Akira Shoji
Pride 34: Kamikaze was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on April 8, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This was the last Pride show promoted by Dream Stage Entertainment before the sale of the company (see Pride Worldwide). Although Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua were negotiating with Pride to compete, Silva did not participate because of a medical suspension received from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The commission had stated that if a Japanese doctor cleared Silva for competition, they would consider lifting the suspension three days early, but this did not come to fruition. Gilbert Yvel was originally slated to fight Bazigit Atajev, but Atajev withdrew due to an internal disease
Pride 25: Body Blow was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 16, 2003.
Pride 22 Beasts From The East 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan on September 29, 2002.
Pride 18: Cold Fury 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan on December 23, 2001.
Tomokawa is a tough guy turned bored cop who spends much of his time sating lonely housewives and looking after retarded teen Sukemasa. One day while hanging out at a bar, he is approached by a 15-year-old enjo kosai named Yoko, offering a round of illicit sex in exchange for cash. Though he demurs, their paths cross again and soon a relationship of sorts forms. Yoko, it turns out, is Sukemasa's sister; and both are the children of his old flame Yukie, a grasping, self-centered woman. Moreover, Yoko's grandfather is responsible for the massive tattoo sprawling across Tomokawa's back. Tomokawa soon takes both teens under his wing, protecting them from their heartless mother, and their lecherous stepfather. Soon, Yoko gets a similarly massive tattoo illustrating her bond with her policeman savior.
Pride 16: Beasts From the East was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships on September 24, 2001 at the Osaka Castle Hall in Japan. The fight card featured 7 fights that night, including the return of Don Frye to MMA. In the United States the event was marketed as "Beasts From The East", the first of two events to use that name (Pride 22 is Beasts From The East 2)".
PRIDE 14: Clash of the Titans was a mixed martial arts event held by the PRIDE Fighting Championships. It took place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on May 27, 2001.
Pride 9: New Blood was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan on June 4, 2000. Matt Serra was to fight on this card, but his opponent, Johil de Oliveira, was injured by a pyrotechnics explosion at the event.
Pride 11: Battle of the Rising Sun was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan on October 31, 2000.
Pride 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships). It took place at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 15, 1998. Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Kerr, Vernon White, and Marco Ruas all made their Pride debuts at this event. In addition to the MMA events, there were also two kickboxing events.
Pride 1 was the first mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships). It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on October 11, 1997. In addition to the MMA bouts, there was one kickboxing bout between K-1 Grand Prix Champion Branko Cikatic and Ralph White.
