http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=7048

I'm not sure what to make of this. I just really hope that Pride as we know it stays mostly intact.

UFC is going to have the world market for MMA. Arguably the 2 biggest orgs now under one owner.
I'm selfish and glad it is happening. I want to see top fighters actually fight. Not have one fighter declare he's the best, but to actually have to show he's the best.
I wonder though if the NSAC is going to muscle the UFC into changing rules over in Japan. My understanding is that the UFC HAS to keep the same rules as in Nevada, regardless of where they hold the event, with the threat that if they don't, the NSAC can stop sactioning fights.

Yeah, I'd be willing to be that we're going to see unified rules, now- elbows but no knees/stomps/soccer kicks on the ground. That kind of sucks because I like knees on the ground and stomps of Pride.

I wonder when we'll see the first UFC vs. Pride matchup? Think they'll do it as a sort of Superbowl type deal?

Also, I wonder if they'll keep the Pride ring?

I'd rather see knees and stomps as well. Makes it more competitive IMO. I'd also like to see more of the Pride rules, yellow cards, etc..
I do think it will be a superbowl type setup, but then having some of the up-and-comers competing back and forth throughout the year.
The ring v. octagon is a good question. Seems keeping both will cause controversy though. If Liddell fought Silva and lost in the ring, it would be a given they'd then have to fight in the octagon. I'd think that would draw a lot of pay-per-views to see that fight happen in both settings. What will need to be done if each fighter wins in their own organization, where will the 3rd fight happen?
I wasn't a fan of the ring when I first started watching Pride fights, but now I'd rather see the ring instead of the cage.

Knees on the ground would hurt wrestlers and remove some fo the unfairness of the cage, correct? Maybe they will compromise by keeping the cage (face it: no way Dana will get rid of the cage) and trying to get knees on the ground cleared with the NSAC.

Or not.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=7068

Regardless of whether this goes down in the immediate future, I anticipate it will in the next annum.

Bottom line is that the quality of the fighting suffers when you can't knee from the ground. I would like Pride rules to stay in their entirety, but I know that won't happen. If they must keep something it has to be the knees on the ground, because it makes the ground game so much more dynamic. In Pride, side-mount is commonly used to inflict damage , but in the UFC side-mount is comparatively useless.

It's OFFICIAL as of today see: http://www.maxfighting.com/index.cfm?ac=ne...il&nid=1857

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Unified rules FTMFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FTMFL I SAY!

Yep, here's another story on it-

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=7087

Big time stuff. I'm not really sure what to think of it all yet.