Pride "Real Deal" This Saturday in Vegas

[LEONARD]

Flying out Saturday morning...can't wait...

PRIDE LAS VEGAS SHOW: OCTOBER 21

Announced Bouts:
-Fedor Emelianenko (#1 Heavyweight in the world)* vs. Mark Coleman
-Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (#2 Light Heavyweight)* vs. Kevin Randleman
-Josh Barnett (#3 Heavyweight)* vs. Pawel Nastula
-Dan Henderson (#5 Middleweight)* vs. Vitor Belfort
-Kazuhiro Nakamura (#10 Light Heavyweight) vs. Travis Galbraith
-Joey Villasenor vs. Robbie Lawler
-Phil Baroni vs. Yosuke Nishijima
-Sean O'Haire vs. Eric "Butterbean" Esch

Fedor in the US :fro

I hope Dana accepted the front row seats that Pride offered him (he said he'd go), since he claims to not know much about Fedor. He needs to see the best fighter in the world first-hand...

Shogun vs Randleman will probably be the best fight as far as matchups go...

Big names like Barnett, Henderson, Belfort, Baroni...but not the greatest matchups. Henderson - Belfort could be good...you never know what you'll get with Belfort...

Pride has definitely had better cards overall this year, but this is the first time Fedor has fought this year, which is enough for me to go.

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/1076/1495/109844.jpg

I just wish I could get there a couple days sooner to watch the free training sessions and the weigh-in...

NSAC won't let them use Pride rules and Pride is choosing to not use elbows, which waters it down a little. Three 5 min rounds instead of a 10 min 1st round like they normally do...

Hunt, Fujita, and Crocop were originally on the card, but Crocop is hurt...Hunt was being forced to fight Esch under boxing rules by the NSAC so he backed out since it wasn't MMA, and I don't know what happened to Fujita. Esch will KO O'Haire with ease...basically a freak fight. Pride trying to appeal to redneck fans with names they know, even though Butterbean is an MMA fighter now. O'Haire is a WWE douche for the most part (has appeared in K-1). This fight is marketing BS...could do without it.

I'm really curious to see what the fanbase is like. Will they boo the non-US fighters like usually happens in the UFC? Will they boo Fedor? :dizzy

Could be a historic event as far as the sport goes, or it could be failed and Pride never comes back? We'll see... :fro

[tlongII]

This is one of the problems with the Pride fights that I've seen at least. They have better top fighters than UFC, but so many of their fights are completely uncompetitive. I could be wrong, but from what I've seen there are more evenly matched fights in UFC than Pride.

[LEONARD]

I agree that this card has some un-evenly matched fights on paper, but that's not always the case. Maybe they want some nice KO's for the US fans? I don't know. They could've put together more competitive matchups on paper at least...I agree 100% with that.

I'm sure if you sat the typical UFC fan down to watch Fedor vs Crocop, Fedor vs Nog (twice), Barnett vs Nog, etc...they'd think they weren't all that great of fights because they went to a decision. People that think that way will never "get" the sport and all of skills involved with being well-rounded. They'd rather see 2 dudes "stand a trade" while getting :drunk ...

It does happen some in the Pride open weight tourny, but that's what that tourny is about...all weights can enter (even though it's mostly HW's). By the end of the tourny though, you have some awesome fights that more than make up for the any earlier matches that weren't very entertaining. Watch Dan Henderson (MW) vs Big Nog and tell me those mismatch fights can't be exciting (they've fought twice actually). I love seeing a guy step up a weight class (or 2 like Henderson) and see what they can do...

The UFC has mis-matches on paper too...Sherk/Florian, Fisher/Lauzon, Kongo/Marrero...just from UFC 64. Hell, Tito/Shamrock twice... :lol

Bottom line IMO, I don't think there's much difference between UFC / Pride as far as # of mis-matches goes...

[LEONARD]

Badass Fedor HL to "Tool"...

http://www.filefactory.com/file/480339/

http://www.dailymotion.com/psykojojo/video/xba1a_fedor-emelianenko-highlight-hl

[LEONARD]

Video of the Chute Box and Hammerhouse public workout sessions. Shogun didn't do anything. There was a simulated fight between Wand Silva and another Chute Box fighter. Silva said he'll be back in Vegas in Feb after fighting in Japan in Dec. Don't know if that means vs Chuck or in the next Pride US show. Not sure why they're calling him the "Undefeated MW Pride champ"??? Randleman and Coleman goofed around with a simulated fight too.
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=934

Pictures from fans
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=446110
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=446046

Fedor and Coleman workout session (pictures)
http://www.sherdog.com/news/pictures.asp?n_id=5927

Video - Fedor speaking to the fans (some English)...he looks so uncomfortable. :lol
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=936
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoEo08fhOos

[LEONARD]

This is one of the problems with the Pride fights that I've seen at least. They have better top fighters than UFC, but so many of their fights are completely uncompetitive. I could be wrong, but from what I've seen there are more evenly matched fights in UFC than Pride.

Recent UFC title fight mis-matches...

Franklin/Quarry
Arlovski/Eilers
Arlovski/Buentello
Hughes/Riggs (supposed to be if Riggs would've made weight)

[cornbread]

Recent UFC title fight mis-matches...

Franklin/Quarry
Arlovski/Eilers
Arlovski/Buentello
Hughes/Riggs (supposed to be if Riggs would've made weight)

Throw Hughes/Gracie in there too. Not a title bout but still an absurd mismatch.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

butterbean vs o'haire is a huge mismatch

[Mr Dio]

butterbean vs o'haire is a huge mismatch

:lol

Don't say that!
You'll undermine the worldwide dominance that pride has in some people's minds!!! :lol

[LEONARD]

Live from Vegas!!

What a freakin' trip...unbelievable. I'll have a full recap of my Forrest Gump-like experience this later week...


:lol Don't say that! You'll undermine the worldwide dominance that pride has in some people's minds!!! :lol

Butterbean-O'Haire being on this card has ZERO impact on the overall quality of the Pride org. That fight was all about marketing to the US crowd. Butterbean probably got the biggest ovation, from what was probably the most educated MMA audience the US has seen. I'm sure that Pride's intent was to bring in Butterbean, who IS an MMA fighter now with American Top Team and whose claim to fame is never having been KO'd, in order to draw US fans looking for a name and them have him get KO'd by Mark Hunt. That backfired a little when Hunt wasn't cleared to fight in the US and they had to get a last minute replacement. There was very little booing and no booing of foreign fighters...Baroni was about the only fighter with noticeable boos and it was probably due to his not so tasteful gestures during his intro. No USA USA USA chants. Very few redneck idiots from what I saw (yes, I know I didn't see EVERYBODY there)...that's just my opinion on what I saw.


Sean O'Haire????

the former WWE wrestler?????????????

Yes, he's an MMA fighter now. Yes, he's a SPARE MMA fighter and didn't deserve to be on that card, or in Pride at all. He was a last minute fill-in for Mark Hunt due to Visa problems.

[desflood]

So was it as awesome as it looked on ppv, you lucky bastard? :lol

I figured this would be different from the typical UFC crowd (as far as booing, "USA" chants and so forth. People go to the monthly UFC events now because it's the thing to do and they have nowhere else to go. Pride is not as well known to the general liquored-up public, so the fans are much more likely to be less drunk and more appreciative of the fighters' skill level, regardless of their country of origin :)

[Mr Dio]

...what was probably the most educated MMA audience the US has seen.

Is that a fact?
Or is this your Opinion Hard Facts? :lol

[cornbread]

Leonard, you are one lucky SOB. I really considered heading out there for the show and now I'll always regret not going.

When Fedor came out in the red Sambo gi and the fake snow was falling on him, I mean what can i say? That was just a really cool moment. Damn I wish i would have gone to the show!!!

You're right about the crowd. The fact that they only booed twice during a 4 hour show is amazing in itself.

[LEONARD]

So was it as awesome as it looked on ppv, you lucky bastard? :lol

I figured this would be different from the typical UFC crowd (as far as booing, "USA" chants and so forth. People go to the monthly UFC events now because it's the thing to do and they have nowhere else to go. Pride is not as well known to the general liquored-up public, so the fans are much more likely to be less drunk and more appreciative of the fighters' skill level, regardless of their country of origin :)

I don't know...haven't seen the PPV :lol It was killer in person. I'll have some crazy stories/pics in the next day or 2. I have to type it up and host the pics...


Is that a fact? Or is this your Opinion Hard Facts?

I knew that reply was coming from you. Of course it's my opinion, but talk to anybody that was there, or read any review of the event, and it IS a FACT that this was a totally different crowd. These fans knew MMA...they weren't there to see 2 guys "stand and trade" like the typical UFC fan.


Leonard, you are one lucky SOB. I really considered heading out there for the show and now I'll always regret not going.

When Fedor came out in the red Sambo gi and the fake snow was falling on him, I mean what can i say? That was just a really cool moment. Damn I wish i would have gone to the show!!!

You're right about the crowd. The fact that they only booed twice during a 4 hour show is amazing in itself.

LOL...if you only knew the luck I ran into :lol

Fedor's entrance was badass (did you notice him trip on the last step? lol). He's officially my favorite athlete in the world...see ya later Dirk! :lol The moment with Coleman and his kids was REALLY tense, but pretty cool at the same time. It says a lot for the sport and the level of sportsmanship in the sport. Not something that US sports fans are used to seeing all that much with pro athletes...

[cornbread]

Fedor's entrance was badass (did you notice him trip on the last step? lol). He's officially my favorite athlete in the world...see ya later Dirk! :lol The moment with Coleman and his kids was REALLY tense, but pretty cool at the same time. It says a lot for the sport and the level of sportsmanship in the sport. Not something that US sports fans are used to seeing all that much with pro athletes...

The Coleman kids moment was very strange and funny to watch on tv. It was like some nightmarish version of Rocky gone terribly wrong. It was funny when Coleman was saying, "This is Fedor. He's a nice guy," as his children screamed in horror at that man who had just destroyed their father.

When I was kid it freaked me to see my dad's face after he shaved his mustache. I can't imagine what it must be like for those kids to see their dad's face after a round and half with Fedor.

[LEONARD]

The Coleman kids moment was very strange and funny to watch on tv. It was like some nightmarish version of Rocky gone terribly wrong. It was funny when Coleman was saying, "This is Fedor. He's a nice guy," as his children screamed in horror at that man who had just destroyed their father.

When I was kid it freaked me to see my dad's face after he shaved his mustache. I can't imagine what it must be like for those kids to see their dad's face after a round and half with Fedor.

LMAO...no kidding!! I'm working on my write-up...give me another day for pics, etc...

[LEONARD]

dp

[tlongII]

Leonard,

Those are some of the best pics I've ever seen! Just AWESOME! I can't believe you got the photos with Vanderlei Silva and Fedor! I didn't realize that I'm bigger than Fedor??? How much does he weigh? I'm 6'1", 223 lbs.

[LEONARD]

Leonard,

Those are some of the best pics I've ever seen! Just AWESOME! I can't believe you got the photos with Vanderlei Silva and Fedor! I didn't realize that I'm bigger than Fedor??? How much does he weigh? I'm 6'1", 223 lbs.

Thanks man! It was a blast. We called it a "Forrest Gump-like" experience. We're probably in the background of whatever video they were rolling of the fighters warming up... :lol

He weighed in at 224 lbs...Coleman was the same...

http://69.46.29.2:8080/absoluteig/gallery/PRIDE/Pride_USA/weigh-ins/26_ColemanEmelianenkoPrideU.jpg

[desflood]

I see Trigg shaved his head again...

Seriously though, I wish I had thought to have you bring me a t-shirt or something :lol Nice pics.

[LEONARD]

I see Trigg shaved his head again...

Seriously though, I wish I had thought to have you bring me a t-shirt or something :lol Nice pics.

and arms, legs, etc...my brother said his arms were prickley (sp?)...

I would've if you would've asked :fro

Jeez, I figured Mr Dio would be in here ripping on me for something by now... :lol

[Mr Dio]

For taking pics?????
Dude, I'm like a Japanese with the digital camera & digital video camera.
I take pics everywhere of everything. :lol

Very nice pics though.
Must've been totally stoked to get in so close to an athlete you like so much.

I do need a trip to Vegas though.
Planning a couple of trips to Dallas for Nov or Dec Cowboy games.

[LEONARD]

For taking pics????? Dude, I'm like a Japanese with the digital camera & digital video camera. I take pics everywhere of everything. :lol

Very nice pics though. Must've been totally stoked to get in so close to an athlete you like so much.

I do need a trip to Vegas though. Planning a couple of trips to Dallas for Nov or Dec Cowboy games.

I figured you'd have some comments if I posted pics of myself...nice to see that you didn't... :fro

It was a killer trip...

I live in Ft Worth and I won't go to Irving for a Cowboys game...what a whippin' :lol You can have the Cowboys games man!!

[cornbread]

That looks likes the experience of a lifetime! If I were you I would frame the pic with Fedor and display it. I'd do the same thing with the Wandy pic.

How about that Baroni pic though? He DOES look pissed in it. That's pretty funny and a little scary at the same time.

The shot of the empty ring is one that could be framed too.

That's really awesome that you were able to sneak in early for the photo opportunities. I'll have to give that a try whenever I finally make it out to a live event.

Great stuff man. Thanks for sharing.

[LEONARD]

That looks likes the experience of a lifetime! If I were you I would frame the pic with Fedor and display it. I'd do the same thing with the Wandy pic.

How about that Baroni pic though? He DOES look pissed in it. That's pretty funny and a little scary at the same time.

The shot of the empty ring is one that could be framed too.

That's really awesome that you were able to sneak in early for the photo opportunities. I'll have to give that a try whenever I finally make it out to a live event.

Great stuff man. Thanks for sharing.

Yea, I just might have to frame some of those :fro

Nah, Baroni definitely wasn't pissed...it just looks that way...

Definitely plan on going in Feb. If I can make it to that one too, I'll definitely be there early again. And I'll be looking for the same press conference in the same building. Even if I can't get in, I can wait outside for pic opportunities...

[desflood]

VITOR BELFORT & PAWEL NASTULA TEST POSITIVE (UPDATED)
Thursday, October 26, 2006 - by Ivan Trembow - MMAWeekly.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BREAKING NEWS: MMAWeekly has learned that Vitor Belfort and Pawel Nastula tested positive for banned substances after their respective fights on Pride's "Real Deal" card this past Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed that Nastula tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, while Belfort tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone, which is also legally defined as an anabolic steroid and banned in Major League Baseball and other sports.

Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, lost to Dan Henderson by unanimous decision on the Pride card. Nastula, who won a gold medal in Judo at the 1996 Olympic Games, lost by submission to Josh Barnett on the card.

All of the other fighters who were drug-tested on the Pride card passed their drug tests.

As with all cases of a fighter testing positive for banned substances, Belfort and Nastula are entitled to have a disciplinary hearing in front of the athletic commission at some point in the coming months, where they can be represented by counsel and argue their cases if they so choose.

Both fighters face possible suspensions and/or fines, but the athletic commissions do not have any mandatory minimum suspensions for steroid violations, so it's also possible for a fighter to fail a drug test and not be suspended at all.

For as long as a particular fighter is suspended in the state of Nevada, companies that are licensed to promote events in the state of Nevada are strongly discouraged from using that fighter anywhere in the world, which includes Pride's events in Japan. On this subject, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAWeekly, "I would expect a licensed promoter to respect any and all NSAC suspensions."

These positive drug tests come in the wake of the Nevada State Athletic Commission increasing the amount of fighters that it drug tests after any given MMA event, while still falling short of drug testing all fighters. The drug testing is the responsibility of the athletic commission, not the responsibility of Pride, the UFC, or any other specific MMA promotion.

The normal pattern in recent years has been for two-to-six fighters to be drug tested after an MMA event in Nevada. However, ten fighters were drug tested on a random basis after their fights at Pride: The Real Deal, which is largest amount at any Nevada-based MMA event in the past several years. One week earlier at UFC 64, seven fighters were drug tested (four fighters in title fights, and three fighters on a random basis).

The eight Pride fighters who were drug tested and passed their tests are Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Coleman, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Kevin Randleman, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson, Phil Baroni, and Yosuke Nishijima. The other six fighters on the Pride card were not drug tested.

[LEONARD]

Not all that surprising that a couple failed since there isn't testing in Pride... :lol

[desflood]

But at least Vitor knew, having fought in the states before, that there is random testing over here. I don't know about Nastula. If Belfort knew, and still got caught, then he's an idiot (to be perfectly candid about it).

[LEONARD]

Of course they both knew...I guess they just waited too long to end their last cycle...

[IX_Equilibrium]

Great pics Leonard. It looks like it was an awesome experience for you. Lucky dude!

As far as the event, I just got to watch it after being out of state on business. It was ok. I really liked Rua's performance, and was glad he beat Roidleman. Of course I was for Fedor against Coleman. I have never been a fan of those two Hammerhouse guys because I have never been a fan of roiders. I really wish Pride would take measures to be more strict where steroids are concerned.

I have to say, the Mark Coleman with his daughters scene was one of the cheesiest things I have seen in MMA. That melodrama belongs in pro wrestling, not MMA. Speaking of pro wrestling, Pride didn't distance itself from it by putting the horrific and comical O'Haire - Butterbean match on the card.

Still in all, it's good to see Pride on American soil. It's great whenever talents like Fedor can become known by a wider audience.

[cornbread]

I have never been a fan of those two Hammerhouse guys because I have never been a fan of roiders.[QUOTE=IX_Equilibrium]

[QUOTE=IX_Equilibrium]
putting the horrific and comical O'Haire - Butterbean match on the card.


It is kinda funny that 2 fighters tested positive but neither were HH. Has Coleman or Randleman ever tested positive? They've been in Pride for so long and Pride obviously doesn't test.

I've never really liked Randleman but I'll always cheer for Coleman. I remember when he hit the scene and dominated everybody with crazy headbutts from the top position! He's not so dominant anymore and he's pretty damn old. His behavior has become pretty strange at times too(daughters in the ring).

There's never an excuse to throw a washed up WWE guy in a MMA ring but you should cut Pride some slack on this. Hunt-Butterbean would have been a freakin war! They had an amazing fight lined up for us but the visa problems kept Hunt out of the country. O'Haire was pretty horrible though.

[desflood]

Technically, although they don't like to admit it, the visa problems were actually "security" issues. Hunt was involved in a fight in some bar a while back (rumor has it somebody was stabbed, but rumors are often false) and the legal matters are not all cleared up yet, so they don't want to let him in.

[IX_Equilibrium]

Hunt-Butterbean would have been a freakin war!

If you call Butterbean's fat ass hitting the canvas after 30 seconds a war, then yes.

[cornbread]

If you call Butterbean's fat ass hitting the canvas after 30 seconds a war, then yes.

I don't really see it happening like that. Sure Hunt would undoubtedly win but he would not demolish BB in the first 30 seconds. BB's head is damn near as hard as Hunt's with Hunt having the advantage of course. Neither guy has ANY ground game so they'd be standing the whole time.

Hunt is a great striker but he gets really sloppy sometimes. His chin is so strong that he'd rather take a hit to the head than keep his hands up. Hunt is not really known for "knock you out in the first 30 seconds" power either. I see these guys landing big shots with BB eventually falling. It would be an awesome match that I hope we eventually get to see.

[IX_Equilibrium]

You act like Hunt is a former toughman contest winner rather than a former K-1 champ.

We are not talking about Hunt knocking out LeBanner or Sefo in 30 seconds, we are talking about a gimmick fighter named Butterbean.

But I digress, the fight didn't happen. But I hope to never see Butterbean on a Pride card again.

[cornbread]

You act like Hunt is a former toughman contest winner rather than a former K-1 champ.

We are not talking about Hunt knocking out LeBanner or Sefo in 30 seconds, we are talking about a gimmick fighter named Butterbean.


No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I realize Hunt is a K1 GP champ and that puts him on a whole other level than BB. I see Hunt winning but all I'm saying is there's no way it ends in 30 seconds. We'd get a little more entertainment than that.

[IX_Equilibrium]

It is kinda funny that 2 fighters tested positive but neither were HH. Has Coleman or Randleman ever tested positive? They've been in Pride for so long and Pride obviously doesn't test.


http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6064

Now, this news. Looks like the HH tradition is alive and well! I wonder how many other Pride fighters have tricks up their sleeve.

[LEONARD]

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/hankdMMA/PrideRealDeal/Coleman-Daughters.jpg

was this taken by you as well? this picture, if entered in a contest would win. Look at the emotion in the eyes and expressions of the girls. Amazing!

No, I did NOT take this one. This and the pics of Fedor's entrance are not mine...


http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=6064

Now, this news. Looks like the HH tradition is alive and well! I wonder how many other Pride fighters have tricks up their sleeve.

Saw that yesterday...DOH!!

[LEONARD]

I went ahead and uploaded some of my videos...taken with my digi camera, so not the greatest quality...

Fedor Practice Intro
http://download.yousendit.com/F7753BFC003EDB0C

Ring from Floor (pre-fight)
http://download.yousendit.com/D5227AC75DC2A01C

Randleman, Coleman, Baroni Warming Up
http://download.yousendit.com/1813CD181E4068B4

Butterbean & Hammerhouse Warming Up
http://download.yousendit.com/981867913AF7D42A

Fedor Press Conf 1
http://download.yousendit.com/0B83DD3F389432FB

Shogun Press Conf
http://download.yousendit.com/2536A95377214C2D

Silva Press Conf
http://download.yousendit.com/8FC603507E62DFC3

Fedor Leaving Press Conf
http://download.yousendit.com/7075F6CE05D9EFF2

Fedor Autographs
http://download.yousendit.com/2E4649B428EE8F63

[IX_Equilibrium]

What the hell is Pride doing? They have a definate cheesiness factor that I have always disliked. This doesn't help.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/34401241

[cornbread]

What the hell is Pride doing? They have a definate cheesiness factor that I have always disliked. This doesn't help.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/34401241

BAD NEWS!!! Let's pray that the meeting was total waste of time for both parties and that nothing will come of it.

[LEONARD]

Yea, let's just hope that goes away...