Pride To Take Over The UFC?

Tinker Bell · 08-09-2006, 07:34 PM

Just got done reading a very interesting article from MMA Weekly. Here it is;

Pride DSE president Sakakibara is gunning for the UFC in a big way according to Tokyo Sports newspaper in Japan. Sakakibara’s goal is to bring his show and fighters to America and takeover the UFC. This takeover plan involves his aim to take all the UFC belts and a supershow or an MMA superbowl of sorts.

The first part of this takeover plan that was disclosed to Tokyo Sports is to happen in November at UFC 65 when Wanderlei Silva fights the UFC’s Chuck Liddell. And as Pres. Sakakibara puts it his fighters will “devour” all the UFC athletes.

On July 8th Sakakibara and Wanderlei Silva attended UFC 61 and the Pride president was impressed with the MMA fervor. But, he said that he wasn’t going to stand idly by as the sport grows in America. He is going to put on a MMA superbowl next summer with plans to hold it in a football stadium. He said that whichever stadium they use it will have a capacity of over 60,000, and if they seat fans on the field it will be over 100,000. Sakakibara is confident with the MMA zeal in America that the stadium will be packed to capacity and that it will even surpass the attendance of the 2002 Dynamite show that was jointly promoted by Pride and K-1.

Not only does Sakakibara plan on using a stadium to host his supershow but he mentioned the possibility of using a ring and a cage in the same event. Using the ring for round one, the cage for round two, and the ring for round three. Or vice versa. That way the Pride or UFC fighters can’t have an excuse about what they fought in.

But Sakakibara realizes that “ it will be a fierce battle between the promoters.” And, he even expects that the UFC may storm the Pride show in Las Vegas on October 21st. But, his plan is to take all of the UFC belts, as Sakakibara said,” not just Silva alone, but Fedor, Yoshida, Fujita, and Gomi. I’m going to send these guys into the octagon to devour them first.” Starting this Fall, Sakakibara said Pride will start sending fighters to take the UFC titles, and then deliver the finishing blow at the MMA superbowl. Sakakibara stated, “If we take the titles, the UFC will have nowhere to run.”

Here is the link to the site; http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...=2470&zoneid=2

Looks like we are going to be seeing some big matches with Pride and the UFC within a acouple of months. This good either be really good or bad for the UFC as well as Pride.

stillstanding · 08-09-2006, 07:54 PM

Wow....... I dont think that Pride can devour UFC with fighters. HW....yeah, LHW......maybe. Welter.....no way, MW.......most likely not....

I dont like the idea of switching from ring to cage, ring to cage, I really dont care for the ring to much.

I see some bitter competition in the future.

PINOYPRIDE · 08-09-2006, 07:56 PM

I don't think, they will take all the belts from UFC.

I would say the Heavyweight belt is a for sure win for Pride but the other belts I am skeptical that Pride will take them.

I guess we will see if Liddell will retain the belt against Babalu. If Liddell does retain it I don't think Silva will win the LHW belt from Liddell with UFC rules, but if it is Pride Rules then Silva have a good chance on winning it.

The Middleweight, I would like to see Dan Henderson go against Franklin, that would be a good match, imo. But I think Franklin will win this one, but Henderson is also good.

As for the WW, Pride doesn't have any belts or 170 lbs weight division right?

LW, is coming back to the UFC but I think Pride has a good chance on taking this belt from the UFC.

PINOYPRIDE · 08-09-2006, 07:58 PM

Also, I think the Pride President didn't think if UFC takes all there belt then what would they do??

TaddT189 · 08-09-2006, 08:18 PM

I'd hate to say this but I am now going for Liddell when he faces that evil possum Vanderlay (yes, I know. But this is America)

I'll put Hughes or Franklin in their against Henderson. And didn't Gomi just lose his belt, I think Sherk, Guillard, Stevenson have a decent shot against him.

I believe that the UFC's crop of fighters are better with the exception of HW. We crust them if they let AA and Tim fight Fedor at the same time.

TaddT189 · 08-09-2006, 08:23 PM

I also believe that Tito and Babalu could beat any of the top Pride 205's.

AikaImmortal · 08-09-2006, 08:31 PM

TITO beating Prides top 205 pounders???? I'm sorry man, but Shogun Rua, Kazuhiro Nakamura.. they would beat respective fighers.

OneBigThrow · 08-09-2006, 08:35 PM

i thinking this guy is just as pompous as Dana White, just more experienced

so this should be interesting, in the end it will be the better for us the fans, and hopefully sanctioning and OF COURSE the sport of MMA

Quote:

We crust them if they let AA and Tim fight Fedor at the same time.

hahah

O, and WHATEVER they do...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HAVE JAPANESE RING ANNOUNCERS FOR EVERY FIGHT THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN HEARING

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaato..ORTAAAAAAAAAAAAZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

silversteins dope · 08-09-2006, 09:05 PM

Quote:
We crust them if they let AA and Tim fight Fedor at the same time.
Hahaha
i think thats insane theres gonna be alot of good fights coming up im excited lol i think hughes and rich and liddel are solid in there champ spot but if i was sylvia i would be scared lol fedors a machine he will take the hw title

chucksmasher · 08-09-2006, 09:06 PM

Plain and simple, this would be the best case senerio for the mma world. Also kick Dana to the curb and get Lorenzo out. Wow what a dream come true.

MICHAELSON79 · 08-09-2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

TITO beating Prides top 205 pounders???? I'm sorry man, but Shogun Rua, Kazuhiro Nakamura.. they would beat respective fighers.

Babalu beat shogun so dont act like he will walk through the ufc.

Harms · 08-09-2006, 10:07 PM

I really think that the Silva/Liddell fight is a test by Dana. If Liddell wins, I'm sure that he would be more open to having more super champion fights. If Chuck loses, I doubt he would let Rich or Tim fight the Pride champs.

08-09-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stillstanding

Wow....... I dont think that Pride can devour UFC with fighters. HW....yeah, LHW......maybe. Welter.....no way, MW.......most likely not....

I dont like the idea of switching from ring to cage, ring to cage, I really dont care for the ring to much.

I see some bitter competition in the future.

About welterweight, pride will take that champion belt as well in my opinion. Yes hughes,GSP, and Penn are talented fighters, i think DAN HENDERSON who fights in welterwight and middleweight can either take the middle weight title or thewelterweight. Some fighters like Rogerio Nog and Shogun Rua would move to middle weight.

Here is how i wouldlike to see, but these matchups probably wont heppen.

HW-fedor vs sylvia
LHW-Silva vs liddell
MW-shogun vs franklin
WW-henderson vs. hughes
LW-Gomi vs winner of UFC title bout ====Probably shean Sherki truly bleive pride can winall of them

asskicker · 08-09-2006, 10:31 PM

I think Chuck will beat Wanderlei. Franklin will beat Henderson. Ufc will have BJ go down and take the lightweight belt and the proceed to beat Gomi. And if the matchups went as you said Hughes and St. Pierre have good shots at Henderson and Rich can beat Shogun granted they will be tough fights all around but i think UFC comes out with more belts while Pride still has more quality fighters.

Bomber · 08-09-2006, 10:39 PM

Other than HW, I think the top guys from each organization match up pretty well. If Pride beats the UFC, it's in the depth of the fighters below the top rank. No one can predict what would happen in these fights between the top one or two guys in each division. But man would I love to see it. ;~)

Beefutz · 08-09-2006, 10:40 PM

well I think they have the card for their super bowl....

sylvia-fedor
liddell-silva
franklin-shogun
hughes-henderson
penn-gomi

Now I don't usually buy the ppv's but I would pay 100 ez for this card.

now somebody wake me out of dreamland and back to the reality of 1-2 decent fights per card.

Profane · 08-09-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beefutz

well I think they have the card for their super bowl....

sylvia-fedor
liddell-silva
franklin-shogun
hughes-henderson
penn-gomi

Now I don't usually buy the ppv's but I would pay 100 ez for this card.

now somebody wake me out of dreamland and back to the reality of 1-2 decent fights per card.

i would pay my entire check to see this card. and i agree with what some people said. i think the HW would go to Pride after that its pretty much a toss up.

08-09-2006, 11:38 PM

Seeing an MMA Pride vs UFC is a dream come true

lwbfl · 08-10-2006, 01:07 AM

I think this is a joint effort to increase interest and make us spend more money. It's working well too!!!

Malf · 08-10-2006, 01:23 AM

Ah Pride and UFC are gonna butt heads, and the fans reap the rewards!

I think that Pride can lock up the HW division with any of their top 3 fighters. On the flip side, I think UFC could do the same in the WW division. I also think that Rich Franklin is the best 185 pound fighter in the world, and can take any of Pride's fighters at that weight.

Chuck vs Wanderlei.... who knows? I'm just hoping that leather will be flying, putting the crowd on it's feet, and giving UFC and Pride no choice, but to keep the crossover fights coming!