Post by Head Booker on Dec 8, 2006 22:11:27 GMT -6
There's been a ton of speculation on the future of the PRIDE Fighting Championship, but not many people speaking on the record, which has led to a few solid reports and an avalanche of ill-informed speculation. Here's what we know for sure:
Since getting cancelled from the Fuji TV network over the summer, PRIDE has been unable to line up another Japanese network TV deal.
PRIDE hasn't been able to line up a one-night television deal for the group's New Year's Eve show in Saitama. For the uninitiated, New Year's Eve MMA in Japan can roughly be described as the sports' Super Bowl, and it is no accident that UFC 66 featuring Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz is happening on the same weekend. PRIDE could air the show on pay-per-view in Japan, but PPV is not as entrenched in Japanese culture as it is in the States.
With the trouble on the home front, PRIDE is looking to expand it's worldwide presence, planning more cards in the United States (the next scheduled Las Vegas show is on Feb. 24) and expansion into Brazil.
PRIDE discontinued the Bushido lighter-weight tournament series after the latest installment drew a poor paid attendance.
Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko defends his title against Mark Hunt on Dec. 31 in the last fight of his contract. Emelianenko has reportedly signed a one-fight deal with Calvin Ayre's Bodog Fight group, the group spending millions to put a reality show on a station few cable systems run. Bodog throws money around like there's no tomorrow and there's no doubt Fedor could make a gigantic payday for his rumored March fight with Jeff Monson.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, the 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix champion, is also down the last fight of his contract and has told Croatia media he is pondering an offer from the UFC. Filipovic also intimated he might not show up for the Dec. 31 PRIDE show, but that's a regular threat on his part.
This week's Wrestling Observer reported that PRIDE's parent company, Dream Stage Entertainment, is actively looking to sell the company. Among potential suitors approached were the UFC and Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment (which could potentially be terrible for the sport of MMA on many levels).
That's what is known for now: Dream Stage considering selling while still trying to line up other viable business options, and fighters who have been loyal to PRIDE for years are entertaining offers elsewhere. Anything further than that at this point would be baseless speculation on my part. Stay tuned.
credit Foxsports.com
Since getting cancelled from the Fuji TV network over the summer, PRIDE has been unable to line up another Japanese network TV deal.
PRIDE hasn't been able to line up a one-night television deal for the group's New Year's Eve show in Saitama. For the uninitiated, New Year's Eve MMA in Japan can roughly be described as the sports' Super Bowl, and it is no accident that UFC 66 featuring Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz is happening on the same weekend. PRIDE could air the show on pay-per-view in Japan, but PPV is not as entrenched in Japanese culture as it is in the States.
With the trouble on the home front, PRIDE is looking to expand it's worldwide presence, planning more cards in the United States (the next scheduled Las Vegas show is on Feb. 24) and expansion into Brazil.
PRIDE discontinued the Bushido lighter-weight tournament series after the latest installment drew a poor paid attendance.
Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko defends his title against Mark Hunt on Dec. 31 in the last fight of his contract. Emelianenko has reportedly signed a one-fight deal with Calvin Ayre's Bodog Fight group, the group spending millions to put a reality show on a station few cable systems run. Bodog throws money around like there's no tomorrow and there's no doubt Fedor could make a gigantic payday for his rumored March fight with Jeff Monson.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, the 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix champion, is also down the last fight of his contract and has told Croatia media he is pondering an offer from the UFC. Filipovic also intimated he might not show up for the Dec. 31 PRIDE show, but that's a regular threat on his part.
This week's Wrestling Observer reported that PRIDE's parent company, Dream Stage Entertainment, is actively looking to sell the company. Among potential suitors approached were the UFC and Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment (which could potentially be terrible for the sport of MMA on many levels).
That's what is known for now: Dream Stage considering selling while still trying to line up other viable business options, and fighters who have been loyal to PRIDE for years are entertaining offers elsewhere. Anything further than that at this point would be baseless speculation on my part. Stay tuned.
credit Foxsports.com
