MMA Fans

Puzzled

Shared on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 22:39
If your a fan of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) then you've probaby heard of the UFC.  However, you may not be knowledgeable of another orginization called Pride.  It's essentially the UFC over in Japan.  Well... essentially, but it's actually a bigger show than the UFC.  Only recently has the UFC started selling enough tickets and PPVs to start competing w/Pride in terms of finance and international popularity.  Well, because the US is starting to accept MMA as a legitimate sport now, thanks to the PPV's and shows like Spike TV "The Ultimate Fighter" Pride has seen a potential market for their product.  And hence, Pride will be having a US show coming up in October.  It's rumored that the whole production will be costing upwards of 5 million bucks, so I'm expecting to see a good show. 

To that end, one of Prides most impressive fighters, and one that I've followed for a couple of years now, is Fedor Emelianenko.  He's the HW champ currently w/quite an impressieve record. 

Why do I like him?  Am I just jumping on the bandwagon of a winner?  No... Fedor has earned my MMA fan respect because he's unique.  His MMA training and exercise regimen is rudimentary and basic.  No high tech machines and suspect supplements.  He doesn't fly in top shelf fighters/trainers to train with.  He doesn't try to look like a freaking body builder (lots of cosmetic muscle w/little functional strength).  He fights guys that are larger than him.  He doesn't talk a bunch of pre-fight trash like many of these other young fighers.  He comes off as very humble and respectful in all of his matches.   I also like the fact that Fedor is well rounded.  He can bang w/some of the best strikers in Pride (read Cro Cop) and yet his grappling throws and submissions are deadly too.  He's definitely an impressive fighter to watch. 

So here's a highlight video of him in action. 

Hopefully this vid will work. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I-6UVNpAXo[/youtube]

Comments

Raider30's picture
Submitted by Raider30 on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 15:38
Big Pride fan here. I've been watching them for years. I prefer Pride to UFC for a variety of reasons. I like Fedor and his whole attitude. He sort of reminds me of Igor Vovchanchyn who is one of my all time favorite fighers. Not showy, just a quiet guy who comes to get the job done and is gracious afterward. I just today picked up from a CD Tradepost shop the Pride Fighting Legacy dvd Volume 3, which contains events 12-16. Thats 5 complete Pride events 41 total fights. Woot. All for only 13.64 after taxes. Double Woot. Needless to say I'll be contacting the other CD Tradeposts in my area to see if they have any of the other volumes. Cool to see another Pride fan here as most people tend to go for UFC as its more well known here in the states.
Puzzled's picture
Submitted by Puzzled on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 23:41
Yeah, they kind of over did it w/the flare thingys, but still cool. Soup, that's exactly what me and my buddies say. He looks like just a Joe Shmoe or regular guy, no one would know that he beats up the toughest guys in MMA HW division for a living. Yep, Pride fan here bro. Good to see some more MMA fans here.
Gatsu's picture
Submitted by Gatsu on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 23:14
too many lense flares in that video. Was still bad ass though. I could take him...hehe...with a shotgun maybe.
SoupNazzi's picture
Submitted by SoupNazzi on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 07:27
Wow. Excellent use of leverage and just pure explosive. He's the guy who is unassuming in the bar, but when confronted, takes out 6 guys all by himself.
MikeTheKnife's picture
Submitted by MikeTheKnife on Fri, 09/22/2006 - 15:23
Seems to me like Pride is a little different from UFC in that Pride encourages those long, chess-type grapplefests that get boo-ed at UFC. The Japanese fans love it and go nuts when those guys are on the mat tangled up for a long time. I wonder if they're going to change up the rules a little bit when it comes over?

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