Good news for Pride Bushido

[Shooto Panama]

Finally Sakakibara, Takada and Mr. Saeki made their mind and now Bushido is taking some shape.

From now on Pride Bushido is going to focus only in lightweights, welterweights and middleweights matches. The promotion want to build the show around Takanori Gomi and Ryo Chonan like the top japanese fighters in their respectives weight division but also fighters like Yoshiro Maeda, Masakatsu Imanari, Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Jutaro Nakao, Daisuke Nakamura, Daiju Takase, Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryuta Sakurai and Ryuki Ueyama between other were present at the press conference to announce the re-birth and new life of the Pride Bushido series.

Next show is May 22 at Ariake Colosseum.

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/headlines/images/20050406/20050406-00000023-spnavi-spo-view-000.jpg

[H]

great news. hopefully they can get some titles, and that Bushido GP going.

[Shooto Panama]

The Bushido GP is in September

[H]

well thats just excellent news. will it be open bushido weight? or will they set a weightclass for the GP?

[Shooto Panama]

73-kg/83-kg division

[H]

excellent. they have alot of talent at those weights that desperatly needs to be exposed. to think Bushido was in danger of being cancelled not too long ago. i hope the success continues for these guys.

[Shooto Panama]

I think they are looking to get into the K-1 MAX market in Japan with the young girls.

[H]

they want to get the hoes involved huh. i dont much care for that stuff, but as long as the fighters keep the fights exciting, i can deal with it, much like MAX. i havent seen a boring MAX fight in ages. the lighter weight guys always seem to give better performances. boxing, k-1, mma, it doesnt change.

[CHH]

I was curious why Gomi and Chonan were in the ring during Bushido 6. It's about time, that's what this show shoulda been since the start. An exclusive 185 and down show. The lightweight GP is gonna be tits

[Alfuh]

Is DSE still keeping "middleweight" as 205? So would that mean that Pride shows will have exclusivity over HWs and share MWs with Bushido? Or is a 185 division FINALLY coming about with this announcement?

[bakedogg]

Is DSE still keeping "middleweight" as 205? So would that mean that Pride shows will have exclusivity over HWs and share MWs with Bushido? Or is a 185 division FINALLY coming about with this announcement?
thats what i am hoping for.

[Shooto Panama]

Is DSE still keeping "middleweight" as 205? So would that mean that Pride shows will have exclusivity over HWs and share MWs with Bushido? Or is a 185 division FINALLY coming about with this announcement?

185 division and below.

[Alfuh]

185 division and below.

Sick! That's some good news. And now if the LWs are smart they'll all flock there (or shooto) because UFC LW division is all but dead.

[TILSON]

I like it, but I bet it won't fly. I would still look for one big heavy weight showcase fight to anchor the show.

[MyAssIsFartsy]

It's good news for fighters like Nakao, who don't have as much time left, but are good and could use more exposure...

[gongshow]

although i probably should, i dont care about ANY of the fighters mentioned.

[OB Juan]

Great news. So let me get this straight, Pride is going to end up having 4 divisions. HW (205+) and MW (205-185) will be the main Pride shows. WW (160-185) and LW (<160) will be Bushido fights. Or something thereabouts.

The LW division has so much potential. Not only all of the great Japanese fighters and the Brazillians but also those the UFC has cast aside. Dana is gonna be pissed when he sees Edwards, Franca, Thomson, Serra, etc getting the respect they deserve in Pride. Then again w/ Dana announcing they were putting the LW div on hold and Pride making an official LW division, perhaps Dana has something worked out w/ Pride.

Gomi better start bulking up if he's gonna be in the GP. He might not even enter and just take on the role as the LW champ.

[OB Juan]

SHOOTO -


Do you know the exact weights for Pride's divisions?

Do you know if the LW GP will be 8 or 16 men?

[PhatRick]

I like it, but I bet it won't fly. I would still look for one big heavy weight showcase fight to anchor the show.
ehh...
I dont know.
I think fightes like Gomi and Chonan are starting to have the popularity to finalize a great card in Japan. Shooto, would you agree. after all... you are gomi :p

[dy-no-mite3000]

Gomi In A Hawt Suit!!!

[dy-no-mite3000]

chonan and gomi, are some solid names to build the shows off of.

VERY smart business move, especially with the depth of talent Pride does employ... splitting the company into two shows to TARGET audiences is VERY good imo

[Shooto Panama]

SHOOTO -


Do you know the exact weights for Pride's divisions?

Do you know if the LW GP will be 8 or 16 men?

Sakakibara says 73-kg/83-kg division are in development now and more likely Chonan will be the "ace" at 83 while Gomi is the "ace" in 73.

The tournament will be divided in 73 and 83 divisions with 8 fighters each.

[Fenix]

How long is Genki signed for? I'm desperate to see him in pride.

[Bishop]

this is good because now that the UFC is getting rid of the LW division, Bushido can compete against Shooto....not overtake them, but take them on with bushido fighters vs. shooto fighters.

[Johnny Toetags]

I'm actually more pumped about the Bushido gp than the Middleweight GP.

[Shooto Panama]

How long is Genki signed for? I'm desperate to see him in pride.

Genki is not going to Pride. He`s making good money with K-1 now.

[Bishop]

Genki is not going to Pride. He`s making good money with K-1 now.
speaking of K-1....what do you make of this "road to Dynamite" plug they had at the beginning of Hero's? are they building up through the year to crown a champ then?

[Ratt]

Am I correct that the LW divsion will be the one they start next GP with? MIght also be at 170 as that was the lbs of the last Jens Gomi fight.

[Shooto Panama]

speaking of K-1....what do you make of this "road to Dynamite" plug they had at the beginning of Hero's? are they building up through the year to crown a champ then?

More likely yes. HERO`S is going to use the old RINGS format from KING of KING tournaments so it`s looks like the are looking to crown a champion or champions somewhere down the road and possible build some matches for Dynamite.

Am I correct that the LW divsion will be the one they start next GP with? MIght also be at 170 as that was the lbs of the last Jens Gomi fight.

The light, welter and middle weight divisions start next may 22 with Pride Bushido 7.

[Ratt]

Cool thanks shooto.

[OB Juan]

Sakakibara says 73-kg/83-kg division are in development now and more likely Chonan will be the "ace" at 83 while Gomi is the "ace" in 73.

The tournament will be divided in 73 and 83 divisions with 8 fighters each.

Sweet. Thanks man. More reps for you as soon as I spread some around.


So it's quite possible that Gomi and Chonan face off in the finals of the GP w/ both of them "acing" their respective divisions. Awesome, dude.

[OB Juan]

The light, welter and middle weight divisions start next may 22 with Pride Bushido 7.

Now I'm confused again. Is Pride going to have 4 or 5 divisions total when it's all done. Are they keeping their "MW" division at 205 or are they renaming their 205 division and making MW lighter?

To the best of my understanding right now:

LW < 73 kg (160 lbs)
WW < 83 kg (182 or 183 lbs)
MW < 93 kg (205 lbs)
HW > 93 kg

If this is correct and they will be having MWs in the Bushido shows, that means MWs could be fighting in either Pride or Bushido. HWs will be exclusively Pride (no more Mirko in Bushido :( ) and LWs and WWs will be exclusively Bushido. This is cool because Pride does have quite a few names @ MW that they could get to headline the Bushido shows.

Also, any idea if Bushido will still have the "Japan vs ..." theme?

Sorry about all the questions, I'm just excited about this and want to make sure I know what I'm talking about.

[Shooto Panama]

So it's quite possible that Gomi and Chonan face off in the finals of the GP w/ both of them "acing" their respective divisions. Awesome, dude.

No because the tournaments are different. 8 fighters at 73 and 8 at 83.......two different champions.

Now I'm confused again. Is Pride going to have 4 or 5 divisions total when it's all done. Are they keeping their "MW" division at 205 or are they renaming their 205 division and making MW lighter?

Ok Pride currently has two weight division: HW and MW (under Pride rules). Now they are opening two more division with 73 and 83 Kg. limit. There is no official name yet but i believe this will work (once again under Pride rules) like this:

Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Lightweight

So basically the scale you wrote before is right at least until Pride change their minds.

If this is correct and they will be having MWs in the Bushido shows, that means MWs could be fighting in either Pride or Bushido. HWs will be exclusively Pride (no more Mirko in Bushido ) and LWs and WWs will be exclusively Bushido. This is cool because Pride does have quite a few names @ MW that they could get to headline the Bushido shows.

Ok according to Sakakibara backstage in Bushido they will feature at least one MW or HW fight in the Bushido cards but from now the line-up and main event will be only regular light and welter weight fighters (under Pride rules)

Also, any idea if Bushido will still have the "Japan vs ..." theme?

The Japan vs.....insert name here were only experiments from DSE/Pride trying to give some form, shape or direction to the Bushido series. Basically they realize there is market for light MMA fighters and fight in Japan in bigger stages and they want to capitalize in how popular guys like Gomi, Chonan and Minowa are now between Pride regular fans so i don`t think this series will come back.

Sorry about all the questions, I'm just excited about this and want to make sure I know what I'm talking about.

No problem....anytime.

[OB Juan]

Thanks dude. SHOOTO PWNS!!!


So there will be 2 more GPs, a LW and a WW. SUPER FUCKING SWEET!!!!

I'm already thinking about participants and who the UFC will send. Yves better be the UFC's first LW rep. He deserves it. Being only 8 men there isn't a whole lot of room for any other UFC reps. Hopefully Tanner for MW.