokimitsu Ishizawa - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Ryan promo, Renzo interview & preparation

9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 11 - Battle of the Rising Sun

Date of Event: 10/31/00

Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Eddie Bravo

- Fighter Introductions

1. Heath Herring vs. Tom Erickson - ***1/2 (Ground/Striking)

2. Vanderlei Silva vs. Gilbert Yvel

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

4. Alexander Otsuka vs. Mike Bourke - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Otsuka promo

5. Akira Shoji vs. Herman Renting - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

6. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Nobuhiko Takada - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

7. Maasaki Satake vs. Naoya Ogawa - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Shannon Ritch - **3/4 (Standing/Combo)

Pride 12 - Cold Fury

Date of Event: 12/23/00

Length: Tape 1 (2 hours) & Tape 2

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color:

- Quadros/Rutten Opening, X-Mas Pride Girls

- Mezger interview

1. Guy Mezger vs. Alexander Otsuka - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

2. Akira Shoji vs. Ricardo Almeida - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Inoue/Herring interviews

3. Heath Herring vs. Enson Inoue - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Newton interview

4. Carlos Newton vs. Johil de Oliveira - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

5. Vanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson - **** (Combo/Striking)

- Yvel interview

6. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Gilbert Yvel - *1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Rodriguez interview

7. Ricco Rodriguez vs. John Marsh - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Kerr interview

8. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Mark Kerr - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Gracie interview

9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Ryan Gracie - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

Pride 13 - Collision Course

Date of Event: 3/25/01

Length: Tape 1 (1 hour and 11 minutes) & Tape 2 (1 hour and 31 minutes)

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening Video

- Introduction of Rutten & Quadros

- Fighter Introductions

1. Vitor Belfort vs. Bobby Southworth - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Mezger/Inoue interviews

2. Guy Mezger vs. Eagan Inoue - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Herring interview

3. Heath Herring vs. Denis Sobolev - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Henderson/Gracie interview

4. Dan Henderson vs. Renzo Gracie - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Coleman/Goes interview

5. Mark Coleman vs. Allan Goes - *** (Combo/Striking)

6. Maasaki Satake vs. Tadao Yasuda - *3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Telligman interview/warm-ups

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Tra Telligman - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva - ***1/2 (Standup/Striking)

- Silva/Sakuraba interviews

- Post-match with Herring, Mezger, Telligman, Shamrock, Ortiz, Silva, Vovchanchyn, Coleman

- Closing highlights and comments

Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans

Date of Event: 5/27/01

Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Mark Coleman

- Introduction with Rutten & Quadros

- Show opening with giant sphere and fighter introductions

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Shungo Oyama - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

2. Johil de Oliviera vs. Antonio "Nino" Schembri - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Goodridge and Overeem interviews

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Valentijn Overeem - *** (Ground/Combo)

4. Daijiro Matsui vs. Jose "Pele" Landi - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Interviews with Mezger and Liddell

5. Guy Mezger vs. Chuck Liddell - ***3/4 (Standup/Striking)

6. Dan Henderson vs. Akira Shoji - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Interviews with Herring and Belfort

7. Heath Herring vs. Vitor Belfort - *1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Interview with Yvel

8. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Gilbert Yvel - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Fujita and Takayama preparing

9. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 15 - Raging Rumble

Date of Event: 7/29/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Mark Coleman

- Opening Video

- Introduction with Quadros & Rutten

- Pride Girls, Fighter Intros

1. Valentijn Overeem vs. Assurio Silva - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Ismail interview

2. Wallid Ismail vs. Shugo Oyama - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

3. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Maasaki Satake - **** (Combo/Striking)

- Herring/Kerr interviews

4. Mark Kerr vs. Heath Herring - ** (Ground/Striking)

5. Daijiro Matsui vs. Ebenezar Fontes Braga (JIP) - ** (Combo/Striking)

- Goodridge interview, Noguiera backstage

6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Gary Goodridge - *** (Combo/Combo)

- Jackson interview

7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Quinton Jackson - **** (Ground/Combo)

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Tokimitsu Ishizawa - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Interviews with Coleman, Jackson, Herring

Pride 16 - Beasts from the East

Date of Event: 9/24/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Moment of silence and Morishito (DSE)

- Card rundown

- Show opening with Nou Drummer and fighter introductions

- Goodridge interview

1. Gary Goodridge vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu - *** (Standup/Striking)

- Matt Hume on scoring fights

2. Assurio Silva vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - *** (Standup/Striking)

3. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Daijiro Matsui - ***3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Mezger & Arona interviews

4. Guy Mezger vs. Ricardo Arona - **1/4 (Combo/Striking)

5. Semmy Schilt vs. Akira Shoji - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Vanderlei Silva and Kazushi Sakuraba rematch promos

- Interviews with Frye and Yvel

6. Don Frye vs. Gilbert Yvel - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Coleman interview

7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Mark Coleman - ***3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

- Closing Interview with Frye

Pride 17 - Championship Chaos

Date of Event: 11/3/01

Length: 2 hours 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Royce Gracie

- Opening with Quadros & Rutten buying souveniors

- Show opening with flag presentation

- Fighter introduction

- Interview with Quinton Jackson

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Yuki Ishikawa - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

Henderson interview

2. Dan Henderson vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua - *** (Ground/Combo)

3. Semmy Schilt vs. Maasaki Satake - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Renzo Gracie interview

4. Renzo Gracie vs. Michiyoshi Ohara(clipped) - *1/2 (Standup/Striking)

- Vovchanchyn interview

5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Mario Sperry - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- First half of the card rundown

- Bas Rutten announces his comeback

- Last half hype

- Erickson interview

6. Tom Erickson vs. Matt Skelton - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

7. Heath Herring vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Heavyweight Championship) - **** (Combo/Combo)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva (Middleweight Championship) - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Sakuraba & Vanderlei interviews

Closing interview with Quadros, Rutten, Royce Gracie

Pride 18 - Cold Fury II

Date of Event: 12/23/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Matt Hume

- Opening Segment

- X-Mas Girls Opening, Fighter Introductions

- Jackson interview

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Daijiro Matsui - DUD

- Hume interview

2. Allan Goes vs. Alex Steibling - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

3. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Alex Andrade - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

4. Jan Nortje vs. Norihisa Yamamoto - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Valentijn Overeem - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)

6. Akira Shoji vs. Jeremy Horn - *** (Ground/Combo)

7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Alexander Otsuka - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

8. Semmy Schilt vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Closing Credits with highlights

- Rutten, Quadros, Pride Girls

Pride 19 - Bad Blood

Date of Event: 2/24/02

Length: 2 hours and 35 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening Segment

- Quadros & Bas with katana

- Erickson interview

1. Tom Erickson vs. Tim Catalfo - **1/2

- Ismail & Steibling interviews

2. Wallid Ismail vs. Alex Steibling - n/a

- Newton interview

3. Carlos Newton vs. Jose "Pele" Landi - ****3/4

- Newton post-match promo, Herring interview

4. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Heath Herring - ***1/2

- Noguiera interview

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Enson Inoue - ****1/4

6. Vanderlei Silva vs. Kiyoshi Tamura - **3/4

- Frye-Shamrock hype and interviews

7. Don Frye vs. Ken Shamrock - ***1/2

- Frye post-match promo

- Closing with Quadros, Rutten and Frye

Pride 20 - Armed & Ready

Date of Event: 4/28/02

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Bas Rutten MMA Workout Opening, Sapp interview

1. Bob Sapp vs. Norihisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

- Jackson interview

2. Quinton Jackson vs. Maasaki Satake - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

3. Antonio Rogerio Noguiera vs. Yasuke Imamura - **1/2 (Ground/Hooking)

- Henderson interview

4. Dan Henderson vs. Ricardo Arona - ***3/4 (Ground/Striking)

5. Mario Sperry vs. Murillo "Ninja" Rua - ****3/4 (Combo/Combo)

6. Sanae Kikuta vs. Alexander Otsuka (JIP)

- Silva & Crocop interviews

7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Mirko Crocop (Special Rules Fight) - **** (Standing/Striking)

- Sakuraba promo

Pride 21 - Demolition

Date of Event: 6/30/02

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten/Josh Barnett

- Opening Segement & Fire Show

- Sapp interview

1. Bob Sapp vs. Kiyoshi Tamura - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Goodridge interview

2. Gary Goodridge vs. Ahmed Labazanov - ** (Ground/Striking)

- Steibling interview

3. Alex Steibling vs. Anderson Silva - ** (Standing/Striking)

- Yvel interview

4. Gilbert Yvel vs. Jeremy Horn - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Gracie interview

5. Renzo Gracie vs. Shungo Oyama (JIP)

- Schilt interview

6. Semmy Schilt vs. Fedor Emelianenko - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Frye interview

7. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)

PRIDE - MMA The Best #2

Date of Event: 7/20/02

Length: 2 hours

- Introduction

1. Jukei vs. Joe Son - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

2. Daisuke Nakamura vs. Shannon Ritch - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)

3. Fatih Kocamis vs. Anglosaxon Oba - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

4. John Alessio vs. Eiji Mitsuoka - ** (Standing/Striking)

5. Giant Ochiai vs. Tomohiko Hashimoto - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

6. Alistair Overeem vs. Yusuke Imamura - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

7. Nino "Elvis" Schembri vs. Daijyu Takase - *** (Combo/Combo)

8. Sokun Koh vs. Bob Schrijber - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Closing

Pride - Dynamite/Shockwave

Date of Event: 8/25/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Commentary: Bill Goldberg

- Opening with announcers, torch & drumming ceremony with fighter intros

- Silva interview

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Takasuya Isawa - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Veneetian interview

2. Daijiro Matsui vs. Jereel Veneetian (JIP)

- Goldberg, Erickson, Coleman, Goodridge backstage; Goodridge & Van Dams interviews

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Lloyd Van Dams - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Hoost & Schilt interview

4. Ernesto Hoost vs. Semmy Schilt (K-1 Rules)

- Goldberg & Frye backstage, Frye interview"

5. Jerome Le Banner vs. Don Frye (K-1 Rules)

- Helio Gracie presentation, Goldberg promo, para-Inoki promo, Goldberg & Sapp backstage

- Noguiera & Sapp interviews

6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Bob Sapp - ****1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Gracies interview

7. Royce Gracie vs. Hideko Yoshida - *3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Mirko "Crocop" Filopovic - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 22 - Beasts from the East II

Date of Event: 9/29/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Quadros & Rutten intro, fighter Introductions

- Randleman interview

1. Kevin Randleman vs. Michiyoshi Ohara (clipped)

- Mezger interview

2. Guy Mezger vs. Naohisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

3. Anderson Silva vs. Alexander Otsuka - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

4. Paulo Filho vs. Akira Shoji - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

5. Heath Herring vs. Kotchkine Ioure - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Sperry interview

6. Mario Sperry vs. Andrei Kopylov - ** (Ground/Combo)

- Jackson and Vovchanchyn interviews

7. Quinton Jackson vs. Igor Vovchanchyn - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Gracie interview

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Shungo Oyama - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Randleman-Rutten closing skit

Pride 23 - Championship Chaos II

Date of Event: 11/24/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Quadros & Rutten intro, fighter Introductions

- Hirotaka Yokoi vs. Jereel Veneetian (JIP)

1. Kevin Randleman vs. Kennichi Yamamoto - **3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

- Rua/Arona interviews

2. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Ricardo Arona - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

3. Heath Herring vs. Fedor Emelianenko - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Noguiera interview

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Semmy Schilt - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Silva interview

5. Vanderlei Silva vs. Hiromichi Kanehara - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Frye interview

6. Don Frye vs. Hideko Yoshida - *** (Ground/Combo)

7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Gilles Arsene - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

Pride 24 - Cold Fury III

Date of Event: 12/23/02

Length: 2 hours and minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening with Dou Drummer

- Mezger interview

1. Guy Mezger vs. Rogerio Noguiera - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Waterman interview

2. Ron Waterman vs. Valentijn Overeem - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Gracie interview

3. Rogerio Gracie vs. Yuki Sasaki - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Pride action figures

4. Alistair Overeem vs. Volk Ataev - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Randleman & Rua interview

5. Kevin Randleman vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua - *** (Ground/Striking)

- Noguiera interview

6. Antonio Nogueria vs. Dan Henderson - ****1/2 (Combo/Combo)