From Dream Stage Entertainment
September 22, 2006TOKYO, Japan –PRIDE FIGHTING is proud to announce an additional bout for its first ever show on American soil, “THE REAL DEAL.”  The event will take place on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st from the THOMAS & MACK CENTER in LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.  Just added to the card: “DANGEROUS” DAN HENDERSON versus “THE PHENOM” VITOR BELFORT. 

A two-time member of the U.S. Olympic wrestling team, “DANGEROUS” DAN HENDERSON has translated his skills into the world of mixed martial arts.  With one of the most wicked right hands in the business, Henderson has catapulted to the sport’s elite with wins over the likes of Renzo Gracie, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, and Yuki Kondo.  On December 31, 2005, Henderson won the PRIDE FIGHTING welterweight title with a victory over Brazil’s Murilo Bustamante.      

“THE PHENOM” VITOR BELFORT returns to Las Vegas, this time under the PRIDE FIGHTING banner.  A former UFC light-heavyweight champion, Belfort possesses a phenomenal combination of lightning quick fists along with elite ground skills as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Belfort is coming off of a KO victory over Yoshiki Takahashi last July 1stat PRIDE FIGHTING’s “CRITICAL COUNTDOWN ABSOLUTE.”  

Headlining the Thomas & Mack event is PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight champion and 2004 Grand Prix champion, FEDOR EMELIANENKO against former Olympic wrestler and PRIDE FIGHTING 2000 open weight Grand Prix champion MARK “THE HAMMER” COLEMAN.  Also, 2005 tournament champion, MAURICIO “SHOGUN” RUA will meet the explosive two-time NCAA wrestling champion, KEVIN “THE MONSTER” RANDLEMAN in a match of Team Hammer House versus Team Chute Boxe.   Also previously announced, “THE BABY FACE ASSASSIN” JOSH BARNETT versus Olympic judo gold medallist PAWEL NASTULA and former IBA World super heavyweight Champion, ERIC “BUTTERBEAN” ESCH versus former K-1 Grand Champion, “THE SAMOAN MONSTER” MARK HUNT.

Tickets to PRIDE FIGHTING’s “The Real Deal,” sponsored by Caesars Palace, are available at www.pridefc.com or 1-866-US FIGHT. Ticket prices range from $50 to $700. PRIDE FIGHTING’s first U.S. card will also be featured on Pay-Per-View for $39.95. Check your local cable or satellite provider for details.

North American Pay Per View Schedule:
PPV Premiere Date: Saturday, October 21st
Premiere Time: 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST

Fight Card

Fedor Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Mark Coleman (USA)
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (Brazil) vs. Kevin Randleman (USA)
Mark Hunt (New Zealand) vs. Eric “Butterbean” Esch (USA)
Josh Barnett (USA) vs. Pawel Nastula (Poland)
Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Vitor Belfort (Brazil)

Additional bouts to be announced soon.

Fight Card Subject to Change.

For more information about PRIDE Fighting Championships, visit www.pridefc.com.