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K-1 should grab them up and further build more weight classes in HEROs.

I hope someone else just ends up grabbing up the remaining fighters from Pride and running a show in Japan. The fans there deserve it.

I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

We may have spoken too soon.

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On Wednesday, Nikkan Sports published a report that on August 18th, the first ’shinsei’ PRIDE event would happen at Saitama Super Arena. Obviously, it sounded like the kind of rumor that would be started by someone who used to be affiliated with DSE or is trying to get involved on the ground in Japan to try to revive the PRIDE name there. That’s just how business works in Japan.

Japanese writer Motoichiro Takasu contacted Hiroyuki Kato, who was an important director of PRIDE events in Japan under DSE Inc. leadership. (Kato was described as a representative for PFWW in Takasu’s post.)

Kato flat out denied that there are any plans for a PRIDE Worldwide FC event in Japan right at this moment. However, it was hinted that something might happen at Saitama Super Arena for August 18th and that ‘PRIDE’ fighters will participate in whatever takes place.

Will there even be a show? Saitama Super Arena is listed as having an open date during that time period.

Takasu speculates that the old management of PRIDE is going to break into two parts.

What does this mean in the grand scheme of things for the Japanese MMA landscape? An all-out turf war. Most of the fighters who worked in PRIDE know that their options with UFC are slim and none — and slim just walked out of the barn. Because of Zuffa’s current situation, patience is running out fast in Japan and results are quickly wanted.

We may see one form of PRIDE or another in Japan, but it’s not what you might expect it to be. This may be a turf battle that UFC has zero control over. It probably would serve them well to ignore the Japanese marketplace and not get involved in this mess. Why? Because you never know who is your friend and who is your enemy in that scene…

So if their top fighters dont wanna fight, there wont be an event? Will they pull in new fighters in that case? Is this event definately taking place no matter what???

TOKYO – Nikkan Sports is reporting the first PRIDE event under Zuffa LLC management will take place Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. According to the report, PRIDE representatives reserved the arena June 19. Judo and MMA star Hidehiko Yoshida is expected to participate in the event, the report indicated.

The first PRIDE event under Zuffa control was originally scheduled for July 16 at the Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan. However, Zuffa LLC head Lorenzo Fertitta indicated his desire to hold the event closer to Tokyo. “I would really like to hold our first event in the Tokyo area,” Fertitta said. The July 16 reservation at Rainbow Hall was cancelled soon after.

The Aug. 18 event will be held at PRIDE’s old home, 25 miles from Tokyo. According to the report, many of the top PRIDE fighters remain under contract. Their participation is being sought.

Representatives from Zuffa LLC have not verified the report.

MMANEWS.COM | Zuffa To Run PRIDE Show In Japan On August 18th?

Sorry heres a better link

Report: PRIDE not dead, scheduled to return August 18th
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Japanese sports newspaper Nikkan Sports is reporting that the entity formerly know as PRIDE FC will debut under Zuffa control on August 18th at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Yesterday UFCmania revealed that UFC President Dana White was considering dissolving the PRIDE organization. In the wake of all the recent signings of PRIDE fighters, this news didn’t come as much of a surprise.

This new report however, though not confirmed by the UFC, will undoubtedly keep PRIDE fans feeling optimistic about the future.

While I’ve always been a proponent of separate entities, I wonder how much star power the PRIDE name has left when so much of its talent has already set sail for the sands of Nevada.

One of the names mentioned for the August “All-Stars” event is Hidehiko Yoshida. No question he’s a competent and recognizable grappler, but he turns 38 in September and is coming off two tough losses.

Not exactly the kind of fighter you want to build an organization around.

Then again there’s a certain Russian cyborg who’s been floating in limbo for quite some time.

http://www.fightforum.com/188802-post21.html

Please do not try and make troll attempts. This is likely the information he was using, which is PURELY SPECULATIVE.

Does he mean the first Pride event since UFC purchased?

It was probably a troll thread.

dude there is nothing there...

I'm not a member of that forum, so can't access the page. Can you paste the info here?

8.18 New Pride - Sherdog Mixed Martial Arts Forums

yay, UFC in a ring debuts August 18th