So why are some fans concerned? Ask Dana White.
"This is a sport and we're going to follow the unified rules that were established in New Jersey and then in Nevada. As far as I'm concerned, if an organization doesn't follow these rules, it's not MMA.” - Dana White
The unified rules have been the talk of the town. Heated debates within the MMA community have been a daily occurrence. UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner recently confirmed that future events after Pride 34 will utilize the unified rules.
- Foot stomps, soccer kicks, and knees to the head of a downed opponent will no longer be allowed.
- Round times will change to 3 x 5-minute rounds and 5 x 5-minute rounds for championship fights (no more 10-minute first rounds).
- The use of colored penalty cards will be discontinued.
- Elbows will be allowed.
- Shoes, gis, and pants will not be allowed (sorry Aoki).
While foot stomps and soccer kicks aren’t for everyone, it was an aspect of Pride Fighting Championships that set it apart from other organizations. The sudden change in allowable strikes may be a bit hard for diehard fans to swallow.
Remember Pride 33? It was a great event. Some fans went so far as to say it was the best in Pride’s history. It was also held in the U.S. and sanctioned under the unified rules. I’m not going to lie; I favor Pride’s rules/regulations over the current set established by the athletic commissions in the U.S. However, I do agree that unified rules are necessary for the sport to legitimize itself worldwide. Other organizations in Japan such as K-1 Hero’s, Professional Shooto, and Cage Force currently utilize a similar set of rules (sans elbows with the exception of the latter). Tatsuya Kawajiri with elbows? Intriguing…
The unified rules will always be met with mixed feelings. However, the integration of the rules in Pride is imminent so arguing about them is pointless.
Aside from the new rules, other forthcoming adjustments will prove to be positive and welcome changes.
Pride’s old weight classes were a bit broad in range, which made it difficult for some fighters. With better-defined weight divisions, fighters will be able to compete closer to their natural weight limit. The recent emphasis on lighter weight classes in the WEC has been well accepted and perhaps the new structure in Pride could eventually pave the way for featherweight and bantamweight divisions of their own.
Tired of inane non-title fights? Same here. I expect non-title fights to be eliminated under the new management.
Due to past political and financial reasons, many dreamed about fights were unattainable. Fans salivated at the prospect of seeing Wanderlei Silva fight Chuck Liddell in the UFC only to be let down. With the roadblock lifted, many cross-promotion super fights will soon come to fruition. Finally, we can forgot about brand names and enjoy MMA as a sport.
With an acquisition of this magnitude, a level of uncertainty remains. Will there be a loss in production value? How will the fights be affected under unified rules? Will the amount of broadcasted Pay-Per-View fights be lessened? With so many unanswered questions, do fans have a cause for concern? Maybe. However, I’m confident that those concerns will be addressed in due time.
Dream Stage Entertainment’s exit signified the end of an era. After months of negotiations, a new owner has emerged. Pride Fighting Championships will forge ahead and we should be grateful. The fighters will keep fighting. The fans will keep watching. MMA will continue to grow. A new era will begin.
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