Dream Stage Entertainment CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara held a press conference at the Dream Stage Entertainment Office in Tokyo on Tuesday to announce additional bouts for PRIDE.32 – THE REAL DEAL -, taking place on October 21st, 2006 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the beginning of the press conference, Sakakibara announced two fight cards:
- Josh Barnett (Free / USA) VS. Pawel Nastula (Takada Dojo/ Poland)
- Mark Hunt (Oceania Super Fighter / New Zealand) VS. Eric "Butterbean" Esch (Team Butterbean/ USA)
Sakakibara also stated that there will be total of 9 bouts planned for this event, as been told by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
As of now, 4 bouts have been announced, and there will be some announced during this week, if not, all cards will be announced by the end of September.
As for participants, Kazuhiro Nakamura is planned to fight, and Kazuyuki Fujita is being negotiated, along with few other Japanese fighters.
Since the event will be held in Nevada, PRIDE will have a new set of rules:
- 3 Rounds 5 minute rules.
- No kick or knees in the 4 point position.
- Elbows are ok in the State of Nevada, however, Sakakibara stated that for the sake of Fighter's safety, elbows will not be allowed in PRIDE.32.
- Shoes and Gi are not allowed.
There will be many fans from Japan coming (about at least 300 people), and there is a PRIDE FC tour.
The production will be the same level as usual PRIDE number series, but Sakakibara stated that "it (the production) will definitely blow out the crowd. We will bring the ring from Japan, as well as the net LED screens that we usually use for our events. Most of the equipments we need for our event will be shipped to the US."
Also starting this October, PRIDE will be able to be viewed all over the world through internet PPV. Countries other than Japan, USA, Korea, Brazil will be able to watch the event LIVE from anywhere in the world.
Questions from the press:
Q1: Will Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic fight in October?
Sakakibara: It is not yet official that he will fight in October, because he has a swollen left feet. We are still talking to his manager regarding his condition of his feet. However, I'm sure that he will come see the event.
Q2: Josh Barnett was suspended before in UFC. Is he able to fight in PRIDE?
Sakakibara: Regarding Josh's suspension in UFC, the term is over, and he is able to fight. From the GPs last Sunday, he is injured, but he has told us that he will bring back to his best condition to fight in October.
Q3. As of now, there are heavyweight bouts scheduled for this event. Will we be seeing bouts from different weight classes?
Sakakibara: Yes, there will be 9 bouts in total. We are planning on having a lightweight / welterweight / middleweight bouts.
Q4: Is Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell still on for November?
Sakakibara: Speaking on behalf of PRIDE, we are ready anytime. Also, Wanderlei is ready; we just need the doctor's confirmation from his injury from last week. We are still waiting for UFC's response. Mirko even said that if Wanderlei is not fighting in November, he will fight in his place. In some interviews, Mr. Dana White stated that this fight won't happen, but speaking from PRIDE side, we are ready.
Q5: Will this event be "USA VS. World " type of line-up?
Sakakibara: No, because we are also planning a USA VS. USA match. In the past, I've read bbs from all over the world, and it seems like American fans would like to see not only the fighters from their own country, but they are more interested in the top fighters from all over the world.
Previously Announced Bouts:
- Fedor Emelianenko (Red Devil/ Russia) VS. Mark Coleman (Hammer House/ USA)
- Kevin Randleman (Hammer House/ USA) VS. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Chute Boxe Academy/ Brazil)
In the beginning of the press conference, Sakakibara announced two fight cards:
- Josh Barnett (Free / USA) VS. Pawel Nastula (Takada Dojo/ Poland)
- Mark Hunt (Oceania Super Fighter / New Zealand) VS. Eric "Butterbean" Esch (Team Butterbean/ USA)
Sakakibara also stated that there will be total of 9 bouts planned for this event, as been told by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
As of now, 4 bouts have been announced, and there will be some announced during this week, if not, all cards will be announced by the end of September.
As for participants, Kazuhiro Nakamura is planned to fight, and Kazuyuki Fujita is being negotiated, along with few other Japanese fighters.
Since the event will be held in Nevada, PRIDE will have a new set of rules:
- 3 Rounds 5 minute rules.
- No kick or knees in the 4 point position.
- Elbows are ok in the State of Nevada, however, Sakakibara stated that for the sake of Fighter's safety, elbows will not be allowed in PRIDE.32.
- Shoes and Gi are not allowed.
There will be many fans from Japan coming (about at least 300 people), and there is a PRIDE FC tour.
The production will be the same level as usual PRIDE number series, but Sakakibara stated that "it (the production) will definitely blow out the crowd. We will bring the ring from Japan, as well as the net LED screens that we usually use for our events. Most of the equipments we need for our event will be shipped to the US."
Also starting this October, PRIDE will be able to be viewed all over the world through internet PPV. Countries other than Japan, USA, Korea, Brazil will be able to watch the event LIVE from anywhere in the world.
Questions from the press:
Q1: Will Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic fight in October?
Sakakibara: It is not yet official that he will fight in October, because he has a swollen left feet. We are still talking to his manager regarding his condition of his feet. However, I'm sure that he will come see the event.
Q2: Josh Barnett was suspended before in UFC. Is he able to fight in PRIDE?
Sakakibara: Regarding Josh's suspension in UFC, the term is over, and he is able to fight. From the GPs last Sunday, he is injured, but he has told us that he will bring back to his best condition to fight in October.
Q3. As of now, there are heavyweight bouts scheduled for this event. Will we be seeing bouts from different weight classes?
Sakakibara: Yes, there will be 9 bouts in total. We are planning on having a lightweight / welterweight / middleweight bouts.
Q4: Is Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell still on for November?
Sakakibara: Speaking on behalf of PRIDE, we are ready anytime. Also, Wanderlei is ready; we just need the doctor's confirmation from his injury from last week. We are still waiting for UFC's response. Mirko even said that if Wanderlei is not fighting in November, he will fight in his place. In some interviews, Mr. Dana White stated that this fight won't happen, but speaking from PRIDE side, we are ready.
Q5: Will this event be "USA VS. World " type of line-up?
Sakakibara: No, because we are also planning a USA VS. USA match. In the past, I've read bbs from all over the world, and it seems like American fans would like to see not only the fighters from their own country, but they are more interested in the top fighters from all over the world.
Previously Announced Bouts:
- Fedor Emelianenko (Red Devil/ Russia) VS. Mark Coleman (Hammer House/ USA)
- Kevin Randleman (Hammer House/ USA) VS. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Chute Boxe Academy/ Brazil)