Anyone know what is going to happen to PRIDE?

[NightOwl]

For the uninitiated, PRIDE was one of the largest and most popular MMA competitions in the world based in Japan where it was hugely popular- audiences went to well over 50 thousand people for the big events. Early this year it was bought out by the same company that owns the UFC, and the plan was to have them as two separate leagues but occasionally do a cross over tournament (although many fighters, such as Chuck Liddel have already competed in both). Despite this, PRIDE has virtually vanished. UFC President Dana White mentioned maybe just taking the top PRIDE fighters and putting them in the UFC, while he also mentioned that Japanese TV networks are not willing to work with him (although the fact that he in so many ways bought out a Japanese company would make the Japanese reaction not too surprising). The only other news I have heard since is that the PRIDE office in Japan closed down and let go of all staff in october....anyone else know what's up? I really liked PRIDE a lot- and although it may have seemed like a good idea to buy it because of its popularity, they essentially killed it and limited the consumer's options for MMA events down to pretty much one (I am not counting IFL).

[bushido_man96]

PRIDE may be defunct now. Not sure, though. The big thing is that Zuffa now has to get the PRIDE fighters that they want to keep under contract, and that isn't going well. I do know that Fedor will not compete in UFC, because they won't let him fight in other competitons.

I know that they have been "unifying" some of the titles in the latest UFC fights, like the one with Rampage Jackson and Dan Henderson. I don't know what happens now.

As for the IFL, I think it will be a good thing for the UFC. As fighters gain experience and popularity there, it gives the UFC kind of a minor league to pull new fighters from.