PRIDE: Final Conflict Absolute

Despite its recent struggles, the fighting sport looks to expand its reach

Brazilian Wanderlei Silva (right) and Kazuyuki Fujita of Japan go toe-to-toe Photo: Masaaki Kato

If the people at PRIDE ever needed to live up to their name, then now is the time. In June, Fuji TV abruptly dropped the sport from its roster, apparently in reaction to an article in the Shukan Gendai that implied “dirty money” was behind PRIDE. (The sports group is reportedly suing Shukan Gendai for its involvement in airing such accusations.) Do we care about all this? Er, no. Whatever the reasons behind Fuji TV’s decision, you can be sure that the “dirty money” allegations are a smokescreen, although why they would want to dump one of the most popular sports events in the country is a mystery. Perhaps Fuji TV should investigate other companies it does business with; I’m sure it would turn up very interesting results.

The fight game has always attracted “colorful” characters. Watching these people at the bouts is sometimes more entertaining than the events themselves. In truth, the controversy couldn’t have happened at a worse time for PRIDE, as the sport has been expanding both at home and abroad. PRIDE has assembled a fine stable of fighters, its exposure in the media (particularly on Fuji and SkyPerfect TV) was increasingly positive, and recent events have been thrilling. The upcoming Final Conflict Absolute at Saitama Super Arena on September 10 should be an “absolute” screamer, and that will be followed by PRIDE’s first tournament in the United States in October. Fuji may well find it has shot itself in the foot if the sport takes off in America (SkyPerfect TV is still on board, at present). Meanwhile, the people behind PRIDE are confident that it will find a way back onto terrestrial TV.

“We are planning to sort out the broadcasting for PRIDE fights and we believe PRIDE will be back on regular TV in the future,” a spokesperson told Metropolis. “We are looking to hold tournaments in countries such as Brazil, South Korea, Russia and the rest of Europe.”
One American who has no doubt about PRIDE’s competitiveness and ability to expand into the US market is Josh Barnett, who, for a brief moment, became the youngest ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) champion. Barnett, at 28 one of PRIDE’s rising stars, told Pridefc.com that the sport had a great chance of impressing American fans: “To do that, you just need to get the fans that normally watch the UFC to come to the PRIDE event once. That’s all. If you do that, I think they will realize that PRIDE’s show is more amazing, there is more energy and that there is more excitement in the venue. The people I know that have been to both events all say the same thing. PRIDE was better. Everyone says that the UFC doesn’t even compare.”

Barnett may be biased—he was stripped of his UFC title after failing a drug test, a decision he disputed—but in Japan, PRIDE has been giving K-1 a run for its money. Although K-1 is still the leader in the media (it’s usually shown during prime time, whereas PRIDE’s broadcasts on Fuji TV were generally at a later hour), PRIDE has inched its way forward and gained a lot of respect for its fights and fighters. And there have been some awesome bouts, involving the likes of Barnett, Mirko CroCop, Kazuyuki Fujita, Fedor and Aleksander Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and HidehikoYoshida. In the semifinals of the Open-Weight Category on September 10, CroCop will be facing Silva, while Barnett will be tackling Nogueira.

Saitama Super Arena, Sep 10. See sports listings for details.

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