Issue 123

December 2014

Tyson vs. Fedor? Kimbo ditched? The jaw-dropping, eye-opening and sometimes harebrained secret plans Pride FC nearly executed over its 10-year span

From freak-show fights to elaborate circus-like entrances, compared to the modern-day UFC, Pride was as insane as it was ostentatious. But if you thought what you witnessed in and around the famous white ring was crazy, wait until you read some of the unusual ideas that almost got off the ground.

In December 2008 a book was released in Japan called Pride: Secret Files that revealed 30 off-the-wall and previously little-known concepts Pride FC executives had considered executing. Some of them were so mind-bending it’s hard to believe they were ever entertained. 

Unofficially translated into English in 2010, the publication revealed plans ranging from Mike Tyson boxing top Pride heavyweights, to the legendary Kazushi Sakuraba competing in a tag team MMA match. All were conceived for a myriad of different reasons. Anything from making Pride a global mixed martial arts superpower to, in some cases, saving an event from complete failure.

Here, as a tribute to Pride, we unveil just a handful of the ludicrous proposals that almost became part of mixed martial arts lore.

Did you know: A version of famous Japanese pro wrestling character Tiger Mask was considered for a fight in Pride.

Mike Tyson vs. Fedor Emelianenko

Long before Mike Tyson was pranking UFC president Dana White on the Las Vegas promotion’s private jet, the heavyweight boxing superstar signed to fight for Pride FC. The intention to have ‘Iron’ Mike fight in the Pride ring was even officially announced at a press conference in Los Angeles in August 2006.

It never happened though, and although Pride never officially announced an opponent for Tyson, they had a plan which, if successful, could have made the company a household name worldwide.

The initial declaration of the boxer’s involvement with Pride was intended to give an added boost to Pride’s announcement of its first event outside Japan – in Las Vegas in October 2006. 

“We have formed an alliance with Mike Tyson and we are planning projects replete with MMA appeal,” promotion president Nobuyuki Sakakibara told the press. “He’s not merely a guest, but a partner who will help us create an MMA revolution.”

Legal convictions, however, would make it hard for Tyson – by now finished with his 50-6 boxing career and self-admittedly hard up on cash – to enter Japan let alone fight in the country. As a result, Sakakibara envisaged a Mike Tyson ‘world tour’, competing against Pride’s top heavyweight talent in boxing bouts. 

Not only would it help Pride’s global profile, it may have helped to get it back on mainstream TV in Japan; its main broadcast partner had announced in June it would drop Pride following allegations of links to organized crime.

Although unwelcome in Japan, it was also believed Tyson’s name would help Pride get a foothold in the Chinese market, specifically through the country’s gambling capital of Macao – the same location the UFC started its own venture into China.

The plan was for him to fight on New Year’s Eve against feared Croatian striker Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ – the man who won the Openweight Grand Prix that September. Pride wanted that Macao contest to take place as part of its annual December 31st extravaganza back in Japan. It would beam the fight live to big screens for fans at the event in Saitama Super Arena to watch.

But that wasn’t the end of the strategy from Pride brass. The boxer’s second opponent was set to be imperious heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko. Lining up Tyson and ‘The Last Emperor,’ who was on a 21-fight win streak at the time, against each other could also have opened up the possibility of live events in Emelianenko’s home of Russia. 

Two other names that were also in the Tyson sweepstakes were former K-1 World Grand Prix champion Mark Hunt, and Pride’s Brazilian 205lb champion, Wanderlei Silva.

However, although Pride reportedly signed the former boxing champion to a contract, it was said Tyson simply lost interest in the deal. He didn’t attend Pride 32 in Las Vegas that October, and no progress was made on the promotion’s grand plans for a series of Tyson fights. 

Pride was unable to regain a lucrative TV deal in Japan and as a result was bought out by the UFC by March. Tyson, meanwhile, would never lace up his 

gloves again.

Kimbo Slice's MMA debut at Pride 33

Who would you choose to appear on the card of your second-ever event in America: a 2-1 US champion judoka called Ramaeu Thierry Sokoudjou; or massively popular YouTube fighting sensation Kimbo Slice, who was yet to register a single professional combat sports win?

The obvious answer today is Kimbo, who was nearly single-handedly responsible for EliteXC becoming a ratings bonanza for CBS, and record ratings for The Ultimate Fighter in its 10th season. The obvious answer in 2007 was Sokoudjou.

That was Pride FC’s conclusion as it pieced together Pride 33: The Second Coming in Las Vegas, which boasted Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi and ‘Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson as its main attractions. As it turned out, it would be one of the most exciting cards in the company’s history.

Apparently, Pride talent scouts had kept an eye on Slice and had an interest in signing him for the event. Cameroonian Sokoudjou, however, was already penciled in and came with a recommendation from Pride 183lb champion Dan Henderson, whose Team Quest facility Sokoudjou was training at. 

Apparently, to Pride executives, the two prospects had similar characteristics as explosive, aggressive fighters. They already had one in Sokoudjou and didn’t need another.

As simple as that, Slice was passed over and Sokoudjou was matched up with respected 12-2 veteran 205lb’er ‘Minotoro’ Nogueira. Though the Brazilian was the overwhelming favorite, he was knocked out in just 23 seconds, shocking the MMA world and writing Sokoudjou forevermore into the history books. 

Meanwhile, the Bahamian brawler would ultimately win an MMA exhibition bout against boxer Ray Mercer by guillotine the following June.

But, considering the significant effect Kimbo’s presence had on EliteXC and the UFC in the following years, and the precarious financial position Pride was then in, the charismatic slugger could have done wonders for the company – and made MMA history very different.

Tag team MMA with Sakuraba against rival Kiyoshi Tamura

Although Pride was partial to squash matches and David versus Goliath fights, it was actually said to be regarded among Japanese fans as more reserved in its MMA offerings than rival promotion K-1. Though it matched 390lb Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch against little Ikuhisa ‘Minowaman’ Minowa, a man half literally half his weight, it left K-1 to line up the same blubbery boxer with former 155lb extrovert Genki Sudo.

Surely it would have been incongruous for the jewel of Japanese MMA to ever entertain the concept of a tag-team mixed martial arts bout? Crazy to imagine national hero Kazushi Sakuraba on one team opposite his longtime rival Kiyoshi Tamura on the other? As it turned out, maybe it wasn’t, though such a match was only ever considered out of desperation. Pride bosses needed to rescue a high-profile event from catastrophe. 

Although it’s only Sakuraba who is remembered by Western fans as the people’s champion of MMA in Japan, there were several other fighters the country’s public cherished. Among them was fellow former pro wrestler and Rings star Kiyoshi Tamura. 

A bout between him and Sakuraba was a no-brainer thanks to the added marketability of bad blood. ‘The Gracie Hunter’ and Tamura made their names in the realism-focused professional wrestling promotion Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFI) in the 1990s, creating a rivalry. When they later moved to MMA, Tamura developed his star in Rings and joined Sakuraba in Pride in 2002, where ‘The IQ Wrestler’ had already built a significant following.

As New Year’s Eve 2003 rolled around, the first in Japan’s tradition of December 31st fight extravaganzas, Pride faced competition from events organized by K-1 and Antonio Inoki for its planned card on the same date. Worse still, the services of its heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, had been poached by Inoki for the day, and names like Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ and ‘Big Nog’ were unavailable. Pride’s inaugural New Year’s Eve combat festival was poised to be a flop.

The answer for Pride bosses was Sakuraba vs. Tamura. Because of their history it would give the card the sense of significance it was missing. And apparently while Saku didn’t like to fight fellow Japanese as a rule, he was willing to make an exception for Tamura. However, his old foe wasn’t interested, even if it would mean Pride Shockwave 2003 was saved.

Apparently, one solution concocted by the Pride brass was to have the two settle their differences in a main-event tag-team MMA match. The stars would be on opposite sides of the ring and accompanied by their top pupils. It would be must-see viewing and certainly give the whole occasion that ‘big’ event feel, a vital ingredient for pulling a crowd in Japan. And although it peaked Tamura’s interest, both Sakuraba and broadcaster Fuji TV vetoed it on the grounds it simply wouldn’t be in keeping with Pride to break from the one vs. one format.

In the end, they were matched up separately: Tamura submitted Rony Sefo, the brother of K-1’s Ray, with an armbar, and Sakuraba lost a one-sided decision to Rogerio ‘Little Nog’ Nogueira. The two did eventually meet years later. A bout was announced at the Pride 34 card, though all parties were then unaware it would be the promotion’s last. It finally happened on New Year’s Eve 2008 at K-1 Dynamite!! Tamura took a solid decision victory in a traditional one-on-one contest.

Did you know: Apparently, Pride was going to allow the UFC to use Mirko 'Cro Cop' for a Japanese card in 2005.

Evander Holyfield, boxing world champion and Pride fighter

Pride was nothing if not ambitious. Under its early management, it’s said there was significant interest in luring boxers into the Pride ring. From 1997 to 1999, while under the control of Kakutogi Revolutionary Spirits (KRS), no boxer was more sought after in the company’s Tokyo head offices than Evander Holyfield.

He’d earned a second consecutive win over Mike Tyson (via the infamous ear bite) in 1997 just four months prior to Pride’s first card, and between ‘97 and ‘99 held both the WBA and IBF heavyweight straps. There were few bigger boxers on the planet.

It’s rumored his involvement was particularly championed by company rep, karate champion and two-time Pride fighter Hiroki Kurosawa, who was a massive Holyfield fan. In addition, both Holyfield and Pride superstar Rickson Gracie shared the same management in Japan for a time.

Seeking to bring one of the world’s biggest combat sports stars to its ring, Pride attempted to court Holyfield, securing meetings with his people. In the end, however, with no significant upside for Holyfield competing in MMA, things never moved past the exploratory stage.

But that wasn’t the last time Holyfield’s name was raised at Pride HQ. After Japanese fighting legends Kiyoshi Tamura and Kazushi Sakuraba couldn’t be paired together for Pride Shockwave in 2003, the promotion scrambled for an opponent for the former. Holyfield, now without a title and in the middle of a three-fight losing streak, was considered. It seems that this time, however, it was never anything more than a contemplation.

Did you know: Mirko 'Cro Cop's main event opponent in the first Pride Bushido event, masked luchador and MMA fighter Dos Caras Jr, went on to become a WWE champion as Alberto Del Rio.

A separate Pride loser's league

In 2003 Pride came up with a very intriguing solution to a simple problem. The year was one of change for Pride. Until then, it and kickboxing promotion K-1 shared talent and resources. As the two went into competition and previous public figurehead Antonio Inoki left, Pride made a conscious effort to expand and diversify in order to challenge bigger brother promotion K-1.

Along with the 2003 middleweight grand prix, its first tournament since the successful openweight competition in 2000; and the push of its four big heavyweights, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’, ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira and Heath Herring; it developed a unique plan to manage a surplus of fighters who were owed fights and had a desire to take on fresh up-and-comers.

The intention for Pride Survivor was something like purgatory. Those who lost in the ‘big show’ or wanted to become Pride fighters would have to fight on these smaller-scale cards. With an impressive victory they’d be allowed to compete with the elite fighters, a standard win would earn another Survivor opportunity and defeat would mean the unfortunate loser would be dropped altogether. It would be home to a middle class of competitor that didn’t quite fit in the upper or lower levels.

But although the one-of-a-kind format would attract attention and reduce the quantity of fighters under contract while give opportunities to prospects, Japanese etiquette was an insurmountable hurdle. Apparently, simply cutting the losers loose after didn’t appeal in a culture that works on emotion and subjectivity.

Instead, the concept was reworked, having already been adapted from an earlier, abandoned TUF-type concept called Pride The Best. It emphasized lighter-weight fighters via an agreement with minor promotion Deep, developed homegrown Japanese talent and adopted slightly altered rules, such as having one round fewer than normal Pride bouts and two five-minute stanzas with double-length breaks for scraps involving an MMA newcomer.

The series’ final name was Pride Bushido. For three years it was massively successful, even nurturing future stars such as ‘Shogun’ Rua, Shinya Aoki and Takanori Gomi along with two tournaments in 2005. A diamond in the rough, perhaps.