Pride OWGP Critical Countdown Absolute *spoilers*

[Trent Lawless]

1st Fight Pawel Natsula vs. Edson Drago 1R 4'33" IPPON Submission (Armbar)
2nd Fight Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Lee Eun-Su 1R 4'16" TKO Doctor Stoppage
3rd Fight Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshiki Takahashi 1R 0'36" TKO Striking (Punching)
4th Fight A. Rogerio Nogueira vs. Alistair Overeem 2R 2'13" TKO Forfeited Match (Throwing Towel by corner)
5th Fight Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Evangelista Cyborg 1R 4'49" IPPON Submission (Armbar)
(Note: This armbar was sick. I don't know how the guy held out for so long.)
6th Fight A.Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fabricio Werdum 3R 5'00" Decision (Unanimous)
7th Fight Wanderlei Silva vs. Kazuyuki Fujita 1R 9'21" TKO Striking (Kicking)
8th Fight Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt 1R 2'02" IPPON Submission (Arm Lock)
9th Fight Mirko CroCop vs. Hidehiko Yoshida 1R 7'38" TKO Forfeited Match (Throwing Towel by corner)

Great show, I thought, especially the Minotauro/Werdum bout. I like Werdum a lot and hope to see him get to the top level in the coming years. Barnett taking Hunt out that quick was a little unexpected, and was the only pick of the night I got wrong tourney-wise. I'm wondering if Overeem's corner threw in the towel because he was injured (he was wearing some tape just below the back of his neck), and when he was getting rocked they didn't want it to get worse.

Interested to see what the semis will bring. Personally I'd like to see Minotauro/Barnett and Cro Cop/Silva, but any combo will be good.

And how about the US debut of Pride on Oct. 21? Should be awesome to see an American crowd get a taste of the action.

[LWPD]

And how about the US debut of Pride on Oct. 21? Should be awesome to see an American crowd get a taste of the action.

I'm curious to find out what compromises they had to make to get sanctioned by the athletic commission. Previously the NSAC turned down Pride's application due to their rule system. I can't see something like the Silva/Fujita finish ever being allowed by the commission.

LWPD (who would love to see pure Vale Tudo...but other than running from an Indian Reservation...it'll never happen in this country)

[Mad Dog]

I imagine no knees/kicks to a downed opponent and all of the guys doing steroids won't be on the show.

Though this could be one of the last Pride FC shows we ever see if everyone in Japan drops them over the Yakuza thing.

[Darth Turkish]

I ma not a big fan of the stomping/ kicking at a downed opponent.

But I am in favor of knees to the head while grounded. I think they can be very hard to do properly, and are fun to watch than the elbow cuts while someone is laying in their opponent's guard. With the knees, you at least need good, dominant position.

[habbalah]

I'm sure the show will be fine. The purests will whine because that's what purests do but the show should be top shelf all the way. Expect to see extra cards.. I don't see refs allowing alot of stalling when their trying to make a first good impression.

[DUCE]

habbalah said:

I'm sure the show will be fine. The purests will whine because that's what purests do but the show should be top shelf all the way. Expect to see extra cards.. I don't see refs allowing alot of stalling when their trying to make a first good impression.

I'm not whining...

The guy is a cyborg thats why handled that arm bar so long... BTW

[Darth Turkish]

Duce, man, where do you go for such long periods?

[DUCE]

Underway. I am a sailor or I should say I was a sailor. I served in Sasebo, Japan for three years on the USS Essex.

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Injury Updates On Yoshida & Fujita From PRIDE OWGP Bouts

Hidehiko Yoshida was reportedly being checked on after his 7/1 bout with Mirko CroCop, a TKO loss in one round due to leg kicks, for a broken leg and torn knee ligaments.

Kazuyuki Fujita also had some misfortune in his 7/1 fight on the PRIDE card against Vanderlei Silva. During a tight armbar attempt, Fujita suffered a broken elbow. The injury won't require surgery, but he will miss around three months of action. PRIDE president Nobuyuki Sakikabara hopes for Fujita to be healed up enough to return for the United States debut of PRIDE on October 21.

[Trent Lawless]

duce said:

Hidehiko Yoshida was reportedly being checked on after his 7/1 bout with Mirko CroCop, a TKO loss in one round due to leg kicks, for a broken leg and torn knee ligaments.

Given the way that match ended, I'm not surprised at this. Cro Cop basically gave the ref a look after Yoshida went down for the last time that said "I'm not gonna jump on him, will you call this off, please?"

Hope he heals up. I like to watch him go. The strategy with a gi is always interesting to watch play out to a guy like me who has never rolled.

[habbalah]

I felt really bad when Yoshida lost. I guess I was just waiting for a miracle. Still it was interesting.

[Darth Turkish]

I really like Yoshida, but I do not think he has what it takes to be top tier.

[habbalah]

Well not at heavy weight LOL. At light heavy I think he'd give Arona, Shogun, lil nog a run for their money.