There wasnt a single fighter not on PED of some kind in Pride. Thats what made it incredible. Youre watching athletes at optimum performance. You just cant get any better action wise.
Although there was no drug testing thats way to much of a sweeping statement to be quantifiable. The reason why PRIDE was soo succesful was because they paid their fighters very well, more so than any other organisation. The had the deepest level of talent as a result.Had a great set of rules that were geared towards as much action as possible. And the presentation of the product was par excellent. PRIDE shows were few and far between but the cards were always stacked with great action great fights and great fighters.
The UFC has as much or even more talent as Pride had at it's peak and has more than 1 show a month, Strikeforce, WEC, Sengoku, M1 and other local organisations put on show, because the sport has developed now you are watching better fighters. What I think people really miss is the Pride show, they miss those big trophies, that Japanese woman screaming fighters names out, the crazy cartoon and the show at the beginning and end and the fact whe the trophies were presented it had the feel of a world championship... Now Dream does a similar show. This is the best time ever to be a mma fan, the fact that Pride was sold and fighter went to different organisations and set up new promotions is the reason the sport is so popular now.
