Cro Cop Interview On UFC.com & Speculation
 

Dana keeps letting people mention Pride as well as big pride names. My guess is that the UFC offered to buyout pride knowing they would be denied. I suspect they may be in cahootz with Pride's US partner.

I don't think so..

Hmmm... I have noticed them using the "taboo" Pride name as of late. For example in one of the articles about Cro Cop on the official UFC website they mentioned Pride, the OWGP, and a lot of the fighters even going so far as to hype Cro Cop's opponents up as being tough contenders. This is a bit of a switch from the old "He fought over in Japan" routine. I don't know if I'm buying the conspiracy theory, but it does make a man think :dunno:

I think Dana is just planning getting all those guys anyways so why not mention them. Or they already have thier most exciting fighter so why watch pride. Or he could be making the general public more aware of pride so if they have unify match it will make more money.

I heard somewhere that Pride gave permission to UFC for Rampage/CC footages. So I assume that the mention of Pride would be the trade-off. I just wish these 2 orgs should cut all the BS and just professionally co-exist and make cross-fights happen, then both Pride and UFC would benifit.