END OF PRIDE

[SalTheButcher]

it seemed last week that as the fighters were realizing pride was no more they were looking to elite xc, but now it seems thet K1 is ready to make a move and offer the big names alot of money

i just hope they continue to work with elite xc, i was so happy when i had seen that elite xc signed ninja and then sokodouju


but now it seems that sokodouju has agreed to a deal with K1, as has gomi


so thats 2 of 4 champions that are now essentially gone, and it seems the UFC wont be able to get thier hands on them


hopefully henderson takes the UFC LHW belt and then decides to leave the UFC while he is the UFC LHW champ and the pride MW and WW champ



sadly it seems that aoki gomi wont happen, which is bullshit

[Nate17]

Frankly I don't care where they fight as long as most of the prominent fighters fight in the same org. Call UFC the Wal-Mart of MMA orgs but at least they are getting some of the fights the fans have always wanted to see.

While I don't like seeing PRIDE go down, what I don't like seeing 10 different organizations that have a few good fighters in each one. The last thing we want for MMA is to develop the problems boxing is seeing.

[SalTheButcher]

Frankly I don't care where they fight as long as most of the prominent fighters fight in the same org. Call UFC the Wal-Mart of MMA orgs but at least they are getting some of the fights the fans have always wanted to see.

While I don't like seeing PRIDE go down, what I don't like seeing 10 different organizations that have a few good fighters in each one. The last thing we want for MMA is to develop the problems boxing is seeing.

well thats why i was hoping elite xc signed all the big names, it seems theyll have a chance to gey everyone but the japanese guys who wanna stay in japan



however there is an advantage ion the guys going ANYWHERE but UFC, as elite xc has started doing almost exclusively non-exclusive shows, it would seem that if aoki ended up in elite xc (even tho hed probably go to K1, as i think he still has to fight for shooto and stay in japan) it would be no question that K1 would be willing to do a unified show, all we have to wait for is elite xc to start doing shows out of the US, once that happens we will see fights the UFC could NEVER have

[VictorCharlie]

Sal I think you have let an unhealthy bias skew you view of what is best overall for MMA...I know you loved Pride and dislike (I know thats putting it mildly) UFC, but you are taking a smart business decision by Zuffa as a personal attack...The truth is if Pride had done a better job of regulating their business practices we wouldn't be having this conversation...My understanding is that Zuffa planned on keeping Pride going but once their lawyers started looking at the financial situation it was a disaster...I was rather indifferent to Pride...I did enjoy the cards which were usually stacked, but as far as show production, rules and the cage I don't really care one way or the other...All I want is a singular strong Org with the the best fighters in the world making the best fights and UFC like it or not is the best chance for that...Dana needs to continue to expand internationally....I mentioned earlier doing a 16 fighter LHW and LW tournament over a 12 month period...First round in Rio, Second round in Moscow, third round in Tokyo and do the finals in Vegas...This would give the UFC alot of much needed international exposure as well as give the Pride fans a semblance of the old org