Top Ten PRIDE Fights Of All Time

After I compiled every win and loss for the UFC, I did the same for PRIDE. And now, following my top ten UFC fights post, I feel it necessary to grant PRIDE with the same right. I realized that I've generally neglected PRIDE in the past, and while it is basically a defunct organization, it has still had it moments (incredible ones, no less). And so, I've teamed Masson up (believe me, it's better that I stay out of this one) with three Sherdog.com experts. Let's see what they have to say...

We adapted criteria from Extremeprosports.com in order to form our own criteria (below) for our Top Ten lists.

1. The fight itself had to have significant drama. In other words, each fighter, at one point or another, must have been in a position to win the fight.

2. The bigger stage, the better. Non-championship bouts didn't get as much love as those giving out belts.

3. Only PRIDE FC bouts were considered.

Masson Liang's Top Ten
10. Joachim Hansen vs. Yves Edwards (Bushido 9)
9. Mirko Filipovic vs Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute)
8. Mauricio Rua vs. Quinton Jackson (PRIDE Total Elimination 2005)
7. Takanori Gomi vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Bushido 9)
6. Takanori Gomi vs. Hayato Sakurai (PRIDE Shockwave 2005)
5. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (PRIDE 21: Demolition)
4. Takanori Gomi vs. Nick Diaz (PRIDE 33: Second Coming)
3. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)
1. Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE 28: High Octane)

Viktor VonDoom
10. Mirko Filipovic vs. Kevin Randleman (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
9. Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson II (PRIDE 33: The Second Coming)
8. Anderson Silva vs. Ryo Chonan (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
7. Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005)
6. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (PRIDE 21: Demolition)
5. Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004)
4. Dan Henderson vs. Ricardo Arona (PRIDE 20: Armed and Ready)
3. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)
1. Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE 28: High Octane)

Anthony S.
10. Mirko Filipovic vs Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute)
9. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
8. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)
7. Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005)
6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Bob Sapp (PRIDE Shockwave 2002)
5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie (PRIDE 10: Return of the Warriors)
4. Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE 28: High Octane)
3. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Carlos Newton (PRIDE 3)
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2003)
1. Kazushi Sakuraba vs Royce Gracie (PRIDE Grand Prix 2000)

CroCopIsBack (only ballot with all six consensus fights below)
10. Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004)
9. Sergey Kharitonov vs. Semmy Schilt (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004)
8. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (PRIDE 21: Demolition)
7. Mirko Filipovic vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (PRIDE Total Elimination 2003)
6. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)
5. Quinton Jackson vs. Mauricio Rua (PRIDE Total Elimination 2005)
4. Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE 28: High Octane)
3. Mirko Filipovic vs Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute)
2. Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005)
1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)

Appeared on 4 out of 4 ballots
Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE 28: High Octane)
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic (PRIDE Final Conflict 2005)
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II (PRIDE Shockwave 2004)

Appeared on 3 out 4 ballots
Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005)
Mirko Filipovic vs Wanderlei Silva II (PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute)
Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (PRIDE 21: Demolition)

Reappearing Fighters
Out of the 40 total contests listed here, Mirko Filipovic appeared in the most fights (10), followed closely by Wanderlei Silva (8), Quinton Jackson (8), Fedor Emelianenko (8), and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (6).