Pride fc launched its promotion in 1997 and quickly
became mainstream in 2000 when pride fighting legend Kazushi Sakuraba fought
UFC hall of famer and tournament winner of UFC 1, 2 and 4. This was a war
that lasted 90 min, and was eventually was stopped due to Gracie’s corner throwing
in the towel. In the history of Pride there were many amazing battles, too numerous
to list, which includes one night tournaments, vicious head stomps, and soccer
kicks to the face.
In 2006 rumors began to surface that some of Pride’s fights
were fixed, as they might be highly involved in organized crime, the Yakuza
(Japanize Mafia). It’s been said that former manager of Pride fighting legend the
last emperor, Fedor Emelianenko, Miro Mijatovic, helped
launch the investigation on Pride and the Yakuza after he was forced at gun point
to sign his rights to Fedor over to Pride. This investigation led police to Fuji T.V.
were they would inform them of the facts that have been found, which led them to
terminate Pride immediately from their T.V schedule. The effects of lousing there
T.V deal forced Pride to sell their organization to the UFC for a rumored
$70 million dollars. Eventually the UFC absorbed Prides fighters into their
divisions,even tho the plain was for the UFC to continue putting on Pride events.This of course did not happen, according to UFC President Dana White, its impossible to do
business in japan because the mafia controls everything over there. This story has got me thinking!
- Is it possible for organized crime to be involved in
the sporting industry in America?
- Is it possible that organized crime exist in the UFC?
