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2001 in Pride FC
View on Wikipedia| 2001 in Pride FC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| First date | March 25, 2001 | |||
| Last date | December 23, 2001 | |||
| Events | ||||
| Total events | 6 | |||
| Fights | ||||
| Total fights | 49 | |||
| Title fights | 2 | |||
| Chronology | ||||
| ||||
The year 2001 was the 5th year in the history of the Pride Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. 2001 had 6 events beginning with, Pride 13 - Collision Course.
Title fights
[edit]| Title fights in 2001 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Event | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Wanderlei Silva | def. | Kazushi Sakuraba | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 10:00 | Pride 17 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Heath Herring | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Pride 17 | [b] |
Debut Pride FC fighters
[edit]The following fighters fought their first Pride FC fight in 2001:
Events list
[edit]| # | Event | Japanese name | Date held | Venue | City | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Pride 18 - Cold Fury 2 | — | December 23, 2001 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan | — |
| 19 | Pride 17 - Championship Chaos | — | November 3, 2001 | Tokyo Dome | Tokyo, Japan | 53,200 |
| 18 | Pride 16 - Beasts from the East | — | September 24, 2001 | Osaka-jo Hall | Osaka, Japan | — |
| 17 | Pride 15 - Raging Rumble | — | July 29, 2001 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| 16 | Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans | — | May 27, 2001 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | — |
| 15 | Pride 13 - Collision Course | — | March 25, 2001 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
Pride 13: Collision Course
[edit]| Pride 13 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | March 25, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 13: Collision Course[1] was an event held on March 25, 2001 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Wanderlei Silva | def. | Kazushi Sakuraba | TKO (Knees and Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 1:38 | ||
| Tra Telligman | def. | Igor Vovchanchyn | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Tadao Yasuda | def. | Masaaki Satake | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Mark Coleman | def. | Allan Goes | TKO (Knees) | 1 | 1:19 | ||
| Dan Henderson | def. | Renzo Gracie | KO (Punch) | 1 | 1:40 | ||
| Heath Herring | def. | Denis Sobolev | Submission (Keylock) | 1 | 0:22 | ||
| Guy Mezger | def. | Egan Inoue | KO (Punch) | 1 | 2:25 | ||
| Vitor Belfort | def. | Bobby Southworth | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:09 | ||
Pride 14: Clash of the Titans
[edit]| Pride 14 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | May 27, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Yokohama Arena | |||
| City | Yokohama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 14: Clash of the Titans[2] was an event held on May 27, 2001 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Kazuyuki Fujita | def. | Yoshihiro Takayama | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 2 | 3:10 | ||
| Igor Vovchanchyn | def. | Gilbert Yvel | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 1:52 | ||
| Wanderlei Silva | def. | Shungo Oyama | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 0:30 | ||
| Dan Henderson | def. | Akira Shoji | TKO (Punches and Knees) | 3 | 3:18 | ||
| Vitor Belfort | def. | Heath Herring | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Gary Goodridge | def. | Valentijn Overeem | TKO (Submission to Knee) | 1 | 2:39 | ||
| Chuck Liddell | def. | Guy Mezger | KO (Punch) | 2 | 0:21 | ||
| Daijiro Matsui | def. | Jose Landi-Jons | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Antonio Schembri | def. | Johil de Oliveira | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 7:17 | ||
Pride 15: Raging Rumble
[edit]| Pride 15 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | July 29, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Attendance | 27,323 | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 15: Raging Rumble[3] was an event held on July 29, 2001 at the Saitama Super Arena Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Future Pride and UFC legends Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Quinton Jackson made their Pride debuts at this event.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Tokimitsu Ishizawa | def. | Ryan Gracie | TKO (Injury) | 1 | 4:51 | ||
| Kazushi Sakuraba | def. | Quinton Jackson | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 5:41 | ||
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Gary Goodridge | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:37 | ||
| Heath Herring | def. | Mark Kerr | TKO (Knees) | 2 | 4:56 | ||
| Igor Vovchanchyn | def. | Masaaki Satake | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Ebenezer Fontes Braga | def. | Daijiro Matsui | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Wallid Ismail | def. | Shungo Oyama | Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 2 | 2:30 | ||
| Assuério Silva | def. | Valentijn Overeem | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 2:50 | ||
Pride 16: Beasts from the East
[edit]| Pride 16 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride | |||
| Date | September 24, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Osaka Castle Hall | |||
| City | Osaka, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 16: Beasts from the East[4] was an event held on September 24, 2001 at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Mark Coleman | Submission (Triangle Armbar) | 1 | 6:10 | ||
| Don Frye | def. | Gilbert Yvel | DQ (Eye Gouging) | 1 | 7:27 | ||
| Semmy Schilt | def. | Akira Shoji | KO (Knee and Punches) | 1 | 8:19 | ||
| Ricardo Arona | def. | Guy Mezger | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Murilo Rua | def. | Daijiro Matsui | TKO (Soccer Kick and Stomps) | 3 | 0:51 | ||
| Assuério Silva | def. | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 0:11 | ||
| Gary Goodridge | def. | Yoshiaki Yatsu | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 1 | 3:03 | ||
Pride 17: Championship Chaos
[edit]| Pride 17 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | November 3, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Tokyo Dome | |||
| City | Tokyo | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 17: Championship Chaos[5] was an event held on November 3, 2001 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This event saw the crowning of the first Pride FC Heavyweight and Middleweight champions. It also marked the debut of future Pride champion Mirko Cro Cop.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Middleweight | Wanderlei Silva | def. | Kazushi Sakuraba | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 10:00 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Heath Herring | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Mario Sperry | def. | Igor Vovchanchyn | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:52 | ||
| Semmy Schilt | def. | Masaaki Satake | TKO (Front Kick and Punches) | 1 | 2:18 | ||
| Dan Henderson | def. | Murilo Rua | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Quinton Jackson | def. | Yuki Ishikawa | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:52 | ||
| Renzo Gracie | def. | Michiyoshi Ohara | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Pride vs. K-1 Rules bouts | |||||||
| Mirko Cro Cop | vs. | Nobuhiko Takada | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | ||
| Tom Erikson | def. | Matt Skelton | Submission (Strangle Choke) | 1 | 1:51 | ||
- ^ For The Pride Fighting Championship World Middleweight Championship. Sakuraba suffered a broken collarbone after being slammed by Silva.
- ^ For The Pride Fighting Championship World Heavyweight Championship.
Pride 18: Cold Fury 2
[edit]| Pride 18 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | December 23, 2001 | |||
| Venue | Marine Messe Fukuoka | |||
| City | Fukuoka | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 18: Cold Fury 2[6] was an event held on December 23, 2001 at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Semmy Schilt | def. | Yoshihiro Takayama | KO (Punches) | 1 | 3:09 | ||
| Wanderlei Silva | def. | Alexander Otsuka | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 3 | 2:22 | [a] | |
| Jeremy Horn | def. | Akira Shoji | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Igor Vovchanchyn | def. | Valentijn Overeem | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 4:35 | ||
| Murilo Rua | def. | Alex Andrade | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Alex Stiebling | def. | Allan Goes | TKO (Knees and Punches) | 3 | 0:47 | ||
| Daijiro Matsui | def. | Quinton Jackson | DQ (Knee to Groin) | 1 | 0:14 | ||
| Pride vs. K-1 Rules bout | |||||||
| Yoshihisa Yamamoto | def. | Jan Nortje | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 1:43 | ||
- ^ Non-title bout
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Pride 13 - Collision Course". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26.
- ^ "Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23.
- ^ "Pride 15 - Raging Rumble". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25.
- ^ "Pride 16 - Beasts from the East". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23.
- ^ "Pride 17 - Championship Chaos". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23.
- ^ "Pride 18 - Cold Fury 2". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26.
2001 in Pride FC
View on GrokipediaOverview
Context and Background
Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC), founded in 1997, initially focused on open-weight tournaments that showcased a spectacle-style format blending martial arts disciplines, drawing from Japan's growing interest in combat sports. By 2000, the promotion had evolved into more structured events, highlighted by the inaugural Pride Grand Prix, which introduced bracket-style competitions and attracted a broader roster of international talent, including wrestlers and strikers from various backgrounds. This shift marked Pride's transition from raw exhibition bouts to organized tournaments, increasing its appeal beyond Japan and setting the stage for greater global participation in subsequent years.[10] In 2001, Pride FC operated under a distinctive ruleset that emphasized endurance and versatility: bouts featured a 10-minute first round followed by 5-minute subsequent rounds, with 2-minute rests in between for non-title fights. The promotion maintained an open heavyweight format with no strict weight classes for most contests, though a middleweight division at 205 pounds had been introduced in 2000; techniques such as soccer kicks and stomps to downed opponents were permitted, distinguishing Pride from more restrictive international standards. These rules fostered high-paced, aggressive fights that aligned with the promotion's entertainment-driven ethos.[11] Pride FC enjoyed immense popularity in Japan during this period, bolstered by its partnership with Fuji Television, which broadcast events monthly starting around 2000, reaching millions of viewers and solidifying the promotion's status as a cultural phenomenon. To elevate its profile further, Pride expanded by signing prominent UFC veterans, such as Mark Coleman, who had won the 2000 Pride Grand Prix, and Dan Henderson, who debuted in 2000 and continued competing actively. This influx of international stars enhanced the promotion's credibility and diversity. The year 2001 saw a peak in event frequency with six shows held, more than in any prior year, reflecting the organization's rising momentum.[12][10][2] This organizational growth culminated in the late 2001 introduction of formal heavyweight and middleweight championships, formalizing Pride's competitive structure.[11]Key Achievements and Milestones
In 2001, Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC) achieved a significant milestone with the crowning of its inaugural Middleweight and Heavyweight champions at Pride 17: Championship Chaos on November 3, held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Wanderlei Silva defeated Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 10:00 of the first round to claim the Middleweight title (205 lb limit), while Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Heath Herring by unanimous decision to become the first Heavyweight champion. These victories established formal divisional structures for Pride FC, transitioning the promotion from open-weight tournaments to a championship system that influenced its competitive format in subsequent years.[13] The year featured six events—Pride 13 through Pride 18—totaling 49 fights, reflecting Pride FC's growing scale and international appeal.[14][4][15][7][16][9] A notable trend was the high rate of submission finishes, underscoring the promotion's emphasis on grappling arts amid an influx of Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists. This contributed to Pride FC's reputation for decisive outcomes. Pride 17 drew a record attendance of 53,246 spectators at the Tokyo Dome, highlighting the promotion's peak popularity in Japan and its ability to fill major venues.[16] This event not only showcased the new champions but also marked the debuts of influential fighters such as Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Quinton Jackson earlier in the year at Pride 15. The successes of Brazilian competitors like Silva and Nogueira signaled their emergence as dominant forces, gradually shifting the competitive balance away from established Japanese stars and elevating Pride FC's global profile.Notable Debuts
Major Fighter Debuts
In 2001, Pride Fighting Championships saw the introduction of several fighters who would go on to shape the promotion's heavyweight and middleweight divisions. Among the most notable debuts were those at Pride 14: Clash of the Titans on May 27, held at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.[17] Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, a Croatian kickboxer and former member of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit special police force, entered Pride with a background in K-1 kickboxing where he had competed since 1996, amassing a reputation for devastating left high kicks.[18] In his promotional debut against Kazuyuki Fujita, Filipović secured a technical knockout victory via doctor stoppage due to cuts in the second round at 3:22, showcasing his striking precision early in the bout.[17] At the same event, Dan Henderson, an American freestyle wrestler and future Olympian, made his Pride debut against Akira Shoji. Henderson won by unanimous decision after three rounds, demonstrating his elite wrestling pedigree and ground-and-pound style that would lead to multiple championships in the promotion.[4] Chuck Liddell, an American wrestler and kickboxer who had established himself with a 10-1 overall MMA record including a recent knockout win over Kevin Randleman at UFC 31 in May 2001, crossed over to Pride amid growing inter-promotional exchanges.[19] Facing Guy Mezger in the middleweight tournament quarterfinals, Liddell delivered a knockout punch just 21 seconds into the second round, highlighting his explosive knockout power.[17] Shifting to Pride 15: Raging Rumble on July 29 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, Antônio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira debuted as an undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with a 6-0 professional record from Brazilian promotions like the Brazilian Freestyle Circuit and Meca World Vale Tudo, where he had submitted opponents with his elite grappling.[20] Against Gary Goodridge, Nogueira dominated with a first-round triangle choke submission at 2:37, immediately positioning himself as a top heavyweight contender through his ground control and submission expertise.[6] Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, a 23-year-old American with a wrestling base from Lassen Community College and limited professional experience including two early wins in U.S. regional promotions, brought raw athleticism and striking to Pride.[21] In his debut opposite Kazushi Sakuraba, Jackson lost by first-round rear-naked choke submission at 5:41 after a competitive exchange of takedowns and strikes, but his resilience foreshadowed his future as a knockout artist in the promotion.[6]Significance of New Talent
The introduction of new talent in 2001 significantly diversified Pride FC's fighting styles and expanded its international draw, injecting fresh dynamics into the promotion's established grappling-heavy meta. Fighters like Quinton Jackson and Chuck Liddell brought American aggression and striking prowess, while Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop showcased elite grappling and kickboxing respectively, collectively elevating the competitive depth and viewer engagement across global audiences.[10] Quinton Jackson's debut exemplified the infusion of an aggressive wrestling-striking hybrid style, characterized by his explosive athleticism and raw power, which captivated fans even in a losing effort against Kazushi Sakuraba at Pride 15. Despite the submission loss, Jackson's relentless pressure and physicality earned immediate favoritism from Japanese crowds, fostering a dedicated following that propelled his rise within Pride and influenced future matchmaking toward high-energy bouts blending takedowns with stand-up violence.[5] Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's grappling dominance from his Pride 15 debut onward laid the groundwork for his heavyweight title victory at Pride 17 later that year, underscoring the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Pride's ruleset and amplifying Brazilian fighters' prominence in a promotion dominated by Japanese and American stars. His quick submission wins highlighted superior ground control and resilience, inspiring a wave of BJJ practitioners to compete internationally and enriching Pride's narrative around technical mastery over brute force.[22] Mirko Cro Cop's debut at Pride 14 introduced devastating high kicks and knockout power rooted in his kickboxing pedigree, bridging MMA with the broader combat sports world and attracting crossover fans from K-1 events to boost Pride's international viewership. His technical striking precision and finishing ability added a layer of stand-up excitement, compelling organizers to feature more hybrid rulesets and enhancing the promotion's appeal in Europe and beyond.[23] Chuck Liddell's Pride 14 debut intensified the UFC-Pride rivalry by pitting American knockout artistry against Japanese submission specialists, as seen in his emphatic TKO of Guy Mezger, which spotlighted contrasting stylistic narratives and heightened promotional tensions between the two leading organizations. This cross-promotion appearance underscored Pride's growing status as a global hub, drawing UFC talent and fueling discussions on unified rules and inter-organizational supremacy.[24]Title Fights
Inaugural Middleweight Championship
The inaugural Pride FC Middleweight Championship, contested at a weight limit of 205 pounds (93 kg), was established in 2001 to crown the promotion's first titleholder in the division.[13] The championship bout headlined Pride 17: Championship Chaos on November 3, 2001, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, pitting Brazilian striker Wanderlei Silva against Japanese grappling specialist Kazushi Sakuraba in a rematch.[13] Entering the fight, Silva carried a record of 16-3 (1 NC), riding a knockout streak that included stoppage victories over Shungo Oyama at Pride 14 and Sakuraba himself in their first encounter at Pride 13, where Silva secured a first-round TKO via knees and soccer kicks at 1:38.[25] Sakuraba, with a 13-2-1 record, entered as a fan favorite known for his "Gracie Hunter" moniker, earned through submission wins over multiple members of the Gracie family, including Royler Gracie, Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, and Ryan Gracie between 1999 and 2000.[26] The matchup contrasted Silva's aggressive Muay Thai-based pressure with Sakuraba's versatile wrestling and submission skills, building anticipation as a clash between rising international talent and Japanese pride following their earlier brief but explosive meeting.[27] In the fight, Silva dominated early with relentless striking and takedown defense, eventually slamming Sakuraba to the mat in a pivotal sequence that fractured the challenger's collarbone.[27] The bout proceeded to the 10-minute mark of the first round, after which the doctor intervened due to the injury, awarding Silva a TKO victory and the vacant middleweight title.[13] This win improved Silva's record to 17-3 (1 NC), marking his second victory over Sakuraba in 2001 and solidifying his status as an elite finisher with 13 knockouts in his career to that point.[25] Silva's triumph as the inaugural champion highlighted the growing influence of Brazil's Chute Boxe Academy, which emphasized high-pressure striking and had produced several standout performers in Pride FC by late 2001.[28] The outcome not only established Silva as a dominant force in the middleweight division—he would defend the title successfully five times over the next several years—but also underscored Pride's shift toward crowning formal champions amid its expanding global roster.[28]Inaugural Heavyweight Championship
The inaugural Pride FC Heavyweight Championship bout took place at Pride 17: Championship Chaos on November 3, 2001, in Tokyo, Japan, marking the promotion's shift from open-weight rules to a structured heavyweight division for fighters over 205 pounds (93 kg).[13] This transition aimed to highlight specialized matchups in the larger weight class, with Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, entering with a record of 12-0, selected as the challenger due to his rapid ascent in Pride since his debut in 2000.[20] Nogueira had built significant momentum that year, securing submission victories over Gary Goodridge via triangle choke at Pride 15 in July and Mark Coleman via triangle armbar at Pride 16 in September, showcasing his elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu grappling from the bottom position. His opponent, Heath Herring, entered with a 17-6 record and a reputation for explosive power punching and knockout power, having recently defeated Mark Kerr by TKO (knees) at Pride 15.[29] Herring's aggressive striking style contrasted sharply with Nogueira's ground-based approach, setting up a stylistic clash that was anticipated to test the viability of grappling dominance against raw knockout threat in the new division.[30] The fight unfolded over three 10-minute rounds under Pride's rules, with Nogueira absorbing early pressure from Herring's heavy strikes but quickly transitioning to his strengths on the mat. Herring landed significant punches in the opening exchanges, briefly rocking Nogueira, but the Brazilian responded with takedowns and persistent submission attempts, including armbars and chokes that neutralized Herring's power. By the third round, Nogueira's superior cardio and grappling control had worn down Herring, leading to a unanimous decision victory for Nogueira (30-27 on all cards) after the full 30 minutes.[31] This outcome not only crowned Nogueira as the first Pride Heavyweight Champion but also validated his rubber guard and submission expertise as a cornerstone of heavyweight success in the promotion. Nogueira's triumph initiated a dominant championship reign, including defenses against top contenders that solidified his status as a grappling pioneer in MMA's heavyweight landscape during Pride's peak era.[30] The event also featured the inaugural Middleweight Championship bout earlier in the card, underscoring Pride's expansion into weight-class titles that year.[13]Events List
Schedule and Attendance
In 2001, Pride FC hosted six events, showcasing the promotion's growing popularity in Japan through a mix of arena and dome venues. The schedule reflected a strategic expansion, with major cards drawing significantly larger crowds to highlight key matchups, including the inaugural title fights at Pride 17.[2]| Event | Name | Date | Venue | City | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Collision Course | March 25, 2001 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama | ~27,000 |
| 14 | Clash of the Titans | May 27, 2001 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama | 15,326 |
| 15 | Raging Rumble | July 29, 2001 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama | 27,323[15] |
| 16 | Beasts from the East | September 24, 2001 | Osaka Castle Hall | Osaka | 14,907 |
| 17 | Championship Chaos | November 3, 2001 | Tokyo Dome | Tokyo | 53,246[16] |
| 18 | Cold Fury 2 | December 23, 2001 | Marine Messe Fukuoka | Fukuoka | ~8,000[32] |
