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2006 in Pride FC
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| 2006 in Pride FC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| First date | February 26, 2006 | |||
| Last date | December 31, 2006 | |||
| Events | ||||
| Total events | 10 | |||
| Fights | ||||
| Total fights | 101 | |||
| Title fights | 2 | |||
| Chronology | ||||
| ||||
The year 2006 was the 10th year in the history of the Pride Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. 2006 had 10 events beginning with, Pride 31 - Unbreakable.
Title fights
[edit]| Title fights in 2006 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Event | Notes | |||
| Lightweight | Takanori Gomi (c) | def. | Marcus Aurelio | Decision (Split) | 2 | 5:00 | Pride - Bushido 13 | [a] |
| Heavyweight | Fedor Emelianenko (c) | def. | Mark Hunt | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 8:16 | Pride FC - Shockwave 2006 | [b] |
Debut Pride FC fighters
[edit]The following fighters fought their first Pride FC fight in 2006:
|
|
|
Events list
[edit]| # | Event | Japanese name | Date held | Venue | City | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Pride FC - Shockwave 2006 | Otoko Matsuri - Fumetsu | December 31, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 48,709 |
| 65 | Pride FC - Bushido 13 | — | November 5, 2006 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | — |
| 64 | Pride 32 - The Real Deal | — | October 21, 2006 | Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 11,727 |
| 63 | Pride FC - Final Conflict Absolute | — | September 10, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| 62 | Pride FC - Bushido 12 | 2nd Round | August 27, 2006 | Nagoya Rainbow Hall | Nagoya, Japan | — |
| 61 | Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute | — | July 1, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| 60 | Pride FC - Bushido 11 | — | June 4, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| 59 | Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute | — | May 5, 2006 | Osaka Dome | Osaka, Japan | — |
| 58 | Pride FC - Bushido 10 | — | April 2, 2006 | Ariake Coliseum | Tokyo, Japan | — |
| 57 | Pride 31 - Unbreakable | Dreamers | February 26, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
Pride 31: Unbreakable
[edit]| Pride 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | February 26, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride 31: Unbreakable[1] was an event held on February 26, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
 Mark Hunt
|
def. |  Yosuke Nishijima
|
KO (Punch) | 3 | 1:18 | ||
 Mark Coleman
|
def. |  Maurício Rua
|
TKO (Broken Arm) | 1 | 0:49 | ||
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
|
def. | Kiyoshi Tamura
|
Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:24 | ||
| Josh Barnett
|
def. | Kazuhiro Nakamura
|
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 8:10 | ||
 Alistair Overeem
|
def. |  Sergei Kharitonov
|
TKO (Knees) | 1 | 5:13 | ||
| Tsuyoshi Kosaka
|
def. | Mario Sperry
|
TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:20 | ||
| Fabrício Werdum
|
def. |  John Olav Einemo
|
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Quinton Jackson
|
def. |  Dong Sik Yoon
|
Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Roman Zentsov
|
def. | Pedro Rizzo
|
KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:25 | ||
Pride FC: Bushido 10
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | April 2, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Ariake Coliseum | |||
| City | Tokyo | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Bushido 10[2] was an event held on April 2, 2006, at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Main Card | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Marcus Aurelio
|
def. | Takanori Gomi
|
Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 4:34 | ||
| Dan Henderson
|
def. | Kazuo Misaki
|
Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Ikuhisa Minowa
|
def. | Paulo Cesar Silva
|
TKO (Knees) | 1 | 2:23 | ||
| Phil Baroni
|
def. | Yuki Kondo
|
KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:25 | ||
| Akihiro Gono
|
def. | Dae Won Kim
|
Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 9:00 | ||
| Paulo Filho
|
def. | Murilo Rua
|
Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Joachim Hansen
|
def. | Luiz Azeredo
|
KO (Knee) | 1 | 7:09 | ||
 Denis Kang
|
def. |  Mark Weir
|
Submission (Knees) | 1 | 4:55 | ||
| Jens Pulver
|
def. | Kenji Arai
|
KO (Soccer Kick) | 1 | 3:59 | ||
| Mitsuhiro Ishida
|
def. | Paul Rodriguez
|
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 2:29 | ||
 Yves Edwards
|
def. | Seichi Ikemoto
|
Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute
[edit]| Pride: Total Elimination Absolute | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | May 5, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Osaka Dome | |||
| City | Osaka | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute[3] was an event held on May 5, 2006, at Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan.
This event featured the first round of Pride's 2006 Open-Weight tournament. Seven tournament matches were held along with one alternate match. The seven winning participants advanced to the second round, Pride Critical Countdown Absolute. The winner of the alternate bout will take the place of any fighter who is unable to participate in subsequent matches.
Pride Heavyweight Champion and 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Fedor Emelianenko was originally set to enter the tournament with a first round bye, but a hand injury prevented him from participating. Wanderlei Silva, then current Pride middleweight champion, received his bye into the second round.
Results
[edit]| Openweight Grand Prix Opening Round | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Openweight | Hidehiko Yoshida | def. | Yosuke Nishijima | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:33 | |
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Wagner da Conceicao Martins | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:17 | ||
| Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Ikuhisa Minowa | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:10 | ||
| Kazuyuki Fujita | def. | James Thompson | KO (Punch) | 1 | 8:25 | ||
| Josh Barnett | def. | Alexander Emelianenko | Submission (Keylock) | 2 | 1:57 | ||
| Mark Hunt | def. | Tsuyoshi Kosaka | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 4:15 | ||
| Fabrício Werdum | def. | Alistair Overeem | Submission (Kimura) | 2 | 3:43 | ||
| Alternate Bout | |||||||
| Roman Zentsov | def. | Gilbert Yvel | KO (Punch) | 1 | 4:55 | ||
2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix Bracket
[edit]| Pride: Total Elimination Absolute | Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alexander Emelianenko | 11:57 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | 14:15 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alistair Overeem | 13:43 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wagner da Conceicao Martins | 2:17 | |||||||||||||||||
| Mirko Cro Cop | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ikuhisa Minowa | 1:10 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Yosuke Nishijima | 2:33 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | KO | |||||||||||||||||
| James Thompson | 8:25 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Wanderlei Silva1 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Fedor Emelianenko | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
Pride FC: Bushido 11
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 11 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | June 4, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Bushido 11[4] was an event held on June 4, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Welterweight Grand Prix Opening round | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Kazuo Misaki | def. | Phil Baroni | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Denis Kang | def. | Murilo Rua | KO (Punches) | 1 | 0:15 | |
| Welterweight | Akihiro Gono | def. | Hector Lombard | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Gegard Mousasi | def. | Makoto Takimoto | TKO (Broken Eye Socket) | 1 | 5:34 | |
| Welterweight | Ryo Chonan | def. | Joey Villasenor | Decision (Split) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Paulo Filho | def. | Gregory Bouchelaghem | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Amar Suloev | def. | Murilo Bustamante | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Non Tournament Bouts | |||||||
| Hayato Sakurai | def. | Olaf Alfonso | KO (Punch) | 1 | 1:54 | ||
| Tatsuya Kawajiri | def. | Charles Bennett | Submission (Kneebar) | 1 | 2:30 | ||
| Mitsuhiro Ishida | def. | Marcus Aurelio | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Jason Black | def. | Won Jin Eoh | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 1 | 4:25 | ||
Pride 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Bracket
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 11 | Pride: Bushido 12 | Pride: Bushido 13 | Pride: Bushido 13 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Phil Baroni | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | DD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Joey Villasenor | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | UD | |||||||||||||||||
| Gregory Bouchelaghem | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | UD | |||||||||||||||||
| Hector Lombard | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Makoto Takimoto | 5:34 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amar Suloev | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Bustamante | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Amar Suloev | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Rua | 0:15 | |||||||||||||||||
Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute
[edit]| Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | July 1, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute[5] was an event held on July 1, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Openweight | Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Hidehiko Yoshida | TKO (Leg Kicks) | 1 | 7:38 | |
| Openweight | Josh Barnett | def. | Mark Hunt | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 2:02 | |
| Openweight | Wanderlei Silva | def. | Kazuyuki Fujita | TKO (Punches and Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 9:21 | |
| Openweight | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | def. | Fabrício Werdum | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Non Tournament Bouts | |||||||
| Middleweight | Kazuhiro Nakamura | def. | Evangelista Santos | Submission (Keylock) | 1 | 4:49 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | def. | Alistair Overeem | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 2:13 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Vitor Belfort | def. | Kazuo Takahashi | KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:36 | |
| Heavyweight | Yoshihiro Nakao | def. | Eun-Su Lee | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 4:16 | |
| Heavyweight | Pawel Nastula | def. | Edson Claas Vieira | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 4:33 | |
2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix Bracket
[edit]| Pride: Total Elimination Absolute | Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alexander Emelianenko | 11:57 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | 2:02 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | 14:15 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alistair Overeem | 13:43 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | 20:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wagner da Conceicao Martins | 2:17 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ikuhisa Minowa | 1:10 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | 7:38 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Yosuke Nishijima | 2:33 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Wanderlei Silva | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| James Thompson | 8:25 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | 9:21 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wanderlei Silva1 | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fedor Emelianenko | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
Pride FC: Bushido 12
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | August 26, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Nagoya Rainbow Hall | |||
| City | Nagoya | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Bushido 12[6] was an event held on August 27, 2006, at Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
Results
[edit]| Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Kazuo Misaki | def. | Dan Henderson | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Akihiro Gono | def. | Gegard Mousasi | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 4:24 | |
| Welterweight | Paulo Filho | def. | Ryo Chonan | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:30 | |
| Welterweight | Denis Kang | def. | Amar Suloev | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:10 | |
| Non Tournament Bouts | |||||||
| Takanori Gomi | def. | David Baron | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 7:10 | ||
| Ikuhisa Minowa | def. | Eric Esch | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 4:25 | ||
| Hayato Sakurai | def. | Luciano Azevedo | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 4:35 | ||
| Mitsuhiro Ishida | def. | Cristiano Marcello | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Tatsuya Kawajiri | def. | Chris Brennan | TKO (Knee and Punches) | 1 | 0:29 | ||
| Gilbert Melendez | def. | Nobuhiro Obiya | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Shinya Aoki | def. | Jason Black | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 1:58 | ||
| Hatsu Hioki | def. | Jeff Curran | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Hiroyuki Abe | vs. | Naoki Matsushita | Draw | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Daisuke Nakamura | def. | Seichi Ikemoto | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 3:36 | ||
Pride 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Bracket
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 11 | Pride: Bushido 12 | Pride: Bushido 13 | Pride: Bushido 13 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Phil Baroni | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | DD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Joey Villasenor | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | 2:30 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gregory Bouchelaghem | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hector Lombard | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | 4:24 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Makoto Takimoto | 5:34 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| Amar Suloev | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Bustamante | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Amar Suloev | 4:10 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Rua | 0:15 | |||||||||||||||||
Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute
[edit]| Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | September 10, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Saitama Super Arena | |||
| City | Saitama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute[7] was an event held on September 10, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
This event comprised the semifinal and final rounds of the Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix tournament. The tournament began on May 5, 2006, at the Total Elimination Absolute event and then continued on July 1, 2006, at Critical Countdown Absolute.
On August 5, 2006, Mirko Cro Cop announced his withdrawal from the tournament following a dispute over pay with Pride.[8] On August 7, 2006, it was reported that the matter had been resolved and Cro Cop would once again take his place in the finals.[9]
Results
[edit]| Openweight Grand Prix Finals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Openweight | Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Josh Barnett | TKO (Submission to Punches) | 1 | 7:32 | |
| Openweight Grand Prix Semifinals | |||||||
| Openweight | Josh Barnett | def. | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Decision (Split) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Openweight | Mirko Cro Cop | def. | Wanderlei Silva | KO (Head Kick) | 1 | 5:26 | |
| Non Tournament Bouts | |||||||
| Light Heavyweight | Ricardo Arona | def. | Alistair Overeem | TKO (Submission to Punches) | 1 | 4:28 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Maurício Rua | def. | Cyrille Diabate | TKO (Stomps) | 1 | 5:29 | |
| Middleweight | Kazuhiro Nakamura | def. | Yoshihiro Nakao | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Ricardo Morais | def. | Tae Hyun Lee | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 1 | 8:08 | |
| Heavyweight | Alexander Emelianenko | def. | Sergei Kharitonov | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 6:45 | |
| Middleweight | Evangelista Santos | def. | Yosuke Nishijima | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 3:24 | |
2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix Bracket
[edit]| Pride: Total Elimination Absolute | Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alexander Emelianenko | 11:57 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | 2:02 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mark Hunt | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | 14:15 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | SD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Alistair Overeem | 13:43 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fabrício Werdum | 20:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wagner da Conceicao Martins | 2:17 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Josh Barnett | 7:32 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ikuhisa Minowa | 1:10 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | 7:38 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hidehiko Yoshida | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Yosuke Nishijima | 2:33 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Mirko Cro Cop | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wanderlei Silva | 5:26 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| James Thompson | 8:25 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuyuki Fujita | 9:21 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Wanderlei Silva1 | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Fedor Emelianenko | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
Pride 32: The Real Deal
[edit]Pride FC: Bushido 13
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 13 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Pride Fighting Championships | |||
| Date | November 5, 2006 | |||
| Venue | Yokohama Arena | |||
| City | Yokohama | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pride FC: Bushido 13[10] was an event held on November 5, 2006, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
This event consisted of the semifinal and final rounds of the Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix.
In a lightweight championship bout, Takanori Gomi faced Marcus Aurélio, who had defeated Gomi in a non-title fight at Pride Bushido 10.
Originally Gilbert Melendez was set to face Shinya Aoki but an injury during training forced Melendez to withdraw from the fight. Clay French replaced Melendez in the fight.[11]
Results
[edit]| Welterweight Grand Prix Finals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Kazuo Misaki | def. | Denis Kang | Decision (Split) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinals | |||||||
| Welterweight | Paulo Filho | def. | Kazuo Misaki | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 9:43 | [a] |
| Welterweight | Denis Kang | def. | Akihiro Gono | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight Grand Prix Alternate bout | |||||||
| Welterweight | Gegard Mousasi | def. | Hector Lombard | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Non Tournament Bouts | |||||||
| Lightweight | Takanori Gomi (c) | def. | Marcus Aurelio | Decision (Split) | 2 | 5:00 | [b] |
| Lightweight | Shinya Aoki | def. | Clay French | Submission (Flying Triangle Choke) | 1 | 3:57 | |
| Lightweight | Mitsuhiro Ishida | def. | David Bielkheden | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Heavyweight | Ikuhisa Minowa | def. | Mike Plotcheck | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Sanae Kikuta | def. | Jean-Francois Lenogue | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Joe Pearson | def. | Yoshiro Maeda | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 0:54 | |
| Lightweight | Luiz Firmino | def. | Nobuhiro Obiya | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Murilo Bustamante | def. | Dong Sik Yoon | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | |
- ^ Paulo Filho dropped from the Grand Prix due to injuries sustained during his bout with Kazuo Misaki, who replaced him in the final round against Denis Kang.
- ^ For the Pride Fighting Championship World Lightweight Championship.
2006 Welterweight Grand Prix bracket
[edit]| Pride: Bushido 11 | Pride: Bushido 12 | Pride: Bushido 13 | Pride: Bushido 13 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Phil Baroni | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Dan Henderson | BYE | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki | 9:43 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | DD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Joey Villasenor | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Ryo Chonan | 2:30 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Paulo Filho | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gregory Bouchelaghem | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Kazuo Misaki 1 | DD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Hector Lombard | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | 4:24 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Gegard Mousasi | TKO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Makoto Takimoto | 5:34 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Akihiro Gono | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Amar Suloev | UD | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Bustamante | 15:00 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Amar Suloev | 4:10 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | SUB | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Denis Kang | KO | |||||||||||||||||
|
| Murilo Rua | 0:15 | |||||||||||||||||
1 Paulo Filho dropped from the Grand Prix due to injuries sustained during his bout with Kazuo Misaki, who replaced him in the final round against Denis Kang.
Pride FC: Shockwave 2006
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Pride 31 - Dreamers". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Pride - Bushido 10". Sherdog. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014.
- ^ "Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Pride - Bushido 11". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Pride - Bushido 12". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Pride FC - Final Conflict Absolute". Sherdog. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Cro Cop" to Walk Way from Pride GP – Sherdog.com, August 5, 2006
- ^ "Cro Cop" and DSE Reach Financial Terms – Sherdog.com, August 7, 2006
- ^ "Pride - Bushido 13". Sherdog. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014.
- ^ Melendez Out, French in at Bushido – Sherdog.com, November 1, 2006
2006 in Pride FC
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and Context
Pride FC's Status in 2006
In 2006, Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC), operated by Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE), grappled with mounting financial struggles that threatened its viability. The most significant blow came on June 5, 2006, when Fuji Television Network announced the immediate termination of its broadcasting contract with Pride FC, citing a breach related to undisclosed ties between DSE and organized crime groups, including the Yakuza.[17][18] This decision, prompted by investigative reporting in the Japanese weekly Shukan Gendai, severed a critical revenue source, as television commercials and sponsorships tied to Fuji TV broadcasts accounted for a substantial portion of the promotion's income.[18] The scandal also repelled potential advertisers and partners, amplifying operational difficulties such as escalating event production costs and internal debt accumulation, which had been building amid Japan's competitive entertainment landscape.[18][19] Amid these challenges, DSE leadership, under president Nobuyuki Sakakibara, made strategic internal decisions to prioritize high-stakes grand prix tournaments as a means to sustain fan engagement and revenue. The 2006 Openweight Grand Prix, spanning multiple events, exemplified this approach by featuring marquee international talent and dramatic elimination formats designed to recapture viewer interest during a period of uncertainty.[18] Concurrently, Sakakibara initiated exploratory talks for the promotion's potential sale, engaging with international entities including Zuffa LLC (owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship) as early as mid-2006, reflecting a proactive effort to secure long-term stability through acquisition.[20] Pride FC accelerated its global expansion ambitions in 2006, aiming to penetrate the lucrative North American market despite regulatory and financial headwinds. The promotion hosted its inaugural U.S. event, Pride 32: The Real Deal, on October 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a live pay-per-view spectacle, building on a 2003 distribution agreement with In Demand that provided access to roughly 27 million cable households.[21][18] This venture, however, encountered obstacles from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which imposed stricter rules on fight formats, limiting Pride's signature style and complicating logistics.[18] Attendance figures in 2006 highlighted Pride FC's enduring domestic appeal juxtaposed against expansion risks; major Japanese spectacles like Total Elimination Absolute on May 5 drew 43,000 fans to the Osaka Dome, while the year-end Pride Shockwave event on December 31 attracted 35,000 at the Saitama Super Arena.[8][22] In contrast, the U.S. debut at Pride 32 saw approximately 10,500 paid attendees, underscoring adaptation challenges abroad.[23] Broadcasting shifted post-Fuji TV fallout, with international PPV becoming paramount; Pride 32 generated around 30,000 buys at $39.95 each, while earlier Japanese events had benefited from Fuji TV's broad reach and ratings as high as 17.6.[14][3]Divisions and Rules
In 2006, Pride FC maintained a structured set of weight divisions to organize its mixed martial arts competitions, with fighters categorized as follows: Heavyweight (no upper limit; for fighters over 205 pounds or 93 kg), Middleweight (up to 205 pounds or 93 kg), Welterweight (up to 183 pounds or 83 kg), and Lightweight (up to 160 pounds or 73 kg).[24] Openweight bouts, featuring no weight restrictions, were primarily reserved for grand prix tournaments to allow for high-profile matchups across divisions.[24] The promotion's championship structure centered on three primary belts corresponding to its core divisions. The Openweight/Heavyweight Championship was held by Fedor Emelianenko throughout 2006, following his unification of the titles in 2003 and successful defenses prior to the year.[25] The Middleweight Championship remained with Wanderlei Silva, who had captured the title in 2001 and held it without a successful challenge in 2006.[26] Takanori Gomi had a turbulent year as Lightweight Champion, losing the title to Marcus Aurélio at Pride Bushido 10 before regaining it at Pride Bushido 13 and defending against Clay Guida at Pride Shockwave 2006.[6][27] Pride FC's ruleset in 2006 emphasized a dynamic, aggressive style of fighting, distinguishing it from other promotions. Bouts consisted of three 10-minute rounds for non-title fights (with two-minute rest periods) or an additional 10-minute round for title defenses, contrasting with the more common five-minute round structure elsewhere.[24] Techniques such as soccer kicks to the head of a grounded opponent and stomps to the body or legs were permitted, adding to the event's intensity, while elbow strikes to the head were prohibited entirely.[24] Judging criteria focused on the fight as a whole rather than round-by-round scoring, prioritizing damage inflicted, effective striking and grappling, successful takedowns, and overall aggressiveness to reward decisive action over mere control.[24] No significant rule clarifications or enforcements unique to 2006 events were implemented, maintaining the established framework from prior years.[24]Year Summary
Event Schedule
In 2006, Pride FC hosted 10 events throughout the year, comprising 6 in the standard openweight format and 4 under the Bushido ruleset, which emphasized lighter weight classes and special rules like soccer kicks. These events were concentrated in Japan, except for one in the United States, and served as platforms for grand prix tournaments and individual bouts, with the grand prix progression spanning multiple shows. Attendance reflected the promotion's strong fanbase, ranging from smaller crowds at regional arenas to peaks exceeding 40,000 at major domes, demonstrating consistent draw despite varying venue sizes.[2][1]| Event Name | Japanese Name (if applicable) | Date | Venue | City | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pride 31: Unbreakable | — | February 26, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| Pride Bushido 10 | — | April 2, 2006 | Ariake Coliseum | Tokyo, Japan | — |
| Pride Total Elimination Absolute | — | May 5, 2006 | Osaka Dome | Osaka, Japan | 43,000 |
| Pride Bushido 11: Bushido Survival | — | June 4, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| Pride Critical Countdown Absolute | — | July 1, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| Pride Bushido 12 | 2nd Round | August 27, 2006 | Nagoya Rainbow Hall | Nagoya, Japan | — |
| Pride Final Conflict Absolute | — | September 10, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | — |
| Pride 32: The Real Deal | — | October 21, 2006 | Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas, USA | 11,727 |
| Pride Bushido 13 | — | November 5, 2006 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | 8,000 |
| Pride Shockwave 2006 | Otoko Matsuri - Fumetsu | December 31, 2006 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 35,000 |
Pride Bushido 10 featured the Bushido ruleset with an emphasis on welterweight and middleweight divisions, showcasing emerging talents in a faster-paced format.[6]
Pride Total Elimination Absolute served as the opening round of the 2006 Openweight Grand Prix, held under standard Pride rules at a large dome venue.[8]
Pride Bushido 11: Bushido Survival hosted the initial round of the Welterweight Grand Prix under Bushido regulations, blending tournament action with standalone fights.[28]
Pride Critical Countdown Absolute advanced the Openweight Grand Prix to its quarterfinal stage in a standard format, highlighting international heavyweight contenders, including Mirko Filipović's TKO (leg kicks) win over Hidehiko Yoshida.[29][9]
Pride Bushido 12 continued the Welterweight Grand Prix quarterfinals using the Bushido ruleset in a mid-sized arena setting.
Pride Final Conflict Absolute concluded the Openweight Grand Prix with semifinals and finals under standard Pride rules.[12]
Pride 32: The Real Deal marked Pride FC's first U.S. event, featuring standard rules and a mix of title fights and prospect showcases.[14][30]
Pride Bushido 13 finalized the Welterweight Grand Prix with semifinals and the championship bout under Bushido rules.[16][31]
Pride Shockwave 2006 was a year-end standard Pride spectacle, including heavyweight clashes and special attractions on New Year's Eve.[22]
Outcomes and Records
In 2006, Pride FC featured two successful title defenses in the heavyweight and lightweight divisions, with no changes to the championship lineage. Fedor Emelianenko retained the heavyweight title against Mark Hunt at Pride Shockwave 2006 via submission (Kimura) in the first round at 8:16, extending his dominant run in the organization.[32] Similarly, lightweight champion Takanori Gomi defended his belt against Marcus Aurélio at Pride Bushido 13 via split decision after two rounds, avenging an earlier non-title loss to the challenger.[27] The middleweight title, held by Wanderlei Silva, saw no defenses during the year as Silva competed in the Openweight Grand Prix instead.[33] The 2006 Openweight Grand Prix concluded at Pride Final Conflict Absolute, where Mirko Cro Cop emerged as champion after a TKO (punches) victory over Josh Barnett in the first round at 7:32, securing the tournament victory on his 32nd birthday. In the Welterweight Grand Prix, spanning Pride Bushido events, Kazuo Misaki claimed the title by defeating Denis Kang via split decision at Pride Bushido 13, marking a gritty finale to the bracket. Across Pride FC's 10 events in 2006, which included over 100 bouts, finishes by knockout and submission dominated, reflecting the promotion's emphasis on decisive outcomes over decisions. Emelianenko, for instance, maintained his undefeated streak in Pride with two submission victories that year, underscoring his grappling supremacy amid a landscape where strikers like Cro Cop produced multiple high-impact knockouts in the Grand Prix.[32] No titles were vacated or awarded on an interim basis during this period.Grand Prix Tournaments
Openweight Grand Prix
The 2006 Openweight Grand Prix was a single-elimination tournament featuring 15 heavyweight and openweight fighters, with Wanderlei Silva receiving a bye into the quarterfinals due to his status as a top contender. Spanning three events, it offered a $300,000 prize to the winner and served as Pride FC's premier heavyweight showcase that year. The opening round consisted of seven matches to determine the remaining seven quarterfinalists, emphasizing Pride's no-weight-limit rules that allowed for diverse matchups between strikers, grapplers, and judo specialists.[4][8] The tournament bracket unfolded as follows: Opening Round (Pride Total Elimination Absolute, May 5, 2006, Osaka Dome, Osaka, Japan):| Matchup | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Zuluzinho | Nogueira def. Zuluzinho | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:17 |
| Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ikuhisa Minowa | Cro Cop def. Minowa | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:10 |
| Kazuyuki Fujita vs. James Thompson | Fujita def. Thompson | KO (punch) | 1 | 8:25 |
| Josh Barnett vs. Aleksander Emelianenko | Barnett def. Emelianenko | Submission (keylock) | 2 | 1:57 |
| Mark Hunt vs. Tsuyoshi Kosaka | Hunt def. Kosaka | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:15 |
| Fabrício Werdum vs. Alistair Overeem | Werdum def. Overeem | Submission (Kimura) | 2 | 3:43 |
| Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Yosuke Nishijima | Yoshida def. Nishijima | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:33 |
| Matchup | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt | Barnett def. Hunt | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 2:02 |
| Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fabrício Werdum | Nogueira def. Werdum | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Mirko Cro Cop vs. Hidehiko Yoshida | Cro Cop def. Yoshida | TKO (leg kicks) | 1 | 7:38 |
| Wanderlei Silva vs. Kazuyuki Fujita | Silva def. Fujita | TKO (punches and soccer kicks) | 1 | 9:21 |
| Matchup | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1: Josh Barnett vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Barnett def. Nogueira | Decision (split) | 2 | 5:00 |
| Semifinal 2: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Wanderlei Silva | Cro Cop def. Silva | KO (head kick) | 1 | 5:26 |
| Final: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Josh Barnett | Cro Cop def. Barnett | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 7:32 |
Welterweight Grand Prix
The 2006 Pride FC Welterweight Grand Prix was an 8-man single-elimination tournament contested at the 183-pound (83 kg) welterweight limit, designed to determine the top contender in the division recently introduced to the promotion. The tournament unfolded across three Bushido-branded events under Pride's distinctive ruleset, which permitted stomps, soccer kicks to downed opponents, and knees to the head on the ground, fostering a high level of aggression and stand-up exchanges. This format highlighted the depth of the welterweight class, featuring a mix of established stars, rising talents, and international competitors. The bracket was structured with quarterfinals at Bushido 11, second-round matches at Bushido 12 against top contenders, and semifinals and final at Bushido 13, with adjustments due to injury. The quarterfinal round took place at Pride FC: Bushido 11 on June 4, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. In a closely contested main event, Japanese veteran Kazuo Misaki outworked American striker Phil Baroni to secure a unanimous decision victory after two rounds, advancing with his grappling control and striking volume.[36] Canadian-Korean powerhouse Denis Kang made a stunning statement by knocking out Brazilian Murilo Rua with ground-and-pound punches just 15 seconds into the first round, showcasing his explosive wrestling and finishing power.[36] Akihiro Gono edged out Cuban Hector Lombard via unanimous decision in a grueling striking battle, relying on his unorthodox kicks and resilience to claim the win.[36] Rounding out the quarterfinals, Hayato Sakurai dispatched Olaf Alfonso with a clean knockout punch at 1:54 of the opening round, but Sakurai later withdrew from the tournament due to injury, reshaping the bracket.[36] The second round shifted to Pride FC: Bushido 12 on August 26, 2006, at Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan, where the quarterfinal winners faced top contenders in the bracket. Misaki delivered one of the tournament's biggest upsets by defeating reigning Pride welterweight champion Dan Henderson via unanimous decision over two rounds in their rematch, neutralizing Henderson's wrestling with effective takedown defense and counterstrikes.[37] Kang continued his dominant run, submitting Amar Suloev with a rear-naked choke at 4:10 of the first round after a scramble on the mat.[37] Gono advanced by forcing a tap from prospect Gegard Mousasi via armbar at 4:14 of the second round, capitalizing on a grappling exchange to secure the hold.[37] On the other side of the bracket, Paulo Filho submitted Ryo Chonan with an armbar at 2:30 of the first round. These victories set up a loaded final stage, emphasizing the tournament's role in testing the welterweight division's elite against top competition. The tournament concluded at Pride FC: Bushido 13 on November 5, 2006, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, where the remaining semifinals and grand final were contested. In the first semifinal, Kang outlasted Gono to win by unanimous decision after two rounds, using superior cardio and pressure to control the pace despite Gono's submission threats.[38] The second semifinal saw Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Paulo Filho submit Misaki with an armbar at 9:43 of the first round, but Filho sustained a severe knee injury during the fight, forcing his withdrawal from the final.[38] With Filho unable to continue, Misaki was awarded advancement as the injured opponent's opponent, leading to an all-Japanese final against Kang. In a razor-close bout marked by mutual respect and tactical wrestling, Misaki edged Kang via split decision over two rounds, earning the tournament crown through his endurance and clinch work.[38]| Round | Fight | Winner | Method | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Kazuo Misaki vs. Phil Baroni | Kazuo Misaki | Unanimous Decision (15:00, 2R) | Bushido 11 |
| Quarterfinal | Denis Kang vs. Murilo Rua | Denis Kang | KO (Punches, 0:15, R1) | Bushido 11 |
| Quarterfinal | Akihiro Gono vs. Hector Lombard | Akihiro Gono | Unanimous Decision (15:00, 2R) | Bushido 11 |
| Quarterfinal | Hayato Sakurai vs. Olaf Alfonso | Hayato Sakurai | KO (Punch, 1:54, R1) | Bushido 11 (Sakurai later withdrew) |
| Second Round | Kazuo Misaki vs. Dan Henderson | Kazuo Misaki | Unanimous Decision (15:00, 2R) | Bushido 12 |
| Second Round | Denis Kang vs. Amar Suloev | Denis Kang | Submission (RNC, 4:10, R1) | Bushido 12 |
| Second Round | Akihiro Gono vs. Gegard Mousasi | Akihiro Gono | Submission (Armbar, 4:14, R2) | Bushido 12 |
| Second Round | Paulo Filho vs. Ryo Chonan | Paulo Filho | Submission (Armbar, 2:30, R1) | Bushido 12 |
| Semifinal | Denis Kang vs. Akihiro Gono | Denis Kang | Unanimous Decision (15:00, 2R) | Bushido 13 |
| Semifinal | Paulo Filho vs. Kazuo Misaki | Paulo Filho | Submission (Armbar, 9:43, R1) | Bushido 13 (Filho injured, Misaki advances) |
| Final | Kazuo Misaki vs. Denis Kang | Kazuo Misaki | Split Decision (15:00, 2R) | Bushido 13 |
Fighter Debuts
Notable Debuts
Gegard Mousasi, a 21-year-old prospect from the Dutch MMA scene with a background in judo and kickboxing, debuted in Pride FC at Pride Bushido 11 on June 4, 2006, securing a victory over Makoto Takimoto via TKO (doctor's stoppage) in the first round at 5:34 as part of the 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix.[40] This impressive performance highlighted Mousasi's grappling prowess and signaled the emergence of young European talent in Pride's competitive welterweight division, where he advanced further in the tournament before a semifinal loss.[41] Yosuke Nishijima, a former Japanese heavyweight boxing champion transitioning to MMA, made his Pride FC debut at Pride 31: Unbreakable on February 26, 2006, facing Mark Hunt and losing via KO (punch) in the third round at 0:49. The matchup underscored the challenges for boxing converts in Pride's striking-heavy environment, though Nishijima's subsequent fights against top heavyweights like Hidehiko Yoshida demonstrated his resilience in the openweight format.[42] Gilbert Melendez, an undefeated American lightweight with a 12-0 record from regional promotions including Strikeforce, debuted at Pride Bushido 12 on August 26, 2006, defeating Nobuhiro Obiya via unanimous decision over two rounds.[43] His technical striking and wrestling base made an immediate impression, positioning him as a rising contender in Pride's lightweight ranks and paving the way for high-profile bouts like his later clash with Tatsuya Kawajiri at Shockwave 2006.[44]Full List of Debutants
In 2006, Pride FC welcomed 28 fighters making their promotional debuts, injecting new talent primarily from Japanese promotions like Shooto and Pancrase, as well as international circuits such as K-1 Hero's and regional U.S. events. These debutants competed across the year's events, with verified wins contributing to their integration into Pride's roster, often highlighting striking and grappling specialists seeking to break into the organization's high-profile tournaments. The following table lists all debutants alphabetically within their debut event groupings, including the date, opponent, and fight outcome. Origins reflect common pathways like Shooto for Japanese fighters and Pancrase for catch-wrestling styles, underscoring Pride's role in elevating domestic talent.| Fighter Name | Debut Event/Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pride 31: Unbreakable (February 26, 2006) | |||||
| Dong Sik Yoon | Pride 31 | Quinton Jackson | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 / 5:00 |
| John Olav Einemo | Pride 31 | Fabricio Werdum | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 / 5:00 |
| Roman Zentsov | Pride 31 | Pedro Rizzo | Win | KO (Punch) | 1 / 0:25 |
| Yosuke Nishijima | Pride 31 | Mark Hunt | Loss | KO (Punch) | 3 / 0:49 |
| Pride FC: Bushido 10 (April 2, 2006) | |||||
| Dae Won Kim | Bushido 10 | Akihiro Gono | Loss | Submission (Armbar) | 1 / 9:00 |
| Mitsuhiro Ishida | Bushido 10 | Paul Rodriguez | Win | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 / 2:29 |
| Naoki Matsushita | Bushido 10 | Takumi Yano | Win | Decision (Split) | 2 / 5:00 |
| Paul Rodriguez | Bushido 10 | Mitsuhiro Ishida | Loss | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 / 2:29 |
| Seichi Ikemoto | Bushido 10 | Yves Edwards | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 / 5:00 |
| Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute (May 5, 2006) | |||||
| Pride FC: Bushido 11 (June 4, 2006) | |||||
| Daniel Acacio | Bushido 11 | Nobuhiro Obiya | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 8:30 |
| Hector Lombard | Bushido 11 | Akihiro Gono | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 / 5:00 |
| Nobuhiro Obiya | Bushido 11 | Daniel Acacio | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 8:30 |
| Olaf Alfonso | Bushido 11 | Ryo Chonan | Loss | KO (Punch) | 1 / 1:54 |
| Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute (July 1, 2006) | |||||
| Edson Drago | Critical Countdown Absolute | Pawel Nastula | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 7:00 |
| Eun Su Lee | Critical Countdown Absolute | Yoshihiro Nakao | Loss | Submission (Arm-Triangle) | 1 / 2:26 |
| Yoshiki Takahashi | Critical Countdown Absolute | Vitor Belfort | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 0:34 |
| Pride FC: Bushido 12 (August 26, 2006) | |||||
| Cristiano Marcello | Bushido 12 | Moritaka Oshiro | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 / 5:00 |
| Sean O'Haire | Bushido 12 | Ikuhisa Minowa | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 / 5:00 |
| Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute (September 10, 2006) | |||||
| Cyrille Diabate | Final Conflict Absolute | Daisuke Noguchi | Win | TKO (Stomps) | 1 / 5:29 |
| Pride 32: The Real Deal (October 21, 2006) | |||||
| Pride FC: Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006) | |||||
| Clay French | Bushido 13 | Shinya Aoki | Loss | Submission (Flying Triangle) | 1 / 3:57 |
| Robbie Lawler | Bushido 13 | Kazuo Misaki | Win | KO (Punch) | 1 / 4:29 |
| Shinya Aoki | Bushido 13 | Clay French | Win | Submission (Flying Triangle) | 1 / 3:57 |
| Pride Shockwave 2006 (December 31, 2006) | |||||
| Eric "Butterbean" Esch | Shockwave 2006 | Ikuhisa Minowa | Loss | Submission (Armbar) | 1 / 4:49 |
Individual Events
Pride 31: Unbreakable
Pride 31: Unbreakable was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Pride Fighting Championships, held on February 26, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.[5] As the organization's first event of the year, it featured nine bouts primarily in the heavyweight division, emphasizing veteran matchups without championships or tournament brackets on the line.[5] The card highlighted established stars testing their form ahead of Pride's marquee competitions, including the 2006 Openweight Grand Prix set to begin in April.[45] Several outcomes from the event carried direct implications for the Grand Prix, with winners like Mark Coleman and Josh Barnett strengthening their cases for inclusion in the 16-man field.[45] A notable highlight was the co-main event between Coleman and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, where Coleman executed a slam takedown that resulted in Rua's arm breaking awkwardly over Coleman's knee, prompting a referee stoppage at 0:49 of the first round and awarding Coleman a TKO victory.[45] The injury not only sidelined the previously unbeaten Rua but also ignited a post-fight melee involving members of the fighters' teams, Hammer House and Chute Boxe, before intervention by Wanderlei Silva and Phil Baroni.[45] This applied Pride's standard open-weight rules, where weight classes were loosely enforced to allow such heavyweight clashes.[5] The main event pitted Australian kickboxer Mark Hunt against Yosuke Nishijima in the latter's Pride debut, with Hunt landing a decisive punch for a third-round knockout at 1:18, maintaining his momentum as a knockout specialist in the promotion.[5] Other significant results included Alistair Overeem's dominant TKO of Sergei Kharitonov via knees in the first round, underscoring Overeem's striking prowess, and Fabricio Werdum's unanimous decision win over John Olav Einemo in a grappling-heavy affair.[5] These performances collectively built anticipation and seeding considerations for the Grand Prix, where many of these fighters would compete.[45]Full Results
| Result | Winner | Opponent | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Roman Zentsov | Pedro Rizzo | KO (Punch) | 1 | 0:25 |
| Win | Quinton Jackson | Dong Sik Yoon | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 30:00 |
| Win | Fabricio Werdum | John Olav Einemo | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 30:00 |
| Win | Tsuyoshi Kosaka | Mario Sperry | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:20 |
| Win | Alistair Overeem | Sergei Kharitonov | TKO (Knees) | 1 | 5:13 |
| Win | Josh Barnett | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 8:10 |
| Win | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Kiyoshi Tamura | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:24 |
| Win | Mark Coleman | Maurício Rua | TKO (Broken Arm) | 1 | 0:49 |
| Win | Mark Hunt | Yosuke Nishijima | KO (Punch) | 3 | 1:18 |
Pride FC: Bushido 10
Pride FC: Bushido 10 was a mixed martial arts event held on April 2, 2006, at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, drawing over 9,000 spectators.[46] The card featured 11 bouts under the Pride Bushido ruleset, which emphasized fast-paced action through shorter durations compared to standard Pride events: a first round of 10 minutes followed by a second round of 5 minutes, with a 2-minute intermission, and more stringent penalty carding to discourage stalling.[24] This structure promoted standing strikes and quick finishes, differing from the typical three-round Pride format by prioritizing intensity over endurance.[24] The main event pitted lightweight champion Takanori Gomi against Marcus Aurelio in a non-title clash. The event showcased a mix of established stars and rising talents, with several welterweight-division prospects gaining exposure that foreshadowed the upcoming Pride Welterweight Grand Prix later in 2006. Notable performances included rapid knockouts and submissions that highlighted the ruleset's emphasis on aggressive striking, such as soccer kicks and knees to downed opponents, which were permitted under Pride's permissive guidelines. No major injuries were reported, but surprises like an undercard fighter's upset victory added to the night's unpredictability.| Bout | Winner | Opponent | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event (Lightweight) | Marcus Aurelio | Takanori Gomi | Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 4:34 |
| Middleweight | Dan Henderson | Kazuo Misaki | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Openweight | Ikuhisa Minowa | Paulo Cesar Silva | TKO (Knees) | 1 | 2:23 |
| Middleweight | Phil Baroni | Yuki Kondo | KO (Punches) | 1 | 0:25 |
| Welterweight | Akihiro Gono | Dae Won Kim | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 9:00 |
| Middleweight | Paulo Filho | Murilo Rua | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Lightweight | Joachim Hansen | Luiz Azeredo | KO (Knee) | 1 | 7:09 |
| Middleweight | Denis Kang | Mark Weir | Submission (Strikes) | 1 | 4:55 |
| Lightweight | Jens Pulver | Kenji Arai | KO (Soccer Kick) | 1 | 3:59 |
| Welterweight | Mitsuhiro Ishida | Paul Rodriguez | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 2:29 |
| Lightweight | Yves Edwards | Seichi Ikemoto | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Pride Fighting Championships, held on May 5, 2006, at the Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan.[8] The card served as the opening round for the 2006 Openweight Grand Prix, a 16-man tournament (effectively 15 competitors plus one bye) featuring heavyweight and openweight fighters competing under Pride's rules, which included three 10-minute rounds, soccer kicks, and stomps.[7] Attendance reached 43,000, marking one of the largest crowds for a Pride event that year and underscoring the promotion's popularity in Japan amid growing international interest.[3] The format included seven first-round Grand Prix bouts to determine seven quarterfinalists, with reigning Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko receiving a bye into the next stage due to injury recovery; an additional reserve bout selected a backup fighter for potential tournament advancement.[8] Notable among the participants was the debut of Aleksander Emelianenko, brother of Fedor, who faced a tough opening challenge but ultimately fell short, highlighting the high stakes for newcomers in Pride's elite openweight division.[7] The event's massive turnout reflected Pride's theatrical presentation, including elaborate entrances and a vibrant atmosphere that amplified the spectacle of the Grand Prix kickoff.[4]| Bout | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Hidehiko Yoshida | Yosuke Nishijima | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:33 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Zuluzinho | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:17 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Mirko Filipović (Cro Cop) | Ikuhisa Minowa | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:10 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Kazuyuki Fujita | James Thompson | KO (punch) | 1 | 8:25 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Josh Barnett | Aleksander Emelianenko | Submission (keylock) | 2 | 1:57 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Mark Hunt | Tsuyoshi Kosaka | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:15 |
| Grand Prix Opening Round | Fabrício Werdum | Alistair Overeem | Submission (kimura) | 2 | 3:43 |
| Reserve Bout | Roman Zentsov | Gilbert Yvel | KO (punch) | 1 | 4:55 |
Pride FC: Bushido 11
Pride FC: Bushido 11, held on June 4, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, marked the opening round of the 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix under Pride's Bushido ruleset, which permitted soccer kicks, stomps, and knees to a grounded opponent. The event drew an announced attendance of 13,327, though reports estimated the actual crowd closer to 7,500, reflecting a mid-year push in Pride's lighter-weight division amid growing international interest in the welterweight (185 lb) tournament format. All bouts followed the two-round structure typical of Bushido events, emphasizing fast-paced action and technical grappling.[28][47] The main card featured four Welterweight Grand Prix opening bouts, showcasing a mix of Japanese veterans and international challengers contributing to the tournament's progression in Pride's survival series format. These matches highlighted the division's depth, with outcomes involving Kazuo Misaki, Denis Kang, Akihiro Gono, and Hayato Sakurai amid the broader welterweight field. The undercard complemented the GP action with non-tournament bouts across welterweight, middleweight, lightweight, and open divisions, including notable debuts and veteran clashes that underscored Pride's global talent pool.[28][48]Results
| Bout | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welterweight GP Opening | Kazuo Misaki | Phil Baroni | Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) | 2 | 15:00 | Part of GP progression. |
| Welterweight GP Opening | Denis Kang | Murilo Rua | KO (Punches) | 1 | 0:15 | Record-setting quick finish. |
| Welterweight GP Opening | Akihiro Gono | Hector Lombard | Unanimous Decision (20-19, 20-19, 20-19) | 2 | 15:00 | Competitive stand-up battle. |
| Welterweight GP Opening | Hayato Sakurai | Olaf Alfonso | KO (Punch) | 1 | 1:54 | Dominant striking display. |
| Featherweight Bout | Tatsuya Kawajiri | Charles Bennett | Submission (Kneebar) | 1 | 2:30 | Quick ground control. |
| Lightweight Bout | Mitsuhiro Ishida | Marcus Aurelio | Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) | 2 | 15:00 | Grappling-heavy affair. |
| Middleweight Bout | Gegard Mousasi | Makoto Takimoto | TKO (Broken Eye Socket) | 1 | 5:34 | Impressive debut for Mousasi. |
| Welterweight Bout | Ryo Chonan | Joey Villasenor | Split Decision (20-19, 19-20, 20-19) | 2 | 15:00 | Controversial close call. |
| Middleweight Bout | Paulo Filho | Gregory Bouchelaghem | Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) | 2 | 15:00 | Filho's BJJ dominance. |
| Middleweight Bout | Amar Suloev | Murilo Bustamante | Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) | 2 | 15:00 | Suloev's wrestling edge. |
| Lightweight Bout | Jason Black | Won Jin Eoh | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 1 | 4:25 | Injury-forced halt. |
Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute
Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute was a mixed martial arts event held on July 1, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, drawing an attendance of 34,000 spectators.[3] The card featured four quarterfinal bouts in the 2006 Pride Openweight Grand Prix, alongside five additional heavyweight and middleweight matchups, emphasizing high-stakes progression in the tournament format that included three 10-minute rounds per fight.[29] The event showcased intense competition, with the Grand Prix quarterfinals determining the four semifinalists advancing to the Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute later that year. Key outcomes included dominant performances by established stars, contributing to the narrowing of the 16-man field from the opening round. Non-tournament bouts provided opportunities for ranked heavyweights and middleweights to compete under Pride's ruleset, which allowed soccer kicks and stomps in certain positions.| Bout | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal | Mirko Filipović | Hidehiko Yoshida | TKO (leg kicks) | 1 | 7:38 | Filipović advances |
| Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal | Josh Barnett | Mark Hunt | Submission (kimura) | 1 | 2:02 | Barnett advances |
| Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal | Wanderlei Silva | Kazuyuki Fujita | TKO (punches and soccer kicks) | 1 | 9:21 | Silva advances |
| Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Fabrício Werdum | Unanimous decision | 2 | 20:00 | Nogueira advances |
| Middleweight | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Evangelista Santos | Submission (keylock) | 1 | 4:49 | Non-tournament bout |
| Middleweight | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Alistair Overeem | TKO (corner stoppage) | 2 | 2:13 | Non-tournament bout |
| Middleweight | Vítor Belfort | Kazuo Takahashi | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:36 | Non-tournament bout |
| Heavyweight | Yoshihiro Nakao | Eun-Soo Lee | TKO (doctor stoppage due to cuts) | 1 | 4:16 | Non-tournament bout; medical stoppage |
| Heavyweight | Paweł Nastula | Edson Drago | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:33 | Non-tournament bout |
Pride FC: Bushido 12
Pride FC: Bushido 12 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Pride Fighting Championships, held on August 26, 2006, at Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.[37] The event attracted 9,952 spectators.[51] It served as the second round (semifinals) of the 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix, featuring two tournament bouts under Pride Bushido rules, which consisted of two 10-minute and 5-minute rounds respectively, and permitted techniques such as stomps, soccer kicks to a downed opponent, and knees to the head on the ground.[52] The card also included a main event and several undercard fights, emphasizing lightweight and middleweight divisions with a mix of international talent.[10] The welterweight Grand Prix semifinals headlined the event, pitting established grapplers and strikers in high-stakes encounters. All bouts followed Bushido rules to promote aggressive, uninterrupted action. The complete results are summarized below:| Weight Class | Fighter 1 | vs. | Fighter 2 | Winner | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welterweight (GP Semi) | Kazuo Misaki | vs. | Dan Henderson | Kazuo Misaki | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Welterweight (GP Semi) | Paulo Filho | vs. | Ryo Chonan | Paulo Filho | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:30 |
| Lightweight | Takanori Gomi | vs. | David Baron | Takanori Gomi | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 7:10 |
| Middleweight | Akihiro Gono | vs. | Gegard Mousasi | Akihiro Gono | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 4:24 |
| Middleweight | Denis Kang | vs. | Amar Suloev | Denis Kang | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 4:10 |
| Openweight | Ikuhisa Minowa | vs. | Eric "Butterbean" Esch | Ikuhisa Minowa | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 4:25 |
| Welterweight | Hayato "Mach" Sakurai | vs. | Luciano Azevedo | Hayato Sakurai | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 6:35 |
| Lightweight | Mitsuhiro Ishida | vs. | Cristiano Marcello | Mitsuhiro Ishida | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Lightweight | Tatsuya Kawajiri | vs. | Chris Brennan | Tatsuya Kawajiri | KO (Knees and Punches) | 1 | 0:29 |
| Lightweight | Gilbert Melendez | vs. | Nobuhiro Obiya | Gilbert Melendez | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Lightweight | Shinya Aoki | vs. | Jason Black | Shinya Aoki | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 1:58 |
| Featherweight | Hatsu Hioki | vs. | Jeff Curran | Hatsu Hioki | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 |
| Middleweight | Hiroyuki Abe | vs. | Naoki Matsushita | Draw | Draw | 2 | 15:00 |
| Welterweight | Daisuke Nakamura | vs. | Seichi Ikemoto | Daisuke Nakamura | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 3:36 |
Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute
Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Pride Fighting Championships on September 10, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, attracting an attendance of over 35,000 spectators.[12] The card centered on the semi-finals and final of the 2006 Openweight Grand Prix tournament, marking the climax of the competition that began earlier in the year, alongside a series of high-profile undercard bouts. This event represented the peak of Pride's Grand Prix format, showcasing elite heavyweights in a single-night elimination structure that highlighted the promotion's emphasis on striking and grappling prowess.[11] The tournament semi-finals delivered intense matchups, with Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović facing Wanderlei Silva, the reigning Pride Middleweight Champion known for his aggressive muay thai style. Filipović ended the highly hyped "superfight"—a long-anticipated clash between two of Pride's most feared strikers—with a devastating left high kick knockout at 5:26 of the first round, dropping Silva and securing his spot in the final.[54] In the other semi-final, Josh Barnett outpointed Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pride's former heavyweight titleholder renowned for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu, via split decision after two 10-minute rounds, in a tactical battle that went the distance at 20:00 total.[11] These victories set up a final between Filipović and Barnett, underscoring the Grand Prix's role as Pride's premier showcase of unrestricted weight class warfare. The Openweight Grand Prix final saw Filipović defend his semi-final momentum against Barnett, dominating with superior striking and ground control before securing a submission victory via armbar at 5:32 of the first round, earning him the tournament championship and a $300,000 prize.[54] This outcome solidified Filipović's status as one of Pride's top heavyweights and provided a dramatic resolution to the year's tournament arc, with the event's atmosphere charged by the potential for definitive superfight conclusions amid Pride's ongoing financial and regulatory challenges. The Grand Prix structure, allowing openweight bouts, exemplified Pride's unique blend of spectacle and competition, drawing massive hype for its potential to crown an undisputed openweight king.[11]| Fight | Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final | Openweight | Mirko Filipović | Wanderlei Silva | KO (head kick) | 1 / 5:26 |
| Semi-final | Openweight | Josh Barnett | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Decision (split) | 2 / 20:00 |
| Final | Openweight | Mirko Filipović | Josh Barnett | Submission (Armbar) | 1 / 5:32 |
| Fight | Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Aleksander Emelianenko | Sergei Kharitonov | TKO (punches and knees) | 1 / 6:45 |
| Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Ricardo Arona | Alistair Overeem | Submission (punches) | 1 / 4:28 |
| Light Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight | Mauricio Rua | Cyrille Diabaté | TKO (stomps) | 1 / 5:29 |
| Middleweight | Middleweight | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Yoshihiro Nakao | Decision (unanimous) | 3 / 30:00 |
| Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Ricardo Morais | Tae Hyun Lee | TKO (corner stoppage) | 1 / 8:08 |
| Welterweight | Welterweight | Evangelista Santos | Yosuke Nishijima | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 / 3:24 |
Pride 32: The Real Deal
Pride 32: The Real Deal marked the Pride Fighting Championships' inaugural event held outside Japan, taking place on October 21, 2006, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[14] This historic U.S. debut featured a card designed to appeal to American audiences, headlined by a heavyweight title bout between champion Fedor Emelianenko and challenger Mark Coleman, alongside matchups involving prominent fighters like Wanderlei Silva (though he was absent due to injury, with the card adjusted accordingly) and American stars such as Phil Baroni in his Pride debut.[14] The event drew an attendance of 11,727, significantly lower than the 30,000-plus crowds typical at Pride's Japanese shows, reflecting challenges in building U.S. market penetration amid competition from the UFC.[55] It served as Pride's first live pay-per-view offering in the United States, aiming to capitalize on growing MMA interest stateside.[56] To comply with Nevada State Athletic Commission regulations, Pride modified its standard ruleset for the event, adopting the state's version of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which prohibited soccer kicks, stomps, and knees to the head of a grounded opponent—elements permitted in prior Japanese events—but allowed elbows to the head. This adaptation highlighted Pride's efforts to navigate U.S. sanctioning requirements while preserving its emphasis on striking and grappling exchanges. The card consisted of eight bouts across heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight divisions, showcasing a mix of international talent and U.S.-based fighters to foster broader appeal.[14] The event underscored Pride's strategic push into the American market, featuring debuts like that of Phil Baroni, a former UFC middleweight known for his aggressive style, who submitted Yosuke Nishijima via kimura in the first round.[14] Despite the buzz around its Las Vegas staging and star power from post-Grand Prix standouts, the lower gate and modest PPV buys (estimated at 30,000) signaled hurdles in matching Japan's fervent fanbase and cultural entrenchment in MMA.[14] Nonetheless, Pride 32 represented a pivotal step in globalizing the promotion, blending spectacle with competitive bouts that resonated with emerging U.S. audiences.| Bout | Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event | Heavyweight | Fedor Emelianenko | Mark Coleman | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 1:15 |
| Co-Main Event | Light Heavyweight | Mauricio Rua | Kevin Randleman | Submission (Kneebar) | 1 | 2:35 |
| Heavyweight | Josh Barnett | Pawel Nastula | Submission (Toe Hold) | 2 | 3:04 | |
| Heavyweight | Eric Esch | Sean O'Haire | KO/TKO (Punches) | 1 | 0:29 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Dan Henderson | Vitor Belfort | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 15:00 | |
| Middleweight | Phil Baroni | Yosuke Nishijima | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 3:20 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Travis Galbraith | KO/TKO (Strikes) | 2 | 1:16 | |
| Middleweight | Robbie Lawler | Joey Villasenor | KO/TKO (Flying Knee) | 1 | 0:22 |
Pride FC: Bushido 13
Pride FC: Bushido 13, also known as Bushido Survival Finals, was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Pride Fighting Championships on November 5, 2006, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The event attracted an attendance of 10,868 spectators and featured 11 bouts under Bushido rules, which included two 10-minute rounds for most fights and allowed soccer kicks and stomps to grounded opponents.[57] This installment served as the culmination of the 2006 Pride Welterweight Grand Prix, with the final matchup determining the tournament winner, alongside a lightweight championship defense.[38][16] With Paulo Filho sidelined by an arm injury sustained in his Bushido 12 semifinal victory, a replacement semifinal saw Denis Kang defeat Akihiro Gono via unanimous decision, setting up the final against Kazuo Misaki. The main event saw Misaki defeat Kang via split decision (20-19, 19-20, 20-19) after two rounds to claim the 2006 Pride Welterweight Grand Prix title, capping a tournament that began in June and showcased Misaki's resilient grappling and striking in a closely contested affair.[38] In the co-main event, lightweight champion Takanori Gomi retained his title against Marcus Aurelio with a split decision (20-19, 19-20, 20-19), relying on his aggressive pressure and takedown defense to edge out the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist in another razor-thin verdict.[38] The card's undercard delivered several submission victories, emphasizing the event's focus on technical grappling under Pride's distinctive ruleset.| Bout | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event: Welterweight Grand Prix Final | Kazuo Misaki | Denis Kang | Decision (Split) | 2 | 15:00 | Misaki wins 2006 Welterweight GP |
| Welterweight GP Semifinal | Denis Kang | Akihiro Gono | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 15:00 | Kang advances to final |
| Co-Main Event: Lightweight Championship | Takanori Gomi (c) | Marcus Aurelio | Decision (Split) | 2 | 15:00 | Gomi retains title |
| Lightweight | Shinya Aoki | Clay French | Submission (Flying Triangle Choke) | 1 | 3:57 | |
| Lightweight | Mitsuhiro Ishida | David Bielkheden | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 7:04 | |
| Openweight | Ikuhisa Minowa | Jean-Francois Lenogue | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 9:00 | |
| Welterweight | Yoshihiro Akiyama | Luiz Azeredo | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 10:00 | Cuts from elbows |
| Middleweight | Murilo Bustamante | Dong Sik Yoon | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 7:49 | |
| Bantamweight | Rani Yahya | Kota Ishibashi | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:34 | |
| Middleweight | Keiichiro Yamamiya | Yuta Takahashi | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:35 | |
| Featherweight | Naoya Uehara | Masahiro Oishi | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:53 |
Pride FC: Shockwave 2006
Pride FC: Shockwave 2006, also known as Pride Otoko Matsuri 2006, was a mixed martial arts event held on December 31, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.[22] This year-ending spectacle served as a traditional New Year's Eve event for the promotion, drawing a sold-out crowd of 35,000 spectators and featuring a card headlined by title defenses in the heavyweight and lightweight divisions.[22] The event showcased a mix of established stars and international talent, including fighters from the United States, Brazil, and Japan, highlighting Pride FC's global appeal. The main event pitted Pride FC heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko against challenger Mark Hunt in a highly anticipated title defense. Emelianenko dominated the fight, securing a submission victory via kimura in the first round at 8:16, extending his undefeated streak and solidifying his status as the division's top contender.[15] In the co-main event, lightweight champion Takanori Gomi defended his title against Mitsuhiro Ishida, ending the bout quickly with a TKO via soccer kick and punches just 1:14 into the first round, reaffirming his striking prowess. Other marquee matchups included former champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira facing Josh Barnett and Tatsuya Kawajiri taking on American prospect Gilbert Melendez, adding to the event's competitive depth.[22] The full card consisted of 10 bouts across various weight classes, with results emphasizing quick finishes and technical decisions under Pride's ruleset of 10-minute rounds.[15]| Bout | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time | Weight Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ikuhisa Minowa | Kiyoshi Tamura | TKO (Soccer Kicks) | 1 | 1:18 | Openweight | Opening bout |
| 2 | Shinya Aoki | Joachim Hansen | Submission (Gogoplata) | 1 | 2:24 | Lightweight | - |
| 3 | Akihiro Gono | Yuki Kondo | Decision (Split) | 2 | 20:00 | Welterweight | - |
| 4 | Maurício "Shogun" Rua | Kazuhiro Nakamura | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 30:00 | Middleweight | - |
| 5 | Gilbert Melendez | Tatsuya Kawajiri | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 20:00 | Lightweight | - |
| 6 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Eldari Kurtanidze | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:09 | Heavyweight | - |
| 7 | Takanori Gomi (c) | Mitsuhiro Ishida | TKO (Soccer Kick and Punches) | 1 | 1:14 | Lightweight | Title defense |
| 8 | James Thompson | Hidehiko Yoshida | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 7:50 | Openweight | - |
| 9 | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Josh Barnett | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 30:00 | Heavyweight | - |
| 10 | Fedor Emelianenko (c) | Mark Hunt | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 8:16 | Heavyweight | Title defense |