So why did Pride fail?

[danielson]

Seems like they had good fighters and the Japanese are supposed to be fight fans, so why did they fail anyway and how is M1 doing things differently?

[Petrucci]

Seems like they had good fighters and the Japanese are supposed to be fight fans, so why did they fail anyway and how is M1 doing things differently?

well, for the little that i know, it was the connection with the japanese mafia (yakusa) that brought them down...

[Mark Kerr]

I don't know. They put on big events and had better attendance than the UFC, much more spectacular than the UFC. Maybe, because they had no PPV revenue.

[MB_722]

they lost their tv deal

[danielson]

well, for the little that i know, it was the connection with the japanese mafia (yakusa) that brought them down...

Really? What connection did they have? It just doesn't make sense that it failed in Japan considering how much the sport has grown in the past few years.

[Fury]

Really? What connection did they have? It just doesn't make sense that it failed in Japan considering how much the sport has grown in the past few years.

MMA peaked in Japan years ago. It hasn't been growing for a while. K-1 is the only organization that seems to continuously do well.

The fact is that PRIDE wasn't able to crack the American market. The UFC did a great job monopolizing the American market and brainwashing Americans into thinking that they had the best product. Most Americans just have no concept of what goes on overseas and when something like Pride tries to compete with an organization that's been around for years, chances are that it won't happen. Couple that with most of the UFC fans being redneck morons, and there's really no chance of a Japanese organization making it.

Ironically enough, I think MMA has gone way downhill since Pride disappeared. The UFC cards don't even compare and all of the dream fights Dana claimed would happen haven't.

Long live K1!

[danielson]

MMA peaked in Japan years ago. It hasn't been growing for a while. K-1 is the only organization that seems to continuously do well.

The fact is that PRIDE wasn't able to crack the American market. The UFC did a great job monopolizing the American market and brainwashing Americans into thinking that they had the best product. Most Americans just have no concept of what goes on overseas and when something like Pride tries to compete with an organization that's been around for years, chances are that it won't happen. Couple that with most of the UFC fans being redneck morons, and there's really no chance of a Japanese organization making it.

Ironically enough, I think MMA has gone way downhill since Pride disappeared. The UFC cards don't even compare and all of the dream fights Dana claimed would happen haven't.

Long live K1!

I wish the UFC had an open weight class Grand Prix. I am assuming they would have to go overseas to hold one though, huh? I also think the UFC should put on better PPVs. It's cool that they are on once a month, but they need to make the cards a bit better imo.

[Bluto]

Long live K1!

K-1 has really gone downhill unfortunately. I've been watching it since the beginning and it's nothing like it used to be 

[Fury]

K-1 has really gone downhill unfortunately. I've been watching it since the beginning and it's nothing like it used to be 

Max is still entertaining. Buakaw, Souwer and Co. are beasts. The HW's have gone downhill with the fact that no one has the height to compete with Schilt.

[Bluto]

Max is still entertaining. Buakaw, Souwer and Co. are beasts. The HW's have gone downhill with the fact that no one has the height to compete with Schilt.

Max is great. Lot of talent there. I was refering to the HW's. Problem most of their greatest fighters are not around any more. Like Hoost. Peter Aerts is still great, but he doesn't heal as good as he used to, so a tournament suits him very bad, he should only do superfights.

Schilt is very hard to respect because he get so much for free due to his height and size. It's a shame to see him win year after year and I don't think they're doing the sport a favor (the japanese fans with their love for giants might see differently on that)

[Bluto]

I wish the UFC had an open weight class Grand Prix. I am assuming they would have to go overseas to hold one though, huh? I also think the UFC should put on better PPVs. It's cool that they are on once a month, but they need to make the cards a bit better imo.

I'm no fan of GP's. But they put on way too many shows. Milking out the buyers. Holding back on fights that could happend a long time ago.

in 2005 they had 6 shows.

in 2006 they had 10 shows.

in 2007 they had 13 shows.

I wish they settled for 6-7 shows a year + fight nights and TUF finales. Then the cards would be stacked.

[MindSpin]

MMA peaked in Japan years ago. It hasn't been growing for a while. K-1 is the only organization that seems to continuously do well.

The fact is that PRIDE wasn't able to crack the American market. The UFC did a great job monopolizing the American market and brainwashing Americans into thinking that they had the best product. Most Americans just have no concept of what goes on overseas and when something like Pride tries to compete with an organization that's been around for years, chances are that it won't happen. Couple that with most of the UFC fans being redneck morons, and there's really no chance of a Japanese organization making it.

Ironically enough, I think MMA has gone way downhill since Pride disappeared. The UFC cards don't even compare and all of the dream fights Dana claimed would happen haven't.

It's kinda sad to see you depressed and broken down like this  .  There's more to life than PRIDE, dude.  Get over it, walk away from your computer and move on...

[Fury]

It's kinda sad to see you depressed and broken down like this  .  There's more to life than PRIDE, dude.  Get over it, walk away from your computer and move on...

You know, it brings a tear to my eye knowing that I can cause a 40 year old billionaire businessman who owns half of California, snowboards AND cage fights to swing from my nutsack like this. Who would've thought you were so insecure that you couldn't come to grips with the idea that despite the fact you started watching MMA and the UFC in early 07, there was a better organization around.

Don't take it to heart though. Next thing you know you'll be challenging people to cage fights and choking out your "buddies" at poker.

Oh wait....... 

[MindSpin]

You know, it brings a tear to my eye knowing that I can cause a 40 year old billionaire businessman who owns half of California, snowboards AND cage fights to swing from my nutsack like this. Who would've thought you were so insecure that you couldn't come to grips with the idea that despite the fact you started watching MMA and the UFC in early 07, there was a better organization around.

Don't take it to heart though. Next thing you know you'll be challenging people to cage fights and choking out your "buddies" at poker.

Oh wait....... 

And that, ladies & gentlemen, is what we call a MELTDOWN...lol.

[Fury]

And that, ladies & gentlemen, is what we call a MELTDOWN...lol.

I was actually going to call the fact that you've been crying all over the Pride threads for the last week a meltdown but I figured you'd clean that up.

Bitter UFC fanboy waterworks coming from Mindspin's way!!!

[MindSpin]

I was actually going to call the fact that you've been crying all over the Pride threads for the last week a meltdown but I figured you'd clean that up.

Bitter UFC fanboy waterworks coming from Mindspin's way!!!

What's to be bitter about?  I'm healthy.  I have a loving family.  A thriving business.  And, UFC bought & dismantled Pride.  Life couldn't be better. 

You, on the other hand are meltingdown all over the board, and you're still heartbroken over what happened to Pride.  Take my advise...move on.

[Fury]

What's to be bitter about?  I'm healthy.  I have a loving family.  A thriving business.  And, UFC bought & dismantled Pride.  Life couldn't be better. 

You, on the other hand are meltingdown all over the board, and you're still heartbroken over what happened to Pride.  Take my advise...move on.

You think this is a meltdown? Crying all over every Pride thread on this board and offering your uninformed 2 cents like anyone really cares looks like one to me. There was a reason you were demodded on here. Granted you and Bluto probably suck good dick.

I'm surprised a hip, happening 40 year old like yourself has time to get off the slopes long to post. 


Challenge anyone new to cage fights lately? That was the best meltdown in months that I've seen on here.

[Archer77]

they lost their tv deal

This is the reason, it also the reason that Dana White couldn't keep it running.

[Petrucci]

This is the reason, it also the reason that Dana White couldn't keep it running.

yeah, and what i read is that they lost the tv deal because the channel in japan didnt wanted to do anyting with pride anymore, since they where being investigated of having yakusa connections (things like yakusa giving money to promote and organize pride events...).
sakakibara and other guys pride got investigated, and because of this, even other open tv channels in japan got afraid of having any kind of relationship with Pride after this scandal....

without the open channel broadcast, it was just a matter of time until the event died...Imagine if UFC couldnt be showed in any american tv channel for some time? in just some months they would collapse too...

I dont know if Pride shows where getting bigger or smaller, but they where a LOT bigger the UFC shows...of course they might not have the same return in $$, but the event would not collapsed from one day to another just because is not doing financially too well as before

is strange you guys didnt hear this thing, because here in Brazil there was a lot of talk about this, in the specialized media

[Archer77]

yeah, and what i read is that they lost the tv deal because the channel in japan didnt wanted to do anyting with pride anymore, since they where being investigated of having yakusa connections (things like yakusa giving money to promote and organize pride events...).
sakakibara and other guys pride got investigated, and because of this, even other open tv channels in japan got afraid of having any kind of relationship with Pride after this scandal....

without the open channel broadcast, it was just a matter of time until the event died...Imagine if UFC couldnt be showed in any american tv channel for some time? in just some months they would collapse too...

I dont know if Pride shows where getting bigger or smaller, but they where a LOT bigger the UFC shows...of course they might not have the same return in $$, but the event would not collapsed from one day to another just because is not doing financially too well as before

is strange you guys didnt hear this thing, because here in Brazil there was a lot of talk about this, in the specialized media

I have often wondered about this myself.  The show attendance for Pride events exceeded those of UFC or so I have read though I haven't research to deeply.  Pride could have continued to hold events and ppvs and make money that is if the amount of money they generated was enough to cover the salaries of the fighters.  Its difficult to speculate considering that I do not know what the internal situation at Pride was like.  Profit skimming perhaps.

[Petrucci]

I have often wondered about this myself.  The show attendance for Pride events exceeded those of UFC or so I have read though I haven't research to deeply.  Pride could have continued to hold events and ppvs and make money that is if the amount of money they generated was enough to cover the salaries of the fighters.  Its difficult to speculate considering that I do not know what the internal situation at Pride was like.  Profit skimming perhaps.

yeah, what everyone here say is that it wasnt a question of lack of money...but the japanese government investigating the fact that the yakusa was 'washing' money (i dont know if you guys use this term there) doing the organization of some Pride events...Its just see the kind of production Pride events had...and the quantity of people on the events to see that it wasnt a question of money...

[Thin Lizzy]

but the japanese government investigating the fact that the yakusa was 'washing' money (i dont know if you guys use this term there)

Here we call it "Laundering." Pretty close.

There's just not enough of a hard-core MMA fan base in the U.S for that story to make the news.

I remember the President of Pride saying that the organization needed the U.S to survive. At the time, I didn't understand why. Certainly, a U.S. presense would've made Pride bigger, but, Japan does have 100 million people and you'd think that the biggest MMA org could survive without outside help.

[Bluto]

well the japanse fans are retarded.

and i guess pride wasnt retarded enough for them.

the biggest draw on japanse television was bob sapp vs akebono in k-1 2003 with 54 million people watching. the biggest number since 1976. 

[Petrucci]

well the japanse fans are retarded.

and i guess pride wasnt retarded enough for them.

the biggest draw on japanse television was bob sapp vs akebono in k-1 2003 with 54 million people watching. the biggest number since 1976. 

yeah, off course...inteligent are american fans, who created such 'real', savage, brutal style of shows like WWE, WWF and things like that....after all the only like 'real' things....right? only japanese guys like this kind of freakshow...
at least, while being a freakshow, sapp vs akebono is real fighting...if you take off the fact that they are shit fighters(well...sapp did beat Hoost...)