or '''PRIDE Fighting Championships''' is a '' event had 65,000 people in the audience. The audience record is 90,000 people on the PRIDE and K-1 co-production ''Shockwave/Dynamite'', held in August 2002 .
PRIDE's rules result in similar styles of fighting as seen in Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States . Unlike the UFC, where matches take place within a cage, PRIDE holds its bouts within a boxing style ring. Other notable differences between PRIDE FC and the UFC are:
- Heavyweight (more than or equal to 93 Kg / 205 Lb )
- Middleweight (less than 93 kg / 205 lb)
- Welterweight (less than 83 kg / 183 lb)
- Lightweight (less than 73 kg / 160 lb)
Most PRIDE FC matches are broken down as follows:
::Round 1 - 10 minutes
::Round 2 - 5 minutes
::Round 3 - 5 minutes
There are two-minute breaks between rounds.
Matches are won via:
- Technical Knockout
- --- Referee Stoppage---If the referee sees that one fighter is completely dominant to the point of endangering his opponent, the referee will stop the match.
- --- Doctor Stoppage---In the event that a fighter is injured (via fair methods) and cannot continue the match, his opponent will be declared the winner. The ring doctor will be the one to determine whether the fighter can continue or not. In the event that an injury was caused by illegal methods, the perpetrator will be disqualified.
- --- Forfeited Match---A fighter's corner throws in the towel.
- Decision
:If the match goes the distance, then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. A decision is made according to the following: the effort made to finish the fight via KO or submission, damage given to the opponent, standing combinations & ground control, aggressiveness and weight (in the case that the weight difference is 10 kg/22 lb or more). The above criteria are listed according to priority. The fight is scored in its entirety and not round by round. After the third round, each judge must decide a winner. Matches cannot end in a draw.
- Disqualification
:A "warning" will be given in the form of a Yellow Card when a fighter commits an illegal action or does not follow the referee's instruction. Three warnings will result in a disqualification.
- No Contest
:In the event that both sides commit a violation of the rules, the bout will be declared a "No Contest."
The following acts are regarded as "illegal actions." When a fighter commits any of these illegal actions, he will be given a warning from the referee (in the form of a yellow card). Warnings will be considered as negative points in the event that the match goes to a decision. Three warnings will result in a disqualification.
# No Headbutt ing, Eye-gouging , hair pulling, biting or Fish-hooking .
# No attacking the Groin .
# No Strikes ( Kick s, Elbows , Punching ) to the back of the head (which includes the occipital region and the spine). The sides of the head and the area around the ears are not considered to be the back of the head. (see Rabbit Punch )
# No Small Joint Manipulation (control of four or more fingers/toes is necessary).
# No Elbow Strikes to the head and face.
# No intentionally Throwing your opponent out of the ring.
# No running out of the ring.
# No purposely holding the Rope s. Fighters cannot purposely hang an arm or leg on the ropes. Hanging on the ropes will result in an immediate warning.
# No Kick s or Knees to the head or the face of an opponent who falls face down.
# No application of Oil , ointment, spray, Vaseline, massaging cream, hair cream, or any other substances is permitted to any part of the fighter's body before and during the fights. The discovery of any of these substances will result in a disqualification.
- In the event that a fighter is injured by illegal actions, then at the discretion of the referee and ring doctor, the round will attempt to be resumed after enough time has been given to the fighter to recover. If the match cannot be continued due to the severity of the injury then the fighter who perpetrated the action will be disqualified.
- In the event that both fighters are on the verge of falling out of the ring, the referee will alert them and ask them not to move. The fighters must immediately stop their movements and will then be pulled back to the center of the ring, exactly in the position they were in. They will then resume the fight at the referee's call.
- The “No Contest” Rule---When an illegal action disqualifies both fighters or the judges decide to stop the fight because of an accident (in the first round), then the fight shall be called a "No Contest." However, in the case that the accident happens during or after the second round, a decision shall be made according to the fighter's performance during the first round and the preceding round(s) before the accident occurred.
- Upon the fighter's choice, Gi , kneepads, elbow-pads, shin guards, taping and ankle supporter may be worn, but each should be checked by the referee before the fight. Mouthpieces and cups are mandatory for fighters.
- Weight classes are as follows:
Middleweight Class: Weight less than 93 kg/205 lb.
Heavyweight Class: Weight more than or equal to 93 kg/ 205 lb.
- If both fighters are in the middleweight class: If there is a weight difference of 10 kg/22 lb or more between the fighters, then the lighter fighter is given a choice on whether to permit knees or kicks to the face when the fighters are in the "four points position."
- If both fighters are in the heavyweight class: If there is a weight difference of 15 kg/33 lb or more between the fighters, then the lighter fighter is given a choice on whether to permit knees or kicks to the face when the fighters are in the "four points position."
- If the match is between a middleweight and heavyweight: If there is a weight difference of 10 kg/22 lb or more between the fighters, then the lighter fighter is given a choice on whether to permit knees or kicks to the face when the fighters are in the "four points position."
- The PRIDE FC ring is 7 meters by 7 meters (approximately 23 feet by 23 feet).
Rules for the BUSHIDO events are generally the same as PRIDE FC rules with some exceptions:
- In BUSHIDO fights are two rounds (instead of three). The first round is ten (10) minutes, and the second round is five (5) minutes. There are no extra rounds. If the fight goes the distance then judges decide on a winner.
- For BUSHIDO "Challenge Matches," fights are two (2) rounds. The first and second rounds are five (5) minutes each. If the fight goes to the full time limit no decision will be rendered. The fight will be ruled a draw.
- In BUSHIDO, red cards are used in the same way that yellow cards are used in PRIDE FC. In BUSHIDO, if fighters commit the following actions, they shall be given a red card by officials: Stalling or failure to initiate any offensive attack, making no attempt to finalize the match or damage the opponent, and holding the opponent's body with the arms and legs to produce a stalemate. A red card results in a 10% deduction/fine of the fighter's fight purse. A major difference in the penalty card system between PRIDE FC and BUSHIDO is that in PRIDE FC a total of three yellow cards results in a disqualification, while in BUSHIDO red cards can be given out in an unlimited number without disqualification
GRAND PRIX tournament events follow the same rules as standard PRIDE FC events with one exception:
- The round format shall be ten (10) minutes for the first round and five (5) minutes for the second round during tournaments in which fighters must fight more than once in the same event (most commonly in an event that will have the semi-finals and finals). During the opening round of a tournament in which the fighter will only be fighting once that evening, then the round format is the standard 10-5-5.
, current PRIDE Heavyweight Champion]]
See Also: List of PRIDE champions
Recent Tournament champions:
''Note: some fighters occasionally change their weight class.''
, current Middleweight Champion]]
See Also: List of PRIDE events
- '' PRIDE rules .'' PRIDEFC.com. Accessed March 7, 2006.
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