Exclusive: PRIDE For Sale? Ed Fishman Hopes So
(note the comment about Sakakibara’s future with the company and no reference to the alleged real boss, Ishizaka. And in regards to Gross’s question about the Korean TV station paying more money for PRIDE programming, that was a TV network-to-TV network transaction, not a network-to-PRIDE transaction.)
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Site's evolution continues on... 2/6/07 edition
Take note, two programming items have been updated today on the site 
1) The Wagering System
Judging from the votes and feedback from those who have participated so far on our help decide the future of the wagering system poll it is apparent that a large portion of folks would like to leave the current wagering system in play somehow. To help make this current system a little less abusable we have added some enforced "guidelines" to the programming today. Not including those who attempted to abuse the system, and without actually counting last event's wagers, my gut tells me that over 90% of all legit wagers already fall into these new guidelines, so really there should not be a huge adjustment aside from reading the new explanitory text and seeing the live pick percentages on the "My Fantasy Wagers" page.
Rather than enforcing a set money line which may be slightly confusing to some (especially in the player vs player environment currently employed) we are using the user pick statistics from the Event Picks & Points page to classify fights as having a "Strong Favorite", a "Heavy Favorite", or neither.
A fight is considered a Strong Favorite fight when 85% or more of the site's users have selected one fighter as the winner. In a match with a Strong Favorite there is a minimum 2:1 ratio that must be followed, meaning for every $1 wagered on the underdog a minimum of $2 must be wagered on the Strong Favorite. A fight with a Strong Favorite may not excede a 6:1 (favorite$ to underdog$) ratio.
A fight is considered to have a Heavy Favorite when 95% or more of the site's users have selected one fighter as the winner. In this scenario there is a minimum 3:1 ratio that must be followed, meaning for every $1 wagered on the underdog a minimum of $3 must be wagered on the Heavy Favorite. A fight with a Heavy Favorite may not excede a 10:1 (favorite$ to underdog$) ratio.
An example: for our recent UFC event 97% of site users picked CroCop to defeat Eddie Sanchez. Pretending that this system was in place at that time... if you wanted to wager $10 on Eddie Sanchez your opponent's wager would have to be at least $30 (3:1) but not more than $100 (10:1) for the programming to accept and store your wager.
For all fights that do not have either a Strong or Heavy Favorite we have implimented a 3:1 ratio "ceiling". This is done to prevent some of the bets we saw where a user would wager $1 to a secondary account's $100.
As said before, most of the legit wagers already fall into these new guidelines, so really there should not be a huge adjustment for most of us. Any wagers that have already been placed will be "grandfather'd" into this new system and left as they sit (unless they're manipulated wagers, then they'll be canned same as before).
We also realize that as people make their picks for upcoming events that a fight may change from having a Heavy, Strong, or no favorite at all. As long as the wager you place is legit at the time it was made, it will stick and not be affected by any changes in a fight's pick percentages. There is also a new piece of programming which will run on the server on a nightly basis which will delete any pending wagers that have not been accepted or rejected for more than 48 hours. This will keep people from having their funds tied up and having to back out of a wager manually. This will also keep people from trying to get in a potentially good wager, then approve it at the last minute if the wager has changed from one of the new aforementioned statuses to another more desirable status.
2) Mad props yo
We have added a new forum "reputation" system, in which you can give "props" to fellow forum members when they make (what you consider to be) a good post. Everyone's "props" count and "props" level can now be seen by their username in the forums. There are limits in place on giving props to one individual repeatedly and on the overall amount of props you can give out... so save them for when you really do want to give someone "props" for something good!
To view any "props" you've received, click the link at the top of the "My Account" page that says "My Received Props".
We've gotten a little behind on adding some of the other new features that we mentioned last week due to the time spent on items pertaining to UFC67 and these other site updates... but stay tuned, we'll be getting to them sooner or later
Edited to add item 3)
The Fight Network has confirmed that Antonio "little Nog" Nogueira will be fighting Rameau Sokoudjou at Pride 33.
Answer to the Interview from Ariel Sexton from the Gracie Camp in Costa Rica
Interview Answers for Ariel Sexton and the Ryan Gracie Camp: Please check out Ariel Sexton on www.youtube.com. He is the 170lb Champ of Costa Rica and is undefeated in MMA. He will be fighting in the IFL and UFC soon. At 23 he is very young and his training partner Juan barrantes is 19 has 5 pro fights and is tough as nails and he is definitly a stand out .
Q & A with Ariel Sexton & the Gracie Camp in Costa Rica
1) What is the atmosphere training in a Gracie camp? What are the calibur of fighters in your camp and are there any standouts (other than yourself) who you feel are worth mentioning.
1..My Team in Costa Rica is fairly young guys and some girls... We trian every day , and some times twice a day, and that is what seperates us
from the other schools. We have lots of very good Jiu Jiitsu fighters even better than me . Thats is what keeps it competative for everyoone . Everyone wants to be at there best at all times..My partner in crime Juan Barrantes is 19 and has 5 pro fights , and is tough as nails.Mark my word he is going to be a stand out . Plus there are a few other guys that are teedering on that fact to switch to fight mma.. our level is very high at the Gracie camp , and im very happy
2) You gave in my opinion a horrible heelhook to Donaldson, I'm a cringeworthy guy so maybe i'm wrong but looks like you wanted to take the guys leg off, any story behind this?
No . I think Mickey asked me this question before, and there was no bad blood. The only person I had beef with was Vasquez , becasue him and his camp would always taunt us and say how much better they are than us. So in that fight I had to celebrate a bit more Haha. We were doing lots of leg locks at that time ,and all the guys at our camp were injured even me from heelhooks and leg locks. So wee stopped doing them ... There was no intension to hurt anyone (dan) it wasnt even that hard its just a very scary submission.
3) Who do you think would make a good match up for in your first UFC fight? Anybody you are particularly looking for/want to fight in the division.
No idea... I just want to be explosive and win
4) Realistically what do you think your chances are in the division, how long until you expect to be challenging for the belt?
Excellent..In five years I will be a JJ black belt, and will have won at least one major B.J.J World title either in the IFL or the UFC or maybe both..
5) What methods/routines would you recommend to those who wish to start training to fight on the level that you are? How much dedication does it involve, how can your average Joe go about learning and then fighting MMA?
..good question.... I have to deal with that one every day... I teach Jiu Jitsu at a gym 3 days a week to lots of guys that want to eventuly fight mma. I think its very important to be exrta prepered to get in the ring. It take years of dedicaton to Jiu Jitsu then you have to know lots of stand up to hold your own. Plus you need to know wrestling so you dont get thrown around .
Combine all those and you have 30% of it. LOL.. The rest come from you mentaly and focusing on winning . I would rather have a record of 25-0 than 40-10 its not the nunber of fights that will male you its the quality. It takes hard work to be succesful and disapline is number one...
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6) Do you feel that raining at a Gracie camp gives you any advantage in any area of MMA? If so which ones? What have you learnt from training at a gracie camp that you can pass on to others.
My advantage is definitly brazilian JJ... Its so efective . We are all trianaholics and submission specialists which means we have good condition and air in Costa Rica thats my stong stuff. It's very important not to over look the basics in J.J. Get a good foundaton so you can be dominant over those who dont.. right?. I have learned to always be humble and, that will take you futher than being cocky.. Trian hard , becasue your opponnet will be training hard also, and have fun with it ..
7) Where do you see yourself in five years time? In which organization, do you feel you will hold any belts by this time?
Well in five years ill be a JJ black belt , and will have won at least one major B.J.J. World title.. I will have some fights in the IFL ,WEC and the UFC. I will be a Gracie brother forever , i can never forget what got me this far.
8) Fluctuating in weight classes? Is this an option for you? Do you feel capable of doing so? If so where and when, will this ever be an option that you would consider, dependant on your results at the time.
Of course .. I am already giving it lots a thought becasue I am 170 full after Thanksgiving dinner ,you know what i mean ... If I am going to be sucessfull in the UFC. I will definitly have to consider it
9) How long do you train/study Mixed Martial Arts?
I trian every day at least three hours. When I have a fight I step it up ,and do about five hours daily.
What is your game plan when you get in the ring/octagon?
.We are submission specialists , I like to beat up my oponent first then tap him out.
I know when you won the Costa Rica 170lb belt you had to fight more than once in a night like the old UFC tournaments. What is that like?
fighting more than once in one night ...Well its tough becasue , you dont know who you are fighting , and thats the worst for me .. Then there are injurys so you have to take it easy in the first fight so you can save your self for the next 2.. Your adrenaline goes up and down which takes a toll on your body.
Ariel , Thank you for your time I know you are busy is there anything you would like you say to MMAPlayground ?
I want to thank everyone for all there questions .. Everyone calls me cbrico or kidpeligro.....which means both fast and dangerous. Mickey Thank you for putting this together , and by the way Thank you to the best sponsor in the World www.WeLoan.Us they will be sponsoring me and my camp as we fight around the world. Thanks again
Ex-Pride Fighters Headline UFC 67
Article by: Lars B.
The most notable debut was that of Mirko Cro-cop who brought his larger than life reputation across the pond to battle a relative newcomer of the sport, Eddie Sanchez. As Eddie Sanchez entered the cage you could tell that this was one of his more nervous moments on earth, knowing that he was about to take on one of the most dangerous fighters on the face in the world. As the lights dimmed and the crowd began to stir with the anticipation of Cro-cop, people wondered what music he would choose to enter the famed Octagon. Maybe some popular Croatian tune that would internally light his fire? Maybe a tune from the Karate Kid…..”You’re the best around! Nothings gonna ever keep you down!”….. Nope. Cro-Cop enters to the theme music of PrideFC! Wow! Not many fans in attendance knew the significance of the music that he was entering too, but hardcore fans knew what that familiar beat of the drum was. But Cro-Cop was not there to represent Pride or the UFC. He was representing Croatia and Mirko.
As the first round began you could tell that Sanchez was already in survival mode, back-peddling and circling away from that thunderous left leg of Mirko. Sanchez looked like a mouse trapped in a snake’s cage looking for a way to escape. Cro-Cop slowly stalked his prey undoubtedly knowing the ultimate fate of his opponent across the Octagon. Sanchez threw wild haymaker after wild haymaker but rarely connected. Cro-Cop unleashed one of his infamous left kicks to the side of Sanchez and from that moment on the North American MMA fans knew that they had a new superstar on their hands. Cro-Cop’s superior hand speed and power was no match for Sanchez, but you have to give the California native credit for even stepping into the cage.
Cro-Cop repeatedly peppered Sanchez with left jabs and eventually landed a left high-kick to Sanchez’s head that sent him reeling backwards. With every punch and kick that the Croat threw the crowd gasped in amazement at the power and speed in which he delivered his strikes. One no more relevant than a low right leg-kick to the left thigh of Sanchez that sent shockwaves through the arena as the capacity crowd let out a collective groan. Cro-Cop eventually forced Sanchez to the ground after a flurry and Steve Mazzagatti jumped in as he had seen enough and called a halt to the fight at 4:33 of the first round due to repeated strikes on the ground.
It was an impressive debut that introduced the deadliest striker in MMA to the UFC. Mirko will inevitably get a shot at the belt in a few fights, but I cannot see anyone in the UFC heavyweight division being able to even come close to defeating him. The UFC will eventually sign Fedor, whether it is through the purchase of Pride or from the direct acquisition of the #1 HW on the planet, and we will see Fedor/Cro-Cop II. That, my friends, will be the biggest fight in MMA history
Former Pride light-heavyweight contender, Quinton Rampage Jackson was looking to make a big statement in his Octagon debut against one of the few men on the planet that has defeated him. Marvin Eastman defeated Rampage 6 yrs ago in KOTC 4 via a judge’s decision. This had the makings to be a great stand-up fight, and it was at times, but the first frame saw the fighters clenching and being separated multiple times by referee Big John McCarthy. Rampage looked hesitant most of the 1st round, admitting after the fight that it was the most nervous he has ever been before a fight. Jackson controlled the round and solidified it on the judge’s scorecard with a flurry at the end of the round that had Eastman on the verge of being taken out.
Round 2 was a completely different Rampage. He looked as though he loosened up and began to throw his punches with confidence, and this translated directly into entertainment. Eastman did a good job of making a fight out of it, but Rampage eventually got what he wanted when he landed 3 consecutive upper-cuts to Eastman’s jaw that sent him pummeling to the canvas. Rampage followed and landed a few more punches before BJM could jump in and stop the fight.
Rampage admitted after the fight that he was not ready to fight Chuck and he needed at least one more fight before challenging for the LHW title. It is almost sickening when the UFC hype machine already starts promoting a fight when it is more than 6 months off, but that is exactly what they did when the cameras cut to Chuck in the first row. Rampage/Chuck II will be a great fight, don’t get me wrong, but lets just not have it shoved down our throats for the next year. Overall it was a solid debut by Rampage. Many expected a huge slam that would bring the crowd to their feet, but Eastman proved to have a solid base and good wrestling skills that prevented Jackson from spiking the Beast on his dome. When all was said and done, Rampage stood with his hand raised and the crowd screaming, but all he could hear was “cha-ching”.
In the main event of the evening, if you want to call it that, Travis Lutter took on Anderson Silva in a non-title fight. Travis Lutter’s embarrassing weight issues did not sit well with the crowd and they expressed this as he entered the arena.
Many questioned if Lutter would be able to get the fight to the ground, where he is most comfortable, due to his drained physical state after cutting that much weight the day before. The question was answered quickly in the first frame as Silva landed a beautiful flying knee to the side of Lutter’s head, but the Texas native took the blow impressively and brought the fight to the ground as he grabbed a double-leg. Silva eventually kicked off Lutter and attempted to escape but he was quickly corralled again and brought back into the jiu-jitsu world. Lutter eventually gained mount and began to rain down unanswered punches to the face of The Spider. It briefly looked as though the fight was going to be stopped due to the lack of defense posed by Silva, but his gangly Kareem Abdul-Jabar-esque legs were long enough rise up and sweep Lutter as he was allowed to scramble back to his feet as round 1 ended.
Silva was unable to defend another slow takedown by Lutter as round 2 opened, and the fighters found themselves back in a familiar position. Silva found an opening to deliver an up kick to the jaw of Lutter and then transitioned nicely into a triangle choke that looked to be sunk in pretty deep. To Lutter’s credit, he fought the submission valiantly and remained within the triangle for 1:30 before submitting to elbow strikes to the head. The Spider unleashed his prey from his legs, jumped to his feet and gave the crowd his patented air-guitar hip thing. Still weird to me.
This fight was not surprising in the fact that Silva won, but how he won. No one expected Silva to be able to submit the accomplished grappler on the ground, but he proved to many doubters that he does have a pretty good ground game as well. Now that this debacle called TUF 4 is semi-completed can Dana now be reserved in the fact that having a game show to determine who fights for a belt is not a great idea? I hope so.
UFC 67 had a very weird feeling to it with 3 former Pride fighters headlining the card, no titles on the line, and Joe Rogan was not wearing a black shirt. Mirko and Rampage proved that they are great fighters and will be huge stars here in the US as long as they can deal with the booing. Overall, the card was mediocre at best. This goes to show you that it isn’t about the names on the card, but about the competitiveness of the matches. Fight fans do not want to see a hopeless Eddie Sanchez get seriously hurt in the cage. But marketing has to be done and I guess we all have to accept that.
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