Comments on: Celebrating the Two-Year Anniversary of the Death of PRIDE: Ten Reasons Why I Miss PRIDE http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/ Your Destination for Insider MMA News and Opinion Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:47:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: MMA-LOGIC http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69422 MMA-LOGIC Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:27:11 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69422 IFC, Dream, Pride, K1Heroes, M1global, Affliction, Pancrase, Sengoku (or whatever), Rings, Shooto, use or used rings, so I think rings win for now. Real MMA fights that have stomps and knees on the ground happen in rings Levi. Don't be so North American. IFC, Dream, Pride, K1Heroes, M1global, Affliction, Pancrase, Sengoku (or whatever), Rings, Shooto, use or used rings, so I think rings win for now. Real MMA fights that have stomps and knees on the ground happen in rings Levi. Don’t be so North American.

]]> By: TheLevi75 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69409 TheLevi75 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:15:31 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69409 to all the replies that cofuse my statement of CAGE over Ring. I meant all CAGE fights not just the ones in the Octagon.Strikeforce uses a Cage,as well as KOTC & CageRage and a few other small Orgs like MFC here in Canada. real MMA bouts take place in CAGE not a Ring. to all the replies that cofuse my statement of CAGE over Ring.
I meant all CAGE fights not just the ones in the Octagon.Strikeforce uses a Cage,as well as KOTC & CageRage and a few other small Orgs like MFC here in Canada.
real MMA bouts take place in CAGE not a Ring.

]]> By: VENOM http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69408 VENOM Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:36:24 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69408 I died a little inside the day that Pride folded! NOTHING the UFC does will ever bring back that euphoric excitement I felt before a Pride event. So Sad! :-( I died a little inside the day that Pride folded! NOTHING the UFC does will ever bring back that euphoric excitement I felt before a Pride event. So Sad! :-(

]]> By: MMA-LOGIC http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69391 MMA-LOGIC Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:47:21 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69391 If Pride and the UFC were in a MMA fight who would win?. It always amazes me how often the thread turns into a slanging match between the two orgs as soon as the word PRIDE is mentioned. People say but look at how poorly Crocop and Pride fighters did etc and the UFC's fighters were better etc. Nogueira Rampage and Anderson were all pride fighters and were all UFC champs. No LW fighters came from pride really, otherwise I would say that BJ would have some more stiff comp. As for ring vs cage...how about half ring half cage lol. I just wonder would people like Randy, Tito and other wrestlers that rely on the cage be anything more than average fighters out of the cage?...and so is the cage really showing us who is the better fighter or just the person who can use the cage to stop his opponent from fighting back by making it easier to take opponents down and pin them?. For me the best thing would be a massive space that had no barrier, just man vs man with no assistance from any outside source like a cage, so I think that the ring is closer to that idea. Also somebody said fighters would try to make there way to the ropes to get a restart? when and how often cuz I have seen all of Prides fights and that was not often an issue if ever, because they would start in the middle of the ring in the same position. Also I think the rules in pride were more man vs man with knees on the ground etc it was more difficult to abuse rules to protect yourself.. If Pride and the UFC were in a MMA fight who would win?. It always amazes me how often the thread turns into a slanging match between the two orgs as soon as the word PRIDE is mentioned. People say but look at how poorly Crocop and Pride fighters did etc and the UFC’s fighters were better etc. Nogueira Rampage and Anderson were all pride fighters and were all UFC champs. No LW fighters came from pride really, otherwise I would say that BJ would have some more stiff comp. As for ring vs cage…how about half ring half cage lol. I just wonder would people like Randy, Tito and other wrestlers that rely on the cage be anything more than average fighters out of the cage?…and so is the cage really showing us who is the better fighter or just the person who can use the cage to stop his opponent from fighting back by making it easier to take opponents down and pin them?. For me the best thing would be a massive space that had no barrier, just man vs man with no assistance from any outside source like a cage, so I think that the ring is closer to that idea. Also somebody said fighters would try to make there way to the ropes to get a restart? when and how often cuz I have seen all of Prides fights and that was not often an issue if ever, because they would start in the middle of the ring in the same position. Also I think the rules in pride were more man vs man with knees on the ground etc it was more difficult to abuse rules to protect yourself..

]]> By: jasonah http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69267 jasonah Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:49:06 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69267 I started out watching the U.F.C . And started checking out the web, and heard about Pride FC.And started watching clips on youtube.And I was like holy@#$% this guy,Wanderlie Silva Would Murder Chuck Liddell. This was when he was kicking the shit out of Everybody.It was Wanderlie against the Japanese and Every body else. Fedor was kicking Everyones ass.The elimination tournements.The fighters .The shows.I considerd the U.F.C to be a B level orginization.When Dana took Chuck to Japan to fight In the G.P. I honestly think that if he would have been able to get through Rampage,He would have lost to Wanderlie.I've been around long enough to know that The Wanderlie we see today is not the guy we used to see in Pride. The most feared M.M.A fighter in the world.Something Changed in him after he got K.Oed With that head kick from Cro Cop. Enough about that. Iwould like to see the U.F.C put on a show like the Japanese did when they put on pride.For crying out loud they own the whole thing.If they made U.F.C .100 staged under a pride format This would go down as off the hook. Advertise on cable T.V Pepole would buy this shit and not care about the fight's.But we can DREAM right........... I started out watching the U.F.C . And started checking out the web, and heard about Pride FC.And started watching clips on youtube.And I was like holy@#$% this guy,Wanderlie Silva Would Murder Chuck Liddell. This was when he was kicking the shit out of Everybody.It was Wanderlie against the Japanese and Every body else. Fedor was kicking Everyones ass.The elimination tournements.The fighters .The shows.I considerd the U.F.C to be a B level orginization.When Dana took Chuck to Japan to fight In the G.P. I honestly think that if he would have been able to get through Rampage,He would have lost to Wanderlie.I’ve been around long enough to know that The Wanderlie we see today is not the guy we used to see in Pride. The most feared M.M.A fighter in the world.Something Changed in him after he got K.Oed With that head kick from Cro Cop. Enough about that. Iwould like to see the U.F.C put on a show like the Japanese did when they put on pride.For crying out loud they own the whole thing.If they made U.F.C .100 staged under a pride format This would go down as off the hook. Advertise on cable T.V Pepole would buy this shit and not care about the fight’s.But we can DREAM right………..

]]> By: s00nertp http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69260 s00nertp Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:10:58 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69260 I too miss Pride. It is easy for UFC fanboys to look back and critisize, but Pride is where MMA was started and designed for this generation. While the UFC was figuring itself out, Pride created incredible shows that I'd wait weeks to see on DVDs. I'd curse the Japanese horrible marketing ability... they never catered to the US and it was almost impossible to get anything recent on DVD. I loved the soccer kicks, the yellow cards, the standing up fighters if there is no action, the tiered tournament style events, and the silly crazy unpredictable fights. I appreciate UFC for what it does now for the sport, but I also miss the beauty of a Pride show. I too miss Pride. It is easy for UFC fanboys to look back and critisize, but Pride is
where MMA was started and designed for this generation. While the UFC was figuring itself out, Pride created incredible shows that I’d wait weeks to see on DVDs. I’d curse the Japanese horrible marketing ability… they never catered to the US and it was almost impossible to get anything recent on DVD.

I loved the soccer kicks, the yellow cards, the standing up fighters if there is no action, the tiered tournament style events, and the silly crazy unpredictable fights.

I appreciate UFC for what it does now for the sport, but I also miss the beauty of a Pride show.

]]> By: platypus http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69258 platypus Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:08:14 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69258 Thanks, I recently downloaded a huge 101 gigs torrent of pride and started watching all the events in order. I didnt care if the fighters use some kind of enhancer. I didnt care if the matchups were not remotely fair. I didnt care for all the show and the flair of some fighters' entrances. In the end, I cared about the most entertaining fights, and pride had some of the most truly entertaining fights. Pride also had fedor. Thanks, I recently downloaded a huge 101 gigs torrent of pride and started watching all the events in order.

I didnt care if the fighters use some kind of enhancer.
I didnt care if the matchups were not remotely fair.
I didnt care for all the show and the flair of some fighters’ entrances.

In the end, I cared about the most entertaining fights, and pride had some of the most truly entertaining fights.

Pride also had fedor.

]]> By: Davey D http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69252 Davey D Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:30:55 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69252 Double Post here, but for the record. I like to see MMA contested inside a Cage better than inside of a Ring. The game is just played out a whole lot better in all area's inside of a Cage. The whole restarting of position's, getting limb's caught in the ropes, fighter's falling outside the ring is just something that doesn't need to be. It just comes with the territory. I'll watch it either way but if I had to choose - the Octagon get's my vote. I wonder what the fighter's who have competed in both have to say? Double Post here, but for the record. I like to see MMA contested inside a Cage better than inside of a Ring. The game is just played out a whole lot better in all area’s inside of a Cage. The whole restarting of position’s, getting limb’s caught in the ropes, fighter’s falling outside the ring is just something that doesn’t need to be. It just comes with the territory.

I’ll watch it either way but if I had to choose – the Octagon get’s my vote. I wonder what the fighter’s who have competed in both have to say?

]]> By: Davey D http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69251 Davey D Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:20:54 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69251 For me, Final Conflict 2004 was one of the best MMA events I have ever seen. The Sergei Kharitonov/Minotauro Nogueira fight was absolutely outstanding. Fedor destroyed Ogawa in less than one minute after the roof was blown off by Ogawa's entrance. Cro-Cop knocked out Aleks and Wanderlei lost his first fight in Pride to Mark Hunt which, IMO, Wand should've gotten the win. The only bad part was the last match which was Nog vs. Fedor 2. Emelianenko suffered a cut on his forehead and was deemed unable to continue. You could hear Mark Coleman screaming, "Use fu#kin' super-glue, use fu%kin' super-glue!!!" The thing about Pride FC is that it made me realize just how huge MMA is. Anytime, 80,000 or even 40,000 fans pack a stadium. You know your watching something special. I would look at the UFC back then and think gosh, imagine what it would be like if they got this big? They could rule the world (in MMA, of course). Look at it now. The crowd was quite because everyone was watching and not doing unnessasary booing (Chicago) or just plain ol' heckling. I hate that stuff. The Japanese fans really appreciated what they were watching. I wish I could've attended an event in (the City of) Japan. : ) Bas Rutten, Quadros, Mauro, Rampage - anything combination of those guy's were just fantastic. Your had the comedy, the telling of stories behind the sences, or even the regular commentary. How many times did we get, Oh My GOD!!! Kevin Randleman's suplex of Fedor - Man! - that whole moment was amazing. Fedor, the Nogueira brother's, Quinton, Wanderlei, Cro Cop, Shogun, Gomi, Aleks, Sakuraba, Hellboy, Anderson, Chonan, Hendo, the list really does go on. I found out all about these fighter's through Pride FC. The grand entrance's that kicked off every Event were truly a sight to see. How about seeing Christ the Redeemer blown up high above the crowd at Samita Super Arena as Lenne Hardt screamed, "From Braaazzilllaa - Anttooniioo Rodrigooo Minotaurooo Nogueiraaaaaa!!!! Sadly, we may never see anything like it again. Oh and the poster's were the awesome too. At the end of the day, if you watched Pride FC when it was in business there is no way you didn't like one aspect of it. Be it just for the fight's, the fighter's, Bas Rutten's many, many laughable moment's, the show as whole, whatever. It made me an even bigger fan of MMA than I already was. Before I forget, for those who don't know. Brazilian Top Team vs. Chute Boxe was truly like Michigan vs. Ohio State, Yankees vs. Red Sox. It was a BIG deal whenever their fighter's crossed paths. Pick up a copy of A Fighters Heart by Sam Sheridan. He describes their rivalry perfectly and also follows Big Nog' before (and after) his thrid bout with Fedor, you've got to read it. Cheers!!! For me, Final Conflict 2004 was one of the best MMA events I have ever seen. The Sergei Kharitonov/Minotauro Nogueira fight was absolutely outstanding. Fedor destroyed Ogawa in less than one minute after the roof was blown off by Ogawa’s entrance. Cro-Cop knocked out Aleks and Wanderlei lost his first fight in Pride to Mark Hunt which, IMO, Wand should’ve gotten the win. The only bad part was the last match which was Nog vs. Fedor 2. Emelianenko suffered a cut on his forehead and was deemed unable to continue. You could hear Mark Coleman screaming, “Use fu#kin’ super-glue, use fu%kin’ super-glue!!!”

The thing about Pride FC is that it made me realize just how huge MMA is. Anytime, 80,000 or even 40,000 fans pack a stadium. You know your watching something special. I would look at the UFC back then and think gosh, imagine what it would be like if they got this big? They could rule the world (in MMA, of course). Look at it now.

The crowd was quite because everyone was watching and not doing unnessasary booing (Chicago) or just plain ol’ heckling. I hate that stuff. The Japanese fans really appreciated what they were watching. I wish I could’ve attended an event in (the City of) Japan. : )

Bas Rutten, Quadros, Mauro, Rampage – anything combination of those guy’s were just fantastic. Your had the comedy, the telling of stories behind the sences, or even the regular commentary. How many times did we get, Oh My GOD!!! Kevin Randleman’s suplex of Fedor – Man! – that whole moment was amazing.

Fedor, the Nogueira brother’s, Quinton, Wanderlei, Cro Cop, Shogun, Gomi, Aleks, Sakuraba, Hellboy, Anderson, Chonan, Hendo, the list really does go on. I found out all about these fighter’s through Pride FC. The grand entrance’s that kicked off every Event were truly a sight to see. How about seeing Christ the Redeemer blown up high above the crowd at Samita Super Arena as Lenne Hardt screamed, “From Braaazzilllaa – Anttooniioo Rodrigooo Minotaurooo Nogueiraaaaaa!!!! Sadly, we may never see anything like it again. Oh and the poster’s were the awesome too.

At the end of the day, if you watched Pride FC when it was in business there is no way you didn’t like one aspect of it. Be it just for the fight’s, the fighter’s, Bas Rutten’s many, many laughable moment’s, the show as whole, whatever. It made me an even bigger fan of MMA than I already was.

Before I forget, for those who don’t know. Brazilian Top Team vs. Chute Boxe was truly like Michigan vs. Ohio State, Yankees vs. Red Sox. It was a BIG deal whenever their fighter’s crossed paths. Pick up a copy of A Fighters Heart by Sam Sheridan. He describes their rivalry perfectly and also follows Big Nog’ before (and after) his thrid bout with Fedor, you’ve got to read it.

Cheers!!!

]]> By: JoeyKK http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69250 JoeyKK Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:02:43 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69250 Pride fights were better than UFC fights...FACT Pride fights were better than UFC fights…FACT

]]> By: Angry Mike http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69246 Angry Mike Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:55:57 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69246 I HATE the ring due to the increased stand-ups and re-starts. The cage significantly reduces them. The cage has its drawbacks, but imo it forces the fighters to keep fighting once they're down. No cheap time outs because a fighter manages to wriggle over and into the ropes. I HATE the ring due to the increased stand-ups and re-starts. The cage significantly reduces them. The cage has its drawbacks, but imo it forces the fighters to keep fighting once they’re down. No cheap time outs because a fighter manages to wriggle over and into the ropes.

]]> By: frozendave http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69235 frozendave Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:45:20 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69235 i love this aritcal. If you had ever been to a pride show you would understand. The antmosphere was amazing. The ufc its kinda the same. But the fans were differant. I will always love pride. I wish they would have sold to someone else thats all. i love this aritcal. If you had ever been to a pride show you would understand. The antmosphere was amazing. The ufc its kinda the same. But the fans were differant. I will always love pride.
I wish they would have sold to someone else thats all.

]]> By: mu_shin http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69227 mu_shin Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:07:06 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69227 Absolutely agree with Grappo's comments on the cage versus the ring. Tactics developed in the octagon using the fence to trap an opponent have become integral to modern MMA. The fence can help an escaping fighter stand, or keep the fight going as opposed to constant stoppages when the fighters slip beneath the ropes. Aside from the technical aspects inherent in the action within the cage, I think the octagon adds to the aesthetic atmosphere of the contest, distinguishing MMA from boxing and scripted pro wrestling. While Affliction still uses the ring, and has hosted some good matches, I think the octagon has become synonymous with MMA in most fan's minds The element of Pride fights that I think I miss the most is the ten minute first round. It created some difficulty in terms of fair and accurate judging, but I always felt the challenge to a fighter's conditioning and the extended opportunity to take the fight out of the judges' hands created some of the most memorable Pride contests. I also concur with the earlier comments about the kicking techniques that have been excluded from the MMA repertoire since the Pride days. The one situation that has caused a couple of controversial moments in recent fights is the inadvertent knee from a standing fighter to an opponent on his knees, which should definitely be a legal shot. Jamie Varner versus Donald Cerrone comes to mind. I was also a fan of the soccer kick, but realize that may be a bit extreme, especially when you have 265 pound heavyweights coming into the ring at 275 plus on fight night trying to stomp one another's brains out. Absolutely agree with Grappo’s comments on the cage versus the ring. Tactics developed in the octagon using the fence to trap an opponent have become integral to modern MMA. The fence can help an escaping fighter stand, or keep the fight going as opposed to constant stoppages when the fighters slip beneath the ropes.

Aside from the technical aspects inherent in the action within the cage, I think the octagon adds to the aesthetic atmosphere of the contest, distinguishing MMA from boxing and scripted pro wrestling. While Affliction still uses the ring, and has hosted some good matches, I think the octagon has become synonymous with MMA in most fan’s minds

The element of Pride fights that I think I miss the most is the ten minute first round. It created some difficulty in terms of fair and accurate judging, but I always felt the challenge to a fighter’s conditioning and the extended opportunity to take the fight out of the judges’ hands created some of the most memorable Pride contests.

I also concur with the earlier comments about the kicking techniques that have been excluded from the MMA repertoire since the Pride days. The one situation that has caused a couple of controversial moments in recent fights is the inadvertent knee from a standing fighter to an opponent on his knees, which should definitely be a legal shot. Jamie Varner versus Donald Cerrone comes to mind. I was also a fan of the soccer kick, but realize that may be a bit extreme, especially when you have 265 pound heavyweights coming into the ring at 275 plus on fight night trying to stomp one another’s brains out.

]]> By: leo005 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69222 leo005 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:41:54 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69222 loved the yellow card! no better way to get action into a boring fight or stop fighters from stalling than to have 10% of your purse taken away. loved the yellow card! no better way to get action into a boring fight or stop fighters from stalling than to have 10% of your purse taken away.

]]> By: Grappo http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69220 Grappo Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:59:01 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69220 The ring is completely impractical. The action having to repeatedly be stopped so the fighters can get re-situated away from the ropes, the constant fumbling by the staff to push and shake the guys off the ropes... other than the ref and cornermen, there should be no one else touching the fighters during a fight. It's just distracting and unnecessary. The ring is conducive to stand-up sports like boxing and kickboxing, but MMA, not so much. The cage is the proper arena for these athletes. The ring is completely impractical. The action having to repeatedly be stopped so the fighters can get re-situated away from the ropes, the constant fumbling by the staff to push and shake the guys off the ropes… other than the ref and cornermen, there should be no one else touching the fighters during a fight. It’s just distracting and unnecessary. The ring is conducive to stand-up sports like boxing and kickboxing, but MMA, not so much. The cage is the proper arena for these athletes.

]]> By: hindsightufuk http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69219 hindsightufuk Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:48:44 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69219 no the Japanese didnt care about steroids, and the match ups were freakish, but fuck me it was entertaining. and tho you had to sit thru some truly tedious inactive fights, and some none to subtle 'works', you did get to see some of the greatest fights & fighters in mma history. Agree strongly with the Pride marketing/posters - i was lucky enough to collect a bunch back then and they still look fucking awesome Shockwave 2002 is still to me the greatest mma event yet, it was crazy! Bas & the prof i gotta agree on too, still my favourite combination couple of other things i miss the awesome dvd releases - the little bas rutten movies at the beging of the early prides, the great interviews Rampage - his guest commentarys were hilarious, as were his interviews (especially the fuck wanderlei one) & the stare downs (swatting the refs hand away as he pats his box). i remember him commentating on the fedor fujita fight and they kept watching the fujita punch that almost floored fedor over and over cos they found it so funny. just letting him loose to say what he wanted was genius marketing. all the guest commentators - renzo, sperry, baroni, dana - wicked knees and stomps - watching curran benavidez at WEC 40 just BEGGING benavidez to jump over currans guard and smash a foot through his face. the word liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvverrrrrrrrrr the ring - who said real fights happen in the cage?? the cage is one of the reasons mma still isnt regarded as a proper sport, cos some dumb fucks think it looks better in a novelty cage. fuck that, legalise it everywhere and ban the cage. lets make it MMA, not cage fighting, leave that to the fat bearded fucks who wanna bang it out for 90 seconds. let the proper athletes fight in a proper arena no the Japanese didnt care about steroids, and the match ups were freakish, but fuck me it was entertaining. and tho you had to sit thru some truly tedious inactive fights, and some none to subtle ‘works’, you did get to see some of the greatest fights & fighters in mma history.

Agree strongly with the Pride marketing/posters – i was lucky enough to collect a bunch back then and they still look fucking awesome
Shockwave 2002 is still to me the greatest mma event yet, it was crazy!
Bas & the prof i gotta agree on too, still my favourite combination

couple of other things i miss

the awesome dvd releases – the little bas rutten movies at the beging of the early prides, the great interviews
Rampage – his guest commentarys were hilarious, as were his interviews (especially the fuck wanderlei one) & the stare downs (swatting the refs hand away as he pats his box). i remember him commentating on the fedor fujita fight and they kept watching the fujita punch that almost floored fedor over and over cos they found it so funny. just letting him loose to say what he wanted was genius marketing.
all the guest commentators – renzo, sperry, baroni, dana – wicked
knees and stomps – watching curran benavidez at WEC 40 just BEGGING benavidez to jump over currans guard and smash a foot through his face.
the word liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvverrrrrrrrrr
the ring – who said real fights happen in the cage?? the cage is one of the reasons mma still isnt regarded as a proper sport, cos some dumb fucks think it looks better in a novelty cage. fuck that, legalise it everywhere and ban the cage. lets make it MMA, not cage fighting, leave that to the fat bearded fucks who wanna bang it out for 90 seconds. let the proper athletes fight in a proper arena

]]> By: freedom http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69218 freedom Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:47:39 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69218 Grappo: Totally agree on the commentating team Bas and Quadros sucked. I cant stand Bas commentating in DREAM either. And I dont know what I can say about Mauro Renallo that would fully describe how I feel abt him. I hate his fake radio voice. Grappo: Totally agree on the commentating team Bas and Quadros sucked. I cant stand Bas commentating in DREAM either. And I dont know what I can say about Mauro Renallo that would fully describe how I feel abt him. I hate his fake radio voice.

]]> By: freedom http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69217 freedom Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:44:44 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69217 Brandon: Knees to head allowed under unified rules too. For me all the paegentry was BS. Hated all the entrances, characters, intros... Fights were good but again they never tested for steroids. Brandon: Knees to head allowed under unified rules too.

For me all the paegentry was BS. Hated all the entrances, characters, intros… Fights were good but again they never tested for steroids.

]]> By: Austin http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69216 Austin Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:02:49 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69216 We're not going to mention the rampant steroid use? That's how Chute box became so dominant... DISCUSS! Japanese don't care about roids. We’re not going to mention the rampant steroid use? That’s how Chute box became so dominant… DISCUSS!
Japanese don’t care about roids.

]]> By: Brandon http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/04/08/celebrating-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-death-of-pride-ten-reasons-why-i-miss-pride/comment-page-1/#comment-69214 Brandon Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:35:31 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=13550#comment-69214 I miss Pride so much! I think what I miss the most was the presentation of the full event. From the great intro, to the fighter entrances and to the larger then life characters that filled the show. I also liked how they would mix matches that featured top fighters to fights that didn't mean anything to rankings but would instead be action packed and great for the fans. Knees to the head were also very nice. Oh well RIP Pride... I miss Pride so much!

I think what I miss the most was the presentation of the full event. From the great intro, to the fighter entrances and to the larger then life characters that filled the show.

I also liked how they would mix matches that featured top fighters to fights that didn’t mean anything to rankings but would instead be action packed and great for the fans.

Knees to the head were also very nice.

Oh well RIP Pride…

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