Rumours have it – Helena Mattsson, Ralf Moeller, and Natassia Malthe might join the cast of the Japanese mixed martial arts series Fight Pride!
For the ten years of its existence, Fight Pride has been one of the most popular MMA organisations across the globe. It has featured some of the most talented fighters so far. Pride broadcast its event on Japanese pay-per-view and free-to-air television for millions of spectators in Japan and worldwide.
They also hold large events in sports stadiums, including the largest live MMA event audience record of 91,107 people at the Pride and K-1 co-production, Shockwave/Dynamite that was held in August 2002. They had an audience record of over 67,450 people at the Pride Final Conflict 2003. Its inaugural event was held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997.
Helena Mattsson, Ralf Moeller, and Natassia Malthe to join the cast of Fight Pride
As of yet, Fight Pride has held more than sixty mixed martial arts events, broadcast to about 40 countries worldwide. It was owned by the holding company Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE). As per latest reports, Helena Mattsson, Ralf Moeller, and Natassia Malthe are rumoured to join the cast of Fight Pride.
“Fight Pride” known for its focus on entertainment
Fight Pride originated in Japan, and ever since, it’s known for its prime focus on entertainment. With new members joining the professional wrestling team, the show has come a long way. Events proceeded with opening ceremonies and fighters had elaborate entrances. Initially, there wasn’t a formal weight class category – except for championship belt bouts and the Grand Prix tournaments. Fighters would often match with opponents from wildly different weights.
Pride also had the Grand Prix, one-night single-elimination tournaments with multiple fighters. Their ruleset was also more permissive than the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, permitting soccer kicks, stomps and knees to downed opponents, body slams directly in the head (“spiking”). They also allowed more fighting outfits, including wrestling shoes and keiko gis. Matches were done in a boxing-style roped ring and went for an opening ten minute round followed by two rounds of five minutes.
In 2015, Fight Pride’s co-founder and former president Nobuyuki Sakakibara established Rizin Fighting Federation in Japan with the same philosophy and ambition as for the defunct Pride organization.
Where to watch Fight Pride?
The Best of Pride Fighting Championships, a sports series is available to stream now – on Apple TV on your Roku device.
