PRIDE rewind: Marking the anniversary of the final DSE event
by Jesse Holland on Apr 8, 2009 1:39 PM EDT
47 comments
Today, April 8, marks the two-year anniversary of PRIDE 34, the last event ever held by Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE) under the PRIDE FC banner. In recognition of its unfortunate demise, we present a quick look back at the purchase and eventual dissolution of PRIDE FC, as presented by Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White.
"We have been talking to Pride for probably about 11 months. It’s been a long, drawn out process but we finally we were able to put the two brands together. This is really going to change the face of MMA. Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer. I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL. We will be able to literally put on the fights that everyone wants to see. It will allow us to put on some of the biggest fights ever."
"PRIDE is still going to be a Japanese organization. PRIDE is going to be run the way PRIDE was. I’m, obviously, ramping up the American side of it, and I am going to do what I do in America. I run everything."
"I’ve pulled everything out of the trick box that I can and I can’t get a TV deal over there with PRIDE. I don’t think they want us there. I don’t think they me want me there…. PRIDE is a very powerful brand and we want to keep it alive, but I’ll tell you what, the brand is very tainted, not only over there, but over here. The problem is PRIDE was never a big company in the United States and I’m not going to drop another $44 million to try and straighten it out. (The Japanese) don’t want another (mixed martial arts) organization over there. That company was in trouble. We went in and bought it out with every intention of keeping PRIDE alive. (Japan) is a very tricky place to do business."
PRIDE may be gone, but (some) of its spirit lives on in the DREAM and Sengoku promotions -- however long they last.
After all, "Japan is a very tricky place to do business."
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Thats kinda what I would expect if I bought a company that lost is tv deal because of ties to the mob!
by lokie on Apr 8, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As Hitler once said… “I miss Pride FC”
by Danza Macabra on Apr 8, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just got off the phone with a sales rep from wachovia center. Lexery box for 12, somewhere between 3-5k. So high end we’re talking 400 each. Includes a food package worth 900 (which can be booze) and we can add seats if needed. Low end we’re talking cheaper than we were going to spend! He’s emailing me info and will be calling me a week before tickets go on sale! If interested, email me kevjack115@yahoo.com so I can get a definite number of guys! thanks mania!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
by the way, the rep said we can hang our “company banner” if we want…how about a huge mmamania.com banner??? free advertisement mania!!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE need 12 people. We got 4 that I know are DEFINITLY Coming! 8 slots left! who’s in?
by john on Apr 8, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FOCK I miss PRIDE! Damn you Mania, I was having a good day and you bring Pride up! FOCKER! lol
by john on Apr 8, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dont know any of you guys but if I wasnt out of work because im having surgery on may 5th but I would definantly go if not. I hope there is another trip like this someday sounds like a good time
by lokie on Apr 8, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
too bad bro, disability pays well (at least in CA)
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn…that’s a tempting offer. I’ll have to think about it. I’d love to be there in person to rub it in john’s face when Florian wins the belt…LOL.
by Buster Bluth on Apr 8, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Danza- That video was hilarious.
by naturalshadow on Apr 8, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It can never and will never be as big as soccer (football in europe).. everybody needs to watch Champions League, it starts in an hour great matches tonight!
by RoB on Apr 8, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks Rob, I’m still tired fro work and need a nap, now I know what to put on. I’m being half serious. I know soccer is huge everywhere except the U.S. but when the world cup was on last, I was really having trouble with my new schedule, I literally would put it on and fall asleep every day…it was a life save!
.
Pride was awesome, thank go for dream. The only thing I wonder is how many fighters were on steroids and how many fights were works over there! With Cro Cop, Rua’s, Henderson as well as wand not looking too good in the states it would be crazy not to wonder! When organized crime is the prevalent, there are always possibilities of tampering etc.
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah no one in the ufc would take steroids, and there is no organized crime in vegas.
by shogun on Apr 8, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
of course they would, but it’s tested for in the states (except HGH) and the organized crime in the states compared to Japan (where they run the country) is totally not even close!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
organized crime runs japan? do you live there?please tell us your sources for that statement.
by shogun on Apr 8, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
come on bro, I do my research and share, you don’t have google? google yakuza and read an article or two. No they don’t run the country, but to put on events, shows etc it’s a hassle. they have their hand in everything and want a piece of everything!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
champions league is awesome some of the best soccer in the world..i take it RoB ur from uk?
by ruan-fiy on Apr 8, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soccer is a poor mans sport, thats the only reason its so big.
Its incredible boring.
by Lester the Pimp on Apr 8, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how’s it a poor mans sport it make billions in revenue? Their alot of players that are on £90,000 plus a week, thats more pay than any fighter on the ufc roster.
by ruan-fiy on Apr 8, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea, and they’re getting paid every week of every month, UFC and MMA fighters are only paid after they fight, which can be 2 or 3 times a year..
by RoB on Apr 8, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BREAKING NEWS
Tim Silvia has called out Ron Van Clief (sp?)
by McArthur on Apr 8, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I heard that too! Its the Affliction 4 main event!
by JV on Apr 8, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s official… April 8th 2010… on the anniversary of the last pride event and on the anniversary of kurt cobains death…
FEDOR vs. Courtney Love
by Danza Macabra on Apr 8, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn straight RoB ;)
Ikke dum for å være en svenske du, hehe….
Too bad in football there can’t be a double KO as in MMA. Would be great seeing both Liverpool AND Chelsea get KO out of the competition tonight.
WAR UNITED!
Errr… back to the MMA talk you guys, hehe
by Raul on Apr 8, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha, ja vet =) man vill ju se dom svinga mot varandra ibland.. however, Henry came in with a pretty nasty challenge against Bayern’s goalie..
WAR Porto!
by RoB on Apr 8, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
can’t wait for all the Pride nuthuggers to jump in and blame this on Dana as well
by Dave on Apr 8, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
some one just died.
lol queue kevin with the rude comments!
by shogun on Apr 8, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
man shogun, you’ve been on my nuts for a few weeks, what’s up man? I apologized for offending anyone, lets stick to comments and opinion, you usually have great ones, when you’re not coming at me for no apparent reason!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol, both of you kow what I mean…or you live in a hole??
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey man i dont want to get on the wrong side of u, i dont want to be acused of being on ur nuts lol
by ruan-fiy on Apr 8, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it does not matter if it’s boxing or mma or any big time fight producers, crooked $$$ is what makes the world go round..how else could someone like the ear biting tyson get 10 million for 10 seconds of fighting..well that was not the fight that lasted 10 seconds but you know what i mean..
by sarah on Apr 8, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really do miss PRIDE FC, consistently great events. The rumours of widespread steroid use have never been proven, but I’m sure a few of them did roid, but not all of them. I miss PRIDE FC, I have a lot of the PRIDE events on DVD, but their main lacking (much like UFC dvd’s) is the lack of entrances and in some cases, the pageantry of the event, its just fight, tale of the tape, fight, just not the same as watching them live. The fights are still great, but it feels like a mix-tape instead of an album.
At least there are DREAM and Sengoku to fill the void left by PRIDE, and in DREAM’s case, has begun to have that aura of PRIDE around it, the production of DREAM events is fairly good. DREAM has been putting on some fairly exciting events of late, including the tournaments, which is something I’ve missed since PRIDE’s demise. Its too bad the UFC hasn’t held a tournament since what, UFC 17?
by Belisarius on Apr 8, 2009 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
good post, i am sure as mant people in the ufc use roids as did in pride.
by shogun on Apr 8, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how? it’s tested for. HGH maybe, but thats a different animal! there were no tests in pride hence coleman, baroni, wand all being big and ripped. look at the size difference in SOME of these guys, not to mention stamina (recovery time). Worked fights have been documented over in pride too, a fighter getting a bonus to lose (which affects the betting). I’m not saying UFC isn’t susceptible to this, but it’s more regulated by the governing bodies over here!
by kevin on Apr 8, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
these guys are pros at cycling off, they get caught sometimes and of course hgh but there is plenty of fighters in the ufc on roids.i am sure there have been fixed fights in the past with the ufc, i dout lately though.
by shogun on Apr 8, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
great post kevin! I agree, the aggression those guys had in Pride is something we never see from them anymore.. they were high on drugs and full of illegal substances
by RoB on Apr 8, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they have plenty of time to cheat in america too when they’re off from fighing for a while.. a guy like Maurice Greene was all roided up but he was never caught in his career if i’m correct..
by RoB on Apr 8, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where’s the comment from dana where he said they bought PRIDE so they could kill it? Dana is a buttsmacking creamcake!!
by CYCOMYKO on Apr 8, 2009 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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