Slick_Fugitive

I'm a big fan of the UFC but have to admit my knowledge of Pride its fighters is not as strong. I keep hearing the ongoing debate about PRIDE vs. UFC and don't know what to make of it. After last night's loss by Rich Franklin, is it fair to say that the calibre of fighters in PRIDE is a step up? I heard that Anderson Silva wasn't considered one of the top fighters in PRIDE but here he dominates 2 UFC guys like they were amateurs - that's scary. But then you see guys like Hughes, St. Pierre and Liddell and you feel they have to be the best out there. Here's what I feel the consensus is - The best heavy weights are in Pride, best lightheavys are in UFC, best middleweights in Pride, best welterweights in UFC, best lightweights in PRIDE. ARe people like Rich Franklin just packaged like "boy bands" for the American public without being the best out there? Time to get more cross over between the 2 organizations

Pogo the Clown

It goes both ways.


Wanderlei Silva got his ass kicked inthe UFC and left with a poor record but now he is Prides Light Heavey Weight Champion and has been dominant their for many years. Phil Baroni left the UFC with four straight looses but as soon as he got to Pride he started picking up a bunch of wins.


For every Pride fighter that comes to the UFC and finds success there are like 3 or 4 guy's UFC guy's that did poorly in the UFC and then find success in Pride.


Pogo

ZZtigerZZ81

Pride doesn't have a WW division. So UFC definately has the better WW. Both organizations have good fighters and bad fighters. Silva dismantled two of the UFC's "best" because he is probably the best striking MW in the world. Those were their strong suits. So he easily outstruck two average strikers. Both came in with stupid gameplans and it showed.

ZZtigerZZ81

When is it going to start being about the fighters and not the organizations? This is getting old.

randyspankstito

There is no doubt to me that pirde has the better array of fighters, not to say that the UFC is filled with bad fighters because it's not. There are great frighters in the UFC too, but pride is better over all, and they don't have a stupid reality show which is demeaning to the sport. On the other hand, UFC has less annoying refferees (IMO). ALso, pride allows knees to the head while on the ground and kicks in the 4 point position. Nothing like a good soccer kick to get people fired up!

Some fighters may also be better suited to fighting in a ring as opposed to the cage as well, I bet it at least takes a little getting used to when you switch from one to the other.

Slick_Fugitive

yeah true enough, but I guess money talks and it's just like boxing and their different organizations like WBO, WBC, etc ... sure is depriving the fans of the very best though

silvawand

I think it's a really tough call to call one organization better than the other. I'll admit right now I know a lot more about the UFC than Pride, but recently I've got into Pride and I've watched a few events. Seeing guys like Shogun, Crocop, Emelianenko, Henderson, Silva (Wandy), Yoshida, Nogueria, etc etc...like the list goes on, and the fights I've seen these guys in have been very impressive.

I know you used Silva as an example for the Pride to UFC change, but hes two losses in the UFC weren't to chumps, Ortiz and Belfort are both top of line fighters and it's hard to say he got his ass kicked in the "UFC". Do you know what I mean?

Now that I begin this it's so hard to explain, but I think both organizations have a lot of talent but from what I've seen lately in Pride they've got a bit more talent especially in the 185-+ divisions...(I haven't seen many fights under 185 pounds in pride).

Am I out of line here or does this kind of make sense?

asskicker

This is the endless debate. While when Silva was in Pride he wasnt the best I think he's improved since and he could very well be better than anyone in Pride right now. Dont get the wrong idea Rich Franklin is a good fighter who just ran into a better one it happens.

Pride has better LHWs than UFC. Beyond Chuck, Tito, and Babalu they get blown outta the water by Pride. Check out Wanderlei, Silva, Shogun Rua, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Ricardo Arona. They're great

MW division is comparible but I'd give the edge to Pride. I still think UFC has the top 2 MWs in the world.

HW is Pride no questions asked. Fedor is a god and Cro Cops damn near unstoppable. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Josh Barnett are noth better than Sylvia too.

Pride has no WW division and UFCs LW division is on the rise and I think they'll soon compete with Pride's. Dont get the wrong idea UFC still has some of the best p4p fighters in the world Pride just has more.

Slick_Fugitive

I agree with you ... no disrespect to Anderson Silva, the guy pulled off an amazing feat, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding the game plan of Franklin and his level of confidence ... Leben led with his face, that also showed, believed his chin was stronger than it was

pt447

your theory is wrong... if anderson wasn't even top in PRIDE, and he mopped the floor with 2 UFC guys, that just means that PRIDE fighters are just that much greater than UFC guys.

guy kills 2 UFC guys, yet is not very impressive to PRIDE fighters... that means PRIDE fighters are better than Anders and UFC fighters put together...

__________________
whiskey, racism, money, grease, twinkie's, guns.....yep lol thats about it

http://www.watchblog.com/

http://www.xanga.com/mfalino