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[NearDark]

It really depends on what you were exposed to first. Most people stateside were exposed to UFC first, and so continue to be fans of it over Pride. You tend to stick with what got you into the sport in the first place, and for many that was the UFC.

Biggest issue I have right now: Fans. American mma fans are drunken trailor trash. Pride fans appear to be very in tune with the sport and are respectful of the fighters. I've never seen a more disrespectful and insulting group of people than those at UFC events. Let me tell you, the audience at Pride's Las Vegas show last fall was wonderful, the crowd knew the fighters and I didn't hear any booing or "usa usa". I hope Pride's second show does not draw in the UFC trash. UFC live event fans are the worst of the worst and it is an insult to the men fighting in the ring (cage, excuse me) that they have to put up with such morons. I'm surprised more UFC fighters don't leave for Pride based on audience value alone.

Pride appreciates a good ground game. The fans will applaud if a fighter escapes a submission. UFC fans don't even know what a submission is because they are too busy booing, spitting and throwing beer. The UFC caters to the trash at their events by pushing hard for knockouts and standup over groundwork. Sometimes I wonder why UFC doesn't just become a kickboxing org or ultimate boxing type org.

That aside, the biggest problem with the cage is that it is an obstacle to mainstream acceptance and weak politicians don't like the cage either. People get freaked out when they see a cage. A large roped ring gives a more professional look and is easier on the eyes. I like the roped ring. It makes fighters have to work to get up off the ground. Pride forces you to punch on the ground and no fights stopped due to stupid elbow cuts. A fighter cannot drop to his hands and knees and take a rest as they can in UFC. The knees and kicks just add a level of excitement to the matches that we don't see in the UFC.

You can talk about talent level although I think it is more even between the two organizations than it looks on paper. But for whatever reason, Pride's fights seem to be better than what goes down in the UFC's cage. I suspect the difference in rules plays a part and also the yellow card system is a great motivational tool (if Boxing had a yellow card system, it would give a huge boost to that sport overnight) and Pride has done a great job harvesting talent throughout the world.

I also really like Pride's Grand Prix tournaments. People love brackets in their sports and the Grand Prix's are extremely brutal and the fights are often amazing. The UFC would benefit from a Grand Prix style tournament because it forces all the best fighters to fight each other, matchmaking be damned...they will all potentially meet each other in the tournament. I think the UFC does have a lot of talent just as Pride does but we do not get to see it due to sloppy matchmaking...a Grand Prix at various weight classes would fix that and we would see great fights in the UFC in that format.

Just because the UFC is getting big in the USA does not mean it's getting dominate anywhere else. The UFC does not draw in 50,000 people to an event and its production value is nowhere near Pride's. I'm not sure why American fans dislike the epic feel of Pride, it is something unique to this country...the rest of the world loves production value. Pride makes you feel like you are witnessing something very special. American fans seem content with basically nothing. Despite the UFC trying to gobble up other MMA organizations, it is no longer going to be simply UFC and Pride. The IFL is going strong and will continue to do so, and BoDog will be around simply because it has the money for it. King of the Cage, K-1, Cage Rage, EliteXC, etc...they are all valid.

In the end I'm a fan of all the organizations and I try not to put one above the other. It is refreshing to watch a UFC cage event after a Pride show, you get a different feel and a different show. Pride not airing live in the USA is its biggest problem right now, but they are trying to fix that by doing shows in Vegas this year.

[Afro]

Originally Posted by NearDark

It really depends on what you were exposed to first. Most people stateside were exposed to UFC first, and so continue to be fans of it over Pride. You tend to stick with what got you into the sport in the first place, and for many that was the UFC.

Biggest issue I have right now: Fans. American mma fans are drunken trailor trash. Pride fans appear to be very in tune with the sport and are respectful of the fighters. I've never seen a more disrespectful and insulting group of people than those at UFC events. Let me tell you, the audience at Pride's Las Vegas show last fall was wonderful, the crowd knew the fighters and I didn't hear any booing or "usa usa". I hope Pride's second show does not draw in the UFC trash. UFC live event fans are the worst of the worst and it is an insult to the men fighting in the ring (cage, excuse me) that they have to put up with such morons. I'm surprised more UFC fighters don't leave for Pride based on audience value alone.

Pride appreciates a good ground game. The fans will applaud if a fighter escapes a submission. UFC fans don't even know what a submission is because they are too busy booing, spitting and throwing beer. The UFC caters to the trash at their events by pushing hard for knockouts and standup over groundwork. Sometimes I wonder why UFC doesn't just become a kickboxing org or ultimate boxing type org.

That aside, the biggest problem with the cage is that it is an obstacle to mainstream acceptance and weak politicians don't like the cage either. People get freaked out when they see a cage. A large roped ring gives a more professional look and is easier on the eyes. I like the roped ring. It makes fighters have to work to get up off the ground. Pride forces you to punch on the ground and no fights stopped due to stupid elbow cuts. A fighter cannot drop to his hands and knees and take a rest as they can in UFC. The knees and kicks just add a level of excitement to the matches that we don't see in the UFC.

You can talk about talent level although I think it is more even between the two organizations than it looks on paper. But for whatever reason, Pride's fights seem to be better than what goes down in the UFC's cage. I suspect the difference in rules plays a part and also the yellow card system is a great motivational tool (if Boxing had a yellow card system, it would give a huge boost to that sport overnight) and Pride has done a great job harvesting talent throughout the world.

I also really like Pride's Grand Prix tournaments. People love brackets in their sports and the Grand Prix's are extremely brutal and the fights are often amazing. The UFC would benefit from a Grand Prix style tournament because it forces all the best fighters to fight each other, matchmaking be damned...they will all potentially meet each other in the tournament. I think the UFC does have a lot of talent just as Pride does but we do not get to see it due to sloppy matchmaking...a Grand Prix at various weight classes would fix that and we would see great fights in the UFC in that format.

Just because the UFC is getting big in the USA does not mean it's getting dominate anywhere else. The UFC does not draw in 50,000 people to an event and its production value is nowhere near Pride's. I'm not sure why American fans dislike the epic feel of Pride, it is something unique to this country...the rest of the world loves production value. Pride makes you feel like you are witnessing something very special. American fans seem content with basically nothing. Despite the UFC trying to gobble up other MMA organizations, it is no longer going to be simply UFC and Pride. The IFL is going strong and will continue to do so, and BoDog will be around simply because it has the money for it. King of the Cage, K-1, Cage Rage, EliteXC, etc...they are all valid.

In the end I'm a fan of all the organizations and I try not to put one above the other. It is refreshing to watch a UFC cage event after a Pride show, you get a different feel and a different show. Pride not airing live in the USA is its biggest problem right now, but they are trying to fix that by doing shows in Vegas this year.

CLOSE THREAD.

Neardark, amazing post!

[YukonJordan]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

Why isnt it about the damn fighters?

Because it doesn't have to be. Just because Pride currently has better fighters doesn't mean it's more entertaining to watch. Smith/Sell or Bonnar/Griffin aren't the greatest fighters in the world but it hard to argue that those 2 fights weren't 2 of the most exciting in MMA to date.

[DW]

Originally Posted by YukonJordan

Smith/Sell or Bonnar/Griffin aren't the greatest fighters in the world but it hard to argue that those 2 fights weren't 2 of the most exciting in MMA to date.

no its not

[Afro]

Originally Posted by YukonJordan

Because it doesn't have to be. Just because Pride currently has better fighters doesn't mean it's more entertaining to watch. Smith/Sell or Bonnar/Griffin aren't the greatest fighters in the world but it hard to argue that those 2 fights weren't 2 of the most exciting in MMA to date.

ill argue that, bonnar/griffin was not great IMO it was a sloppy boxing match and the only reason it got so much praise was cuz it was an amazing show of heart, but if I wanted to watch a street brawl i'd order a different PPV.

I rather see the best fight the best, then just a sloppy contest like Griffin vs Bonnar every so often.. to be honest, I cant remember the last good fight ive seen on the UFC it was probably a TUF event.. its either a good KO or a good sub, but not a good fight.. theres always a good fight on Pride IMO

Hunt/Fedor, whoever Nakamura is fighting, whoever Shogun is fighting, Big Nogs/Barnett, whoever Gomi is fighting.. recently I feel I can get a years worth of UFC in just there Ultimate Knockout DVDs rather then spending money on there PPV events.. not complaining I still watch, and enjoy the UFC but I like Pride more cuz they have battles, its the best fighting the best.. in Vale Tudo-esqued rules, in a proper setting (not saying the UFC doesnt have a proper setting either) and thats why I watch fighting..

I dont watch fighting for the commentating, and I must say UFC would have better commentating if it were Couture/Rogan.. Goldberg is so awful that he makes Trigg look like Clive. I dont watch it for the pre-fight interviews, the music they play before every event, I dont watch it for Bruce Buffer.. I watch MMA for the Fights, the same reason for why I watch Boxing and why I prefer boxing, you turn on a boxing match.. you get the fight all that other stuff is pushed aside and thats why people pay to see.. the boxing match, and thats the same reason I watch MMA.

People talk so highly about how they wanna see the best fight the best, how they want to see these dreammatches come true, IMO your seeing a lot of these dream matches come true in Pride.. if we ever see Shogun vs Wandy which is very possibly.. theres the two top LHWs in the world fighting, Cro-cop and Fedor fought, were gonna see Fedor fight Big Nogs, Barnett in the future.. your gettin the Top HWs vs the Top HWs, Arona, Lil Nogs, Wandy, Shogun all will fight eachother theres the Top 5 LHWs in the world except no Chuck. You got Hendo, Filho, Misaki, Kang.. Top MWs in the world fighting eachother, Gomi, Kawajiri, Melendez.. you always see the best vs the best in Pride, and there only downfall is the lack of title matches but even so there fights are always entertaining.. always love the feel, the atmosphere, the crowd.. its exciting.

[kaisq11]

Originally Posted by NearDark

It really depends on what you were exposed to first. Most people stateside were exposed to UFC first, and so continue to be fans of it over Pride. You tend to stick with what got you into the sport in the first place, and for many that was the UFC.

Biggest issue I have right now: Fans. American mma fans are drunken trailor trash. Pride fans appear to be very in tune with the sport and are respectful of the fighters. I've never seen a more disrespectful and insulting group of people than those at UFC events. Let me tell you, the audience at Pride's Las Vegas show last fall was wonderful, the crowd knew the fighters and I didn't hear any booing or "usa usa". I hope Pride's second show does not draw in the UFC trash. UFC live event fans are the worst of the worst and it is an insult to the men fighting in the ring (cage, excuse me) that they have to put up with such morons. I'm surprised more UFC fighters don't leave for Pride based on audience value alone.

Pride appreciates a good ground game. The fans will applaud if a fighter escapes a submission. UFC fans don't even know what a submission is because they are too busy booing, spitting and throwing beer. The UFC caters to the trash at their events by pushing hard for knockouts and standup over groundwork. Sometimes I wonder why UFC doesn't just become a kickboxing org or ultimate boxing type org.

That aside, the biggest problem with the cage is that it is an obstacle to mainstream acceptance and weak politicians don't like the cage either. People get freaked out when they see a cage. A large roped ring gives a more professional look and is easier on the eyes. I like the roped ring. It makes fighters have to work to get up off the ground. Pride forces you to punch on the ground and no fights stopped due to stupid elbow cuts. A fighter cannot drop to his hands and knees and take a rest as they can in UFC. The knees and kicks just add a level of excitement to the matches that we don't see in the UFC.

You can talk about talent level although I think it is more even between the two organizations than it looks on paper. But for whatever reason, Pride's fights seem to be better than what goes down in the UFC's cage. I suspect the difference in rules plays a part and also the yellow card system is a great motivational tool (if Boxing had a yellow card system, it would give a huge boost to that sport overnight) and Pride has done a great job harvesting talent throughout the world.

I also really like Pride's Grand Prix tournaments. People love brackets in their sports and the Grand Prix's are extremely brutal and the fights are often amazing. The UFC would benefit from a Grand Prix style tournament because it forces all the best fighters to fight each other, matchmaking be damned...they will all potentially meet each other in the tournament. I think the UFC does have a lot of talent just as Pride does but we do not get to see it due to sloppy matchmaking...a Grand Prix at various weight classes would fix that and we would see great fights in the UFC in that format.

Just because the UFC is getting big in the USA does not mean it's getting dominate anywhere else. The UFC does not draw in 50,000 people to an event and its production value is nowhere near Pride's. I'm not sure why American fans dislike the epic feel of Pride, it is something unique to this country...the rest of the world loves production value. Pride makes you feel like you are witnessing something very special. American fans seem content with basically nothing. Despite the UFC trying to gobble up other MMA organizations, it is no longer going to be simply UFC and Pride. The IFL is going strong and will continue to do so, and BoDog will be around simply because it has the money for it. King of the Cage, K-1, Cage Rage, EliteXC, etc...they are all valid.

In the end I'm a fan of all the organizations and I try not to put one above the other. It is refreshing to watch a UFC cage event after a Pride show, you get a different feel and a different show. Pride not airing live in the USA is its biggest problem right now, but they are trying to fix that by doing shows in Vegas this year.

Agreed. Nicely written

[Intellectual]

Originally Posted by YukonJordan

Smith/Sell or Bonnar/Griffin aren't the greatest fighters in the world but it hard to argue that those 2 fights weren't 2 of the most exciting in MMA to date.