Long Term This Event Was Bad For Pride

[Clint]

Thinking about last nights fights, the results are horrible for Pride in the long run both in the US and in Japan.

Note: My comments about what the US fans think are about the general US fans, not necessarily the fans that know more about the sport.

#1) Misaki-Trigg
- In Japan they could have built up a rematch between Misaki and Henderson. Misaki beat Henderson in a nontitle fight and won the WWGP. Now he has two losses, one to Filho in the tourney and one to Trigg. Now who is the #1 contender?

- In the US, any new fans just saw on of Prides top WW contenders lose to a guy who couldn't make it in the UFC. It makes the UFC look second tier to people that don't know any better

#2) Lil Nog-Sokoudjou
- Lil Nog has deserved a title shot for a while now and now this loss, has to have dropped him from the #1 contender spot. While not being too big of a blow, Pride still loses a very viable title shot until they can build Nog back up with a fight or two.

#3) Gomi-Diaz
-This one really hurts on the Japanese Front. Pride was pushing this fight in the Japanese media as the begining of Gomi's attack on the UFC's LW and WW divisions (after Gomi mentioned wanting to beat Sherk, Hughes, & Penn). They billed this match as Gomi vs top UFC fighter in an interpromotional war between the UFC and Pride and it backfired.

- Again the casual fans see Prides top guy lose to a guy who couldn't make it in the UFC.

#4) Henderson-Silva
- The Japanese media was big on this fight being Wandy's introduction to the US and after beating Henderson, he would call out Liddell again and the UFC would be forced to make the fight. Pride as a while has continually been using Wandy calling out Liddell as their way of making noise in the US. Now that is even less likely to happen.

- Also Pride champs don't defend their belts all that often anyways. With Henderson holding 2 titles, they will be defended even less.

[neonatural45]

couldnt agree more. Call me crazy but i think PRIDE's plan to have their fighters beat up ex-UFC fighters backfired and i feel bad for them becuase of that. I cant even comment on the Lil nog fight and what that does to his title shot. When was the last time wandy defended besides this? itd been awhile im sure

[Hypergit]

It was very exciting, so more people will buy the next PPV through word of mouth.

I see what you mean though - and they have certainly embarassed themselves with the blatent anti UFC propaganda and matchmaking backfiring - but at the end of the day I think people buy PPVs to be entertained above all else.

Put it this way - 33 was a lot better for them than Real Deal imo even though they got the resuiltes they desired in Real Deal.

[ozzy2525]

Originally Posted by Clint

Thinking about last nights fights, the results are horrible for Pride in the long run both in the US and in Japan.

Note: My comments about what the US fans think are about the general US fans, not necessarily the fans that know more about the sport.

#1) Misaki-Trigg
- In Japan they could have built up a rematch between Misaki and Henderson. Misaki beat Henderson in a nontitle fight and won the WWGP. Now he has two losses, one to Filho in the tourney and one to Trigg. Now who is the #1 contender?

- In the US, any new fans just saw on of Prides top WW contenders lose to a guy who couldn't make it in the UFC. It makes the UFC look second tier to people that don't know any better

#2) Lil Nog-Sokoudjou
- Lil Nog has deserved a title shot for a while now and now this loss, has to have dropped him from the #1 contender spot. While not being too big of a blow, Pride still loses a very viable title shot until they can build Nog back up with a fight or two.

#3) Gomi-Diaz
-This one really hurts on the Japanese Front. Pride was pushing this fight in the Japanese media as the begining of Gomi's attack on the UFC's LW and WW divisions (after Gomi mentioned wanting to beat Sherk, Hughes, & Penn). They billed this match as Gomi vs top UFC fighter in an interpromotional war between the UFC and Pride and it backfired.

- Again the casual fans see Prides top guy lose to a guy who couldn't make it in the UFC.

#4) Henderson-Silva
- The Japanese media was big on this fight being Wandy's introduction to the US and after beating Henderson, he would call out Liddell again and the UFC would be forced to make the fight. Pride as a while has continually been using Wandy calling out Liddell as their way of making noise in the US. Now that is even less likely to happen.

- Also Pride champs don't defend their belts all that often anyways. With Henderson holding 2 titles, they will be defended even less.

Great post could not agree more and imagine if Diaz gets a title shot wins and then leaves to another org that would be the hardest hit

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Hypergit

It was very exciting, so more people will buy the next PPV through word of mouth.

I see what you mean though - and they have certainly embarassed themselves with the blatent anti UFC propaganda and matchmaking backfiring - but at the end of the day I think people buy PPVs to be entertained above all else.

Put it this way - 33 was a lot better for them than Real Deal imo even though they got the resuiltes they desired in Real Deal.

No doubt the fights were awesome and should help word of mouth some but strategically it threw them off.

Hopefully this will push them to reassess their US strategy

[Afro]

I dont understand this whole UFC fighters beating up Pride fighters thing, its not like those fighters are going back to the UFC.. there Pride now

People wont be saying this after Cro-cop beats everyone the UFC has to offer.

as far as this being bad for Pride, an exciting PPV like that shouldnt be but I see your points

The problem I see hear is, Gomi will get a rematch and it'll be for the title ala Arona/Wandy and most likely Gomi would win the rematch.. Nicks win would be just for bragging rights at that point.

The WAndy/Chuck thing fell dead but that hurts both orgs not just Pride

But do you really think the UFC fans seeing Prides top guys lose to UFC fighters is gonna turn viewers off? they probably thought those UFC fighters shoulda won in the first place!

[NinjaShogunRua]

I personally love it though. Everything is shook up. PRIDE was getting boring with the belts never changing and the rankings pretty much the same for the last few years. Now we have Hendo with 2 belts which is something we've never seen before. Gomi is a 2x paper champ losing 2 of his 4 non-title defenses since he won the belt. PRIDE really needs to make him defend his title more. The LHW rankings are all shook up with Lil Nog losing to Sokoudjou, and Wanderlei losing. To me this adds alot of excitement to PRIDE for 2007. We got the LWGP coming up and alot of unanswered questions.

[aperfectmatrix]

I think the production and how Pride presents their fights hurts them as well in America. I don't know how many people I have heard already that watched Pride for the first time last night said "their intros are ridiculous and that screaming lady needs to go."

I think this definitely hurts for Gomi. People think hes a paper champ enough as it is and now he lost another NON title fight so what happens with him?

I don't think the Trigg fight is as big of a deal, I mean Trigg is just on a hot streak after beating up on Mayhem as well. Does it hurt the Japanese, yeah but everyone knows that Paulo is the one that deserves the title shot.

Wanderlei is screwed now. UFC won't want to pit him and Liddell for two reasons. One is that Silva just lost two in a row. Another, he has not belt. What's the purpose of putting Silva against a man from another org that isn't even champion?

[Rockx]

I don't think anyone can say that Pride management is happy with those results in the overall scheme of things. Gomi and Silva are highly esteemed within in the Pride organization, and they were definitely showcased to win.

On the flipside of this though, I respect that Pride sets up competitive fights amongst their champions, you really don't see UFC doing that. It was an awesome event.

It is strange, Pride has more competitive cards, puts their champions in danger, better fights and people think they suck. UFC protects their fighters, has way less action in the fight, rarely an upset and people tune in.

I can only think that Americans want drama and not fights, Americans like to feel part of the fighters life and expect them to win. When their fighter does not win, they stop tuning in.

[Ubermensch]

The thing I don't get is that Trigg was never Bad people jump on him for losing to two of the best WW in the world because he lost the same way and didn't learn. However his other fights have been remarkable and both Fights with Matt were highly competitive and he could of won them both. Newer fans think he is a blow-hard because of the RNC's but he is a top calber Fighter and I would really like to see him fight Diego because I think that matchup would be great....P.S. Trigg If your reading this Don't pose nude anymore...Really.