What is PRIDE Fighting Championships?
'''PRIDE Fighting Championships''' was a [[mixed martial arts]] organization based in [[Japan]] (1997–2007). PRIDE held more than sixty mixed martial arts events. As one of the most MMA organizations in the world during its ten years of operation, PRIDE broadcast to about 40 countries worldwide. == History == PRIDE Fighting Championships was first started in 1997 by the match popular Japanese pro-wrestler Nobuhiko Takada with Rickson Gracie, champion of the Gracie family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners. The event, held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997 attracted 47,000 fans, as well as Japanese mass media attention. The success of the first event enabled its promoters to hold a regular series of mixed martial arts events and grew up to be the most popular mixed martial arts event in Japan. == Rules == ===Match length=== PRIDE matches make up of three rounds; the first round is ten minutes, and the second and third round are five minutes. Intermissions between each round were two minutes in length. In PRIDE US events, NSAC Unified MMA rules were used, with non-title matches consisting of three five minute rounds and title matches of 5 five minute rounds both having 60 second intermissions between rounds. When two rounds of a Grand Prix took place on the same night, Grand Prix bouts consisted of two rounds; the first lasting ten minutes and the second lasting five. Intermissions between each round remained two minutes in length. ===Weight classes=== *Heavyweight (more than {{val|93|ul=kg}} / {{val|205|ul=lb}}) *Middleweight (less than or equal to {{val|93|u=kg}} / {{val|205|u=lb}}) *Welterweight (less than or equal to {{val|83|u=kg}} / {{val|183|u=lb}}) *Lightweight (less than or equal to {{val|73|u=kg}} / {{val|161|u=lb}}) ===RING=== PRIDE used a five-roped square ring with sides {{val|7|ul=m}} in length (approximately {{val|23|ul=ft}}). ===Fighter’s clothing=== PRIDE allowed fighters latitude in their choice of clothing but open finger gloves, a mouthguard and a protective cup were duty. F