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Pride Fighting Championship, much like mixed martial arts as a whole, has evolved over the years, as rules have developed when needed – such as the creation of a consistent round structure, a defined time limit, three yellow cards for disqualification, and standing restarts. A look at Pride 2, From the Yokohama Arena illustrates the practicality of such evolution.
Review Pride FC 2
By Rich Ristow
Yokohama Arena, Japan, March 15, 1998 Vernon White vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Branco Cikatic vs. Mark Kerr
Marco Ruas vs. Gary Goodridge
Renzo Gracie vs. Sanae Kikuta
Royler Gracie vs. Yuhi Sano
Akira Shoji vs. Juan Mott
William Roosmalen vs. Ralph White (Kickboxing)
Tasis Petridis vs. George Randolph (Kickboxing) Pride Fighting Championship, much like mixed martial arts as a whole, has evolved over the years, as rules have developed when needed – such as the creation of a consistent round structure, a defined time limit, three yellow cards for disqualification, and standing restarts. A look at Pride 2, From the Yokohama Arena illustrates the practicality of such evolution. Japanese wrestler Sanae Kikuta spends most of an hour – throughout five ten minute rounds – laying in Renzo Gracie’s guard. Kikuta doesn’t really try to get out of it, and due to the lack of a time limit, one can’t rationalize that Kikuta was shooting for a draw. To be fair, for most of the match, Renzo Gracie doesn’t mount much of an offense from the bottom. Both men are too cautious, as if waiting for the other to over-extend themselves, and the fight churns on as a stalemate, broken only in the sixth round. At one point, commentators Bas Rutten and Stephen Quadros even wish for a rule allowing the ref to force a standing restart. For the most part, this fight bores. The commentators’ attitude had been brewing. Earlier, a similar situation appeared to be happening. Japanese wrestler Yuhi Sano and Royler Gracie spend a lot of time on the ground; the difference, however, is how hard Royler works, jockeying for position. At least he develops a strategy, and slowly, he turns up the intensity, making the fight much more interesting in its later moments. A lot of the matches are much shorter then the two Gracie bouts. Akira Shoji quickly dominates Juan Mott, and Marco Ruas squeaks out a first round win against Gary Goodridge, despite Ruas taking some hard shots. Then, there’s the main event between kickboxer Branco Cikatic and Mark Kerr. Obviously, this match took place before Pride instituted its yellow card system. Citaktic received only one warning before the referee awarded Kerr victory. Still, that’s not to question the ref’s judgment, as Cikatic, in two minutes, fouls four times– it’s the way they’re committed too. When Kerr shoots for a takedown, the Croatian kickboxer backs up, puts an arm around the ropes, and hammer-fists Kerr on the back of the head. In a sense, Cikatic breaks two rules simultaneously, and it makes one question Cikatic’s commitment to cross-training in styles other than his own. Later in Pride history, Maurice Smith made him tap to a simple forearm choke, and Cikatic hasn’t been seen in a Pride ring since. Probably for a very good reason. It should be noted. This fight has a production quirk. Bas Rutten commentates with Stephen Quadros. Still, Rutten was in Kerr’s corner after the disqualification, so this sets up the impossible combination of Rutten standing in the post-fight ring, and yet, a viewer hears him commentating with Quadros. Only one solution exists: the commentary track is not live, but a recorded voice over. Still, with all there is to complain about, there remain a few reasons to have Pride 2 in one’s private collection. They are Vernon “Tiger” White and Kazushi Sakuraba, who put on two and half rounds of technical submission wrestling. Tiger White repeatedly attempts a rear naked choke, and Sakuraba escapes, and at the same time, Sakuraba tries catching White in arm and leg locks. Had time run out, the match would have been an honest draw. For Sakuraba’s fans, this is one of the breakout moments in his mixed martial arts career. Earlier, he had armbarred Marcus Silveira in UFC Japan, but Vernon “Tiger” White was the first well known fighter Sakuraba beat. At the time (1998), White had experience in vale tudo, and Pancrase experience, dating back to 1993. Despite a quick third round flurry, Sakuraba and White rarely strike each other substantially. That goes for most of the card, with a few notable (Gary Goodrige) exceptions. Most fights are decided on the ground, and the only knockout comes in one of two non-MMA, kickboxing matches. Overall, this disc is a must have for Sakuraba fans. Perhaps, if one is into the Gracie family, this would fill out a collection already containing other more important essentials, despite Renzo Gracie’s lack luster, boring fight, and Royler Gracie’s slow start. Plus, the predominance of the ground game could keep stand-up striking enthusiasts away. Pride 2, From the Yokohama Arena gets a score of 3 out of 5
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