UFC vs. PRIDE: An Interpromotional Event

Some of the most novel ideas in MMA history have been created through the development of team events. The very first PRIDE Bushido event was billed as Team Japan vs. Team Gracie. UFC 58 was called U.S.A. vs. Japan. The IFL is nearing the end of an extremely successful season and will soon break into the black. Meanwhile, most MMA events are dominated by fight teams or "camps" going at one another and comparing victories. With all this taking place, it is surprising to me that there was never an interpromotional event between the UFC and PRIDE. If there was one, what would it look like? Who would fight? And most importantly, who would win. It's harder to talk about this now, with the recent popularity of jumping ship to the UFC. Since it'll never happen on its own, I bring you the fight card for the first ever, completely made up UFC vs. PRIDE event card. It's been developed as if it were six months ago...when PRIDE had Shogun, Rampage, and The Axe Murderer under its jurisdiction. Whether the recent rash of signings is a good or bad thing is, of course, another discussion for a different five-part article. Anyway, after each bout, I'll tell you who I think will win and by what means. What this means for you, the readers, is that you comment after the article and do the same.

Preliminary Card

Heavyweight-Tim Sylvia vs. Mirko Filipovic
Filipovic wins via Unanimous Decision (PRIDE 1-0)

Lightweight-Sean Sherk vs. Takanori Gomi
Sherk wins via 1st round KO (TIE 1-1)

Catchweight-Anderson Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Anderson wins via 2nd round TKO (UFC 2-1)

Welterweight-Georges St. Pierre vs. Hayato Sakurai
St. Pierre wins via 1st round submission (UFC-3-1)

Light Heavyweight-Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson
Jackson wins via 1st round TKO (UFC 3-2)

Main Card

Light Heavyweight-Tito Ortiz vs. Mauricio Rua
Rua wins via 2nd round TKO (TIE 3-3)

Heavyweight-Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Nogueira wins via Unanimous Decision (PRIDE 4-3)

Heavyweight-Andrei Arlovski vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Emelianenko wins via Split Decision (PRIDE 5-3)

Middleweight-Matt Hughes vs. Dan Henderson
Hughes wins via 3rd round TKO (PRIDE 5-4)

Light heavyweight-Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
Liddell wins via 2nd round KO (TIE 5-5)


The final result is a 5-5 split, not surprising considering the amount of talented that has been concentrated between the world's premier fight organizations. Let's hear those results, fight fans...before this article gets bumped off the main page.