What seperates Pride Fighters from UFC Fighters? - JP Fitness Forums

Chris D · 08-30-2006, 11:02 AM

I meant to post this up awhile ago, but with some recent comments in the Fox News thread that Kuri started it got me thinking again. What is it that seperates the Pride Fighters from the UFC fighters? I think most everyone here agrees that most of the Pride Fighters would clean shop on the UFC fighters. So what seperates them?

Kuri was talking about how dedicated the Japanese are to their sport or chosen hobby. That applies to the Japanese, but what about the Russians and the Brazilians? Or are the Americans just...well lazy? Or is it that Pride pays their fighters what they should be paid and Pride has the cream of the crop (in other words if Dana finally removed head from sphincter and paid the fighters like they should, would the UFC have the best fighters and Pride would play second fiddle?)

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

Irishdazza · 08-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Open auditions...at least in the early days, everybody in UFC was hand picked to support their agenda and then to help promote it.

I get the impression Pride is only interested in quality fighters, image seems less important.

kuri · 08-30-2006, 11:57 AM

There are plenty of top American fighters in Pride too such as Josh Barnett, Henderson etc... so it's not only a matter of nationality but $$$.

Pride & K-1 on average pay much more than the UFC so the best guys go where the money is. If you haven't been to Japan you won't realize just how big combat sports there are. Theres quite a few stores just in Tokyo that sell just MMA clothes, videos, action figures etc... It's not uncommon to see young women wearing a Sakuraba shirt, and even most older people know who Bob Sapp is. Results are on the front pages of the big sports papers the next day and even some of my 60 yr old ex-coworkers were familiar with the top fighters.

Each year Pride and K-1 have their biggest shows live on network TV, and last year Pride was the highest rated show on Japanese TV on the biggest night. That's like the UFC drawing more viewers than the Superbowl.

And it's not only Pride and K-1. I went to a UFO (united fighting organisation, which is now defunct) event at the Tokyo Dome a few years ago, which is like selling out Yankee stadium. The place is hyuuge.

The UFC is starting to pay a few of it's top guys decent money so hopefully that starts to attract a better talent level.

Chris D · 08-30-2006, 01:14 PM

Thanks for the response Kuri. I hadn't thought of the Americans, mainly because I don't know who they are (other than Hendo and Barnett).

Another question...is their training all that much different?

And here's one I've pondered. How would Hughes fair in Pride?

kuri · 08-30-2006, 02:27 PM

Is who's training different?

Guys from the same camps fight in all different promotions so no, training differences exist mainly between schools/camps.

Hughes would do well no matter where he fights, but keep in mind Pride doesn't have a 170 division. They break it down at 160 and 182. If he fought in Pride's welter division Filho and Kang, not to mention Henderson would be real tough matchups. Personally I think Hughe's lack of great striking would be be his downfall in a ring.

dos · 08-30-2006, 06:24 PM

I remember barnett saying that he earned more $ in one fight with Pride than his entire career in the UFC....and this is coming from a former HW champ.

Chris D · 08-31-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuri

Is who's training different?

Guys from the same camps fight in all different promotions so no, training differences exist mainly between schools/camps.

Hughes would do well no matter where he fights, but keep in mind Pride doesn't have a 170 division. They break it down at 160 and 182. If he fought in Pride's welter division Filho and Kang, not to mention Henderson would be real tough matchups. Personally I think Hughe's lack of great striking would be be his downfall in a ring.

Do the pride fighters train differently? That's what I meant.

Do you think that Hughes could learn to strike better?

I looked at the salaries for the UFC Fight Night and I was quite surprised to see how "high" some of them were. I wouldn't say that they are a whole lot better, but better than in the past I believe.

diamondpete · 08-31-2006, 08:34 PM

Just to back up what Kuri said, it is a matter of Money. So the better fighters come here. (and some of the not so better fighters) Even Akebono gave it a try and he got $1 million (approx) for one fight on New years eve. He had his ass handed to him but...

I have a Bob Sapp alarm clock- he is making serious coin- he is very popular because he seems like a genuinely nice and humble man. If you leave PRIDE for money, the only way to go is pro wrestling (the shoot fighter did that- forget his name- Shane- Shannon or something like that- I am not really a big Pride fan, jusiced up became huge, made some easy big money)

dos · 09-01-2006, 12:21 PM

Bob Sapp is a marketing goldmine in Japan.....his endoresements alone is in the multi-millions per year$!

kuri · 09-01-2006, 02:23 PM

Yoshida makes more than a million per fight in Pride, and he's not even a contender. Ogawa has made about the same and he's a total can, but of course he's an Olympic hero and big time pro-wrestler in Japan.

I get the impression that Sapp isn't as ubiquitous this year though. He's in some legal trouble with K-1 and hasn't fought either.

Pete, is he still on TV all the time?

CC dad · 09-02-2006, 03:17 PM

I have always thought that the ring used in Pride leads itself to better fighting than the octagon used in UFC. In the UFC there is a lot of leaning on the fence pushing and leaning on one another where as in Pride that cant be done against the ropes. Therefore I think that the fighters are forced to stand and fight and must be better at take downs because they have to do them without the fence to lean on. Thats just my opinion but what do Yall think?

Waittz · 09-03-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC dad

I have always thought that the ring used in Pride leads itself to better fighting than the octagon used in UFC. In the UFC there is a lot of leaning on the fence pushing and leaning on one another where as in Pride that cant be done against the ropes. Therefore I think that the fighters are forced to stand and fight and must be better at take downs because they have to do them without the fence to lean on. Thats just my opinion but what do Yall think?

was just thinking about this the other day. I completely agree. It seems that the cage forces so many clinches and just stops the action.