I miss PRIDE because of the freakshow aspect of it. DREAM was cool, but RIZIN (While decent doesn't give me that same feel. Japanese MMA is back somewhat, but I'd love to see that big feel back.
I miss PRIDE FC for sure as it was fair: everyone was on steroids (no testosterone treatments and "pulsating" jerks), the rules were savage, not in favor of BJJ and for many other reasons, the fights were more exciting and close to a real free fight. No wonder Zuffa rushed to buy and defunct it when the Japanese abandoned it for some reason.
Hell yeah pride was the best in its heyday. From Gracie-Yoshida, to Shamrock-Frye pride has some of the biggest fights in MMA history!
Of course. Aesthetically it was probably the pinnacle of MMA, there was just something larger than life about it all.
Really enjoyed it from 2002-2007,before that it wasn’t that entertaining,because the fights were contested mostly on the ground.The 2003 and 2005 middleweight Grand Prixs were amazing.It’s a shame Wanderlei lost to arona in an upset because we could’ve gotten a dream final between Wanderlei and Shogun. Pride final Conflict 2003,2005,pride final conflict absolute,Pride 25,33,Bushido 9 were all extraordinary.
Good points. The first time I saw Silva it was against a wrestler called (iirc) Malenko or something. This guy had dry humped his way to victory past a few guys and I was really hopeful when Quadros talked about 'punches in bunches'. Wandy did not disappoint
I also missed Pride FC. They forever looked the true MMA fans and I am one of them. Former Pride middleweight champion Dan Henderson built a good chunk of his legacy in the Japanese promotion from 2000 to 2006.