The Rise and Fall of Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC)

By Ali Hammad July 06, 2024 07:31

Photo by GALLO/GETTY

Pride Fighting Championships, or simply Pride FC, was a Japanese MMA promotion company that gained millions of fans across Japan and the rest of the world. Pride FC was founded in 1997, and almost overnight, it had millions of eyes glued to its TV screens, with many historical events under its belt. Yet despite its early triumph and popularity, a series of events and choices triggered the destruction of this legendary entity.

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History and Origins of PRIDE FC

Pride FC, known for its emphasis on not just the fighting itself but also spectacle and entertainment, gained a reputation for elaborate opening ceremonies built-to-thrill intros by some fighters. With no formal weight classes and a focus on "technique vs size" fights, the organization fell in line with what was unique about MMA as an overall essence.

Pride FC soon became very popular with cable television viewers, and events were broadcast in almost 40 countries worldwide, including PPV broadcasts to the United States. Live attendance reached record numbers for a promotion not based in the USA.

What Led to the Downfall of Pride FC?

Zuffa Acquisition: Pride FC was purchased by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) parent company, Zuffa, in 2007 for $65 million. After the acquisition, Pride FC's future was uncertain under the control of Zuffa, with conflicting statements made by both companies saying they were going to discontinue renting and broadcasting events. In addition, programming that has proved unsuccessful over time via Home Video formats would be dropped, which, if this holds, means K-1 DVDs are being replaced.

TV Deal Loss: In 2006, DSE broke their contract with the Fuji Network, and then Pride FC's television deal ended, resulting in a huge hit to their ability to continue as an operation. This major revenue loss jeopardized Pride FC's financial security.

Yakuza Ties Speculation: Japanese tabloid media stories began circulating allegations that DSE, Pride FC's parent company, could be linked to criminal activities conducted by yakuza crime syndicates. The organization also heard rumors that did little to buttress its already battered position.

Regulatory Environment & Competition

Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts: Pride FC's opening rules permitted specific methods, like soccer kicks and stomps to the head, along with knees on a downed opponent, which made it more unrestricted than the Unified Rules concerning modern-day mixed martial arts. This variety of rules might be troublesome as it can foster regulation and hinder the organization from running in specific markets.

Competition with the UFC: The Ultimate Fighting Championship is now as synonymous globally with MMA (mixed martial arts) as Pride FC itself was, and it will present stiff competition going forward into the world of Mixed match-style promotions. This, combined with the uncertain fate regarding Pride FC being absorbed by Zuffa's pre-existing MMA brands, proved to be a recipe for disaster.