News from MMA... I wish strongman and powerlifting would follow suit!!

[Mac Smith]

by Sherdog.com Staff

PRIDE CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara informed staff inside the Japanese promoter's Los Angeles office Wednesday that he was stepping down as part of an agreement to sell the company to Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who own the UFC.

According to a report by Dave Meltzer at wrestlingobserver.com, Sakakibara suggested only minor points separate the deal, which Sherdog.com first rumored on Monday, from reaching its conclusion. No contract has been signed, the report said.

While Sakakibara appears to be leaving a company he's been a part of since its inception in 1997, the man who stepped in as PRIDE CEO after Naoto Morishita committed suicide told his staff that the company would remain intact and autonomous from the UFC, but that hurdles no longer remain between UFC versus PRIDE cards, Meltzer reported.
__________________


Multiple feds prevents marquee matchups and the absolute world champion. I admire the Fertittas for being the first to do this is fighting sports. I wish boxing would follow suit. I especially wish strongman and powerlifting would follow suit as well.

Discuss!!!

[DaneGarreau]

I hope it will be good for MMA. I for one can't wait for the mega matchups such as Wand/ Chuck; Shogun/ Chuck; Fedor/Crocop; Gomi/ Sherk, Henderson/Silva;, etc.

Hopefully it will workout good. I just hope the UFC can get some of the ground rules of pride to pass in the US.

[Billy Wolt]

i could see it happening for strongman, but not PL. too much debate about gear.

[MarkSikora]

Right now aren't there rule differences between Pride and UFC that prevents Pride from competing in the US?? I thought that's what made those Pride fights more brutal. Less restrictions on when/where you can throw blows/knees/kicks etc.

Other than that, Hell yeah. Bring the best to the US.

Oh yeah, as far as strongman: Let everyone compete when/whereever they want. Easier said than done. Shoot who wouldn't want to see EVERYONE compete in a WSM "style" contest one month and the other (what is is SuperSeries or ???) "style" a couple of months later???

see ya

Mark

[Josh Kamins]

Well its NSAC rules, not UFC rules, so if the fights are in Japan vs USA then that will dictate rules. I think they will keep Pride and UFC separate despite the same owners, too much brand loyalty in Japan to switch it. Then they can have cross promotional fights occasionally...

[Mac Smith]

Right now aren't there rule differences between Pride and UFC that prevents Pride from competing in the US?? I thought that's what made those Pride fights more brutal. Less restrictions on when/where you can throw blows/knees/kicks etc.

Other than that, Hell yeah. Bring the best to the US.

Oh yeah, as far as strongman: Let everyone compete when/whereever they want. Easier said than done. Shoot who wouldn't want to see EVERYONE compete in a WSM "style" contest one month and the other (what is is SuperSeries or ???) "style" a couple of months later???

see ya

Mark


Yeah, Mark, Pride allows knees and soccer kicks to opponents when they are down. They also allow stomps. These aren't allowed in the UFC. Pride's heavyweight class is also an unlimited class where as the UFC has a 265lb weight limit. I'm sure there will be some sort of compromise. Either way, I think this will only progress the sport further. At first I was skeptical about MMA ever surpassing boxing, but now with this news, I'm a little less skeptical.

I realize in strongman, this is simply a dream. But I think it's the only way to further the sport in the right direction. In MMA, I think it is a simple matter of business. In strongman, it's all about ego, IMO.

I would love to hear Jesse's brothers comments on this. Jesse holla at your brother, for us!!!

[D.J. Satterfield]

Good find Mac, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[Scott Kaiser]

Fedor will destroy all heavys in the UFC can't wait the man is a machine. BTW Fedor/Crocop have already met Fedor won by decision. Crocop hit his left high kick square and fedor just shook it off the proceded to pound crocop :mag:

[Adam Keep]

Fedor will destroy all heavys in the UFC can't wait the man is a machine. BTW Fedor/Crocop have already met Fedor won by decision. Crocop hit his left high kick square and fedor just shook it off the proceded to pound crocop :mag:

I saw that fight and it was awesome! Fedor will finally have the opportunity to crank on the dudes in the UFC. I am sad to hear that Pride will be the UFC soon though. I love the way Pride is set up and their production of the fights is great. The DVDs are even better. You don't have to sit through 10 min. of commercials and warnings just to get to the fighting.

[Jared Enderton]

I think it's a good idea... That'd be sweet if all the strongman feds joined too.. but like everyone else said that'll pry never happen.

[Jeff Bach]

One organization would be cool in strongman. Get to see the best of both groups consistantly competing against each other.

Money stops it. Neither organization seems to have the money or the leadership to bring all the best together.

I wouldn't say never though. Just takes a person like a Weider like him or not.

I am not familar with the fighting orgs but it sounds like they have some leadership.

[Tony Christopher]

Honestly,

The style of MMA fighting I like the best is that found in Chuck Norris' World Combat League (WCL).

OK, I realize that anything affiliated with Chuck Norris is going to be kinda cheesy ... and this is certainly no exception. However, I LOVE the:

1) Single 3 minute round format.
2) The fact that the competitors can't go to the ground.
3) The fact that competitors can't clinch.
4) The fact that competitors are penalized for passivity (not fighting).
5) The fact that you must follow up a leg strike / sweep with an attempted strike above the waist.
6) The fact that you get an automatic 15-0 advantage if you knock your opponents out.

This is exciting stuff to watch, much more exciting than any other MMA style bout ... 2 guys going all out trying to knock each other out with strikes in 3 minutes.

Not guys rolling around for days in guard positions on the ground, not guys getting so tired that the spend the last 50% of the bout just clinching, etc.

My 2 cents worth ...

[DaneGarreau]

Tony, World Combat League is not MMA, it is Points Karate.

MMA means mixed martial arts, WCL is just one martial art.

[Tony Christopher]

It features a combination of karate, kick boxing, traditional boxing etc.

But point taken ... it is less diverse than "traditional" MMA.

I guess I just favor the striking dominant style ... much more exciting to watch, in my humble opinion.