Vitor Belfort's contract to PRIDE has not been renewed!

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

I've heard that due to his boring style of ground and pound, PRIDE has not renewed their contracted with Belfort. They expected a different style of fighting and it looks like they were sorely disapointed on how his fight went.

Where is he going to fight now????

[GROUND CONTROL]

What a crock of shit. They were sorely disappointed that Vitor pummeled one of their Japanese fighters. Vitor is boring yet Goodridge, Shannon Ritch, Giant Afro, Takada, etc continue to get fights. Pride knows that Vitor is aa threat to their Golden Boy and this is a way of denying Vitor a rematch.

Keep the cartoon charaters like Goodridge and Afro in pro wrestling. Keep fighters like Vitor in Pride.

[Jaguar Wong]

Maybe he didn't want to fight any "worked" bouts

Maybe he didn't want to play by their rules?

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Pride is an entertainment company and they're trying to get people into MMA like they are in pro-wrestling. People on this board just don't seem to grasp that but New Japan Pro Wrestling [Antonio Inoki's fed] is more popular then the WWF. Do you know how much that is? Inoki has filled up stadiums of 100,000 fans plus, can any Gracie say that? If Vitor is now boring, I'm glad he's gone, its not like he's a great fighter anyway. A threat to Sak? I think everyone just suddenly turns on Sak for no good reason, if he was a threat, then what do you call Allen Goes, Royler, Royce, Renzo and Igor Vovchanchin, and the attempts to get Frank Shamrock and Rickson to fight Sak. You're telling me Vitor is better then all these people?! Vitor is overrated and tons of people have beaten Matsui, so I doubt they didn't resign Vitor because of that. Pride is trying to get fans, and they're going the K-1 route instead of the UFC route and guess what? Its working...

[GROUND CONTROL]

Caterpillar, I understand what you are saying. I know how big pro wrestling is there. But in order to promote NHB you must keep the integrity of the sport. Having works on an NHB card is doing nothing for the integrity of the sport.

Neither Goes or Royler has fought in a long time. Vitor's style is no different then Kerr, Coleman, Erickson etc yet they get fights. Where do you draw the line?

I think Vitor still has some fighting to do to get back on top, but his new style is the type that will give Sak many problems. Remember Vitor broke his hand in the beginning of the last fight. Now that he has figured out he isn't a boxer he is winning. He did dominate Yvel who is a talented fighter.

If you think this approach is working see how many people buy their next PPV. There is one good fight on the entire card. Also the need to give charity to fighters who play to the crowd such as Goodridge, Takada, Matsui, Ichizawa, Satake, Giant Afro, etc is a joke. Instead of getting real fighters like Matt Serra, Barreto, Goes, Vitor, F. Shamrock, Trigg, etc we have to see that crap.

The last card was fantastic. The next one really sucks. If December is no better Pride will not be pleased with their ratings.


[Edited by GROUND CONTROL on 10-16-2000 at 07:16 PM]

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

I haven't seen any of Vitor's new matches, but it seems everybody thinks its extremely boring. Kerr is fun to watch even though he's GnP and so is Vov. Coleman, they are stuck with because he's the GP Champ and he'll never, be gone unless he gets his ass handed to him a lot. Pride shouldn't have works I agree, but getting the most exciting fighters instead of the most talented is completely understandable from a business stand point.

However, getting Renzo to fight instead of Royce is again a good move because Renzo is exciting while Royce sits in his guard. Rickson Gracie could have the absolute most boring style in the world, but Pride would kill for him anyway because of name value alone. Fujita is fun to watch, but he sucks so he's in money matches. I think Giant Ochia is an idiot, he suks, and he's not funny but the Japanese think he is, so we're stuck with him.

I'm rambling on right now, but fans want excitement. I haven't seen Sak fight a GnPer and I never saw the Vov fight, but from what I understand, Sak got the takedowns, is this true?

[Mr. Miyagi]

I think that the Giant Ochiai is very funny. Especially when he got his ass kicked by Ricco.

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

The PRIDE president has stated that they rather have a soso fighter that gives the fans something to talk about and have a dynamic style (ie. Goodridge) then have a top fighter that has a boring style. They are trying to beat K-1 in ratings, so they need exciting bouts to satisfy fans and build a bigger fan base.

[GROUND CONTROL]

If the Japanese are worried about selling tickets to their events then I can understand what they are doing. The Japanese people will only turn out to see Japanese fighters.

If they think that people in the U.S., Brazil, and Canada will pay to see these sorry ass competitors they have another thing coming.

[Hawk]

Ground Control,
Although I don't think Big Daddy is quite as bad as you think he is, I feel your post hits the nail on the head. Vitor is a real threat to Sak. Obviously Pride and Colloseum
are close to getting Rickson-Sak put together or Sak wouldn't be fighting Shannon Rich. Most of Sak's fights could have gone against him and most have been controversial.Vitor very well may have pushed to hard for another shot at Sak.
Hawk

[Zhoozhitsu]

Hawk,

Vitor is no threat to Sakuraba. Vitor's comeback after his worm has been one of the biggest disappointments in NHB, except the fight w/ Silva.

Serves him right not to have his contract renewed. He's such a pu$$y for not grappling. He has taken the boring ground & pound strategy to a whole new level. No technique. Just base and blast away.

[Hawk]

Zhoo,
Vitor is a real threat to Sak, as is just about everyone he's fought. In fact, Shannon Rich seems to be his first opponent that wouldn't be a threat, hence my post.
Hawk

[Mr. Miyagi]

Hawk is right. Sak should stop dodging fighters (like Vitor) that are a threat to his winning streak. Especially since their last match was so close.

Pride probably does not care what fans in the USA or Brazil want. The fans in Japan are the ones filling up these huge stadiums, and paying big money for it too. Pride may not be as big as K-1, but they are in a position to choose what will continue to make them money. Vitor should come fight for KOTC, win a few exciting fights, and then maybe go back to Pride.

[Hawk]

Mr Miyagi,
Sak is not dodging anybody. The reason his fights to this point have all been so close is because he has fought tough fighters, however with a real chance for him to fight Rickson or F. Sham, he's not going to fight anyone he's beat or that fought him to a draw until that's resolved. That's why he's fighting Rich.
Hawk

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Sak. wants a chance at fighting people he hasnt fought before. However he does want to fight oher previous fighters EVENTUALLY. But he and many other fans want other fighters to step up and fight (ie. Shamrock and Rickson)