PRIDE MW Grand Prix - Total Elimination, Fight Pictures & Post Fight Comments

[Hody]

PRIDE Middle Weight Grand Prix - Total Elimination
Fight Pictures & Post Fight Comments
4/23/2005 at the Osaka Dome, Osaka, JAPAN

• *Pictures by: Toshiko Masago, Wayne Kim, David Moskowitz, and Hody Jae Huh
• *Translation by: Toshiko Masago and Wayne Kim
• **I would like to thank Bas Rutten and Bas Rutten Gear for helping my crew and I. Please visit their hompages. Bas Rutten & Bas Rutten Gear**

Randleman vs. Nakamura




KAZUHIRO NAKAMURA: I'm happy about the results. I was pretty confident through out the fight I could win because I could feel Kevin losing his stamina.


KEVIN RANDLEMAN: I lost to a better fighter today. There's no excuses. I didn't bring my "A" game and he brought his "A" game. I'm not going anywhere, I'll be here for a long time. When your fighting for Pride and you don't bring your "A" game -- you lose. Nakamura is a good fighter.

Lister vs. Arona





DEAN LISTER: This fight was a tough fight, stategy unkown. I had no idea what my opponent was going to try and do to me......pure state of mind - no plans. I just wanted to go out and fight very hard.

My impression of my opponent, Ricardo Arona, is someone I knew for a long time. We used to train together and we USED to be friends. Uh....right now the situation...uh...we are no longer friends. If feel that he's very strong, very athletic, and he has a lot of experience.

(In reference to ADCC, and his participation) That yet remains to be seen. There might be some contractual obligations. I'm not sure what's going to happen.


RICARDO ARONA: I liked the results but it would've been better if I would've KO'ed him. I think his escapes were good and that he will improve in time.

(In regards to winning this Pride and his participation in the upcoming ADCC super fight) I cannot say anything yet. I have another upcoming fight, I will have a clearer mind after that.

Vovchanchyn vs. Kondo




IGOR VOVCHANCHYN: That was a good fight. My opponent was strong and I respect him. I expected to fight standing but it ended up being a ground fight. My opponent wanted to fight on the ground. I don't like to fight on the ground, I prefer to finish my opponents with punches.

(In regards to which weight class he prefers) I wanna stay at this weight -- middle.


YUKI KONO: I did my best but I couldn't win. Even I though I lost, I'm satisfied with this fight. It was a great experience for me. My opponent was very strong. I could feel a difference in power -- I knew it but...I couldn't counter that. If I had more power than him, I might have been able to beat him.

Belfort vs. Overeem






VICTOR BELFORT: I would've prefered we stood and traded punches but my opponent wanted to fight on the ground. Today I totally lost to my opponent, I will try my best, in my next fight.

(In regards to being guillotined) I was kinda out. I want to have a revenge match, at least in Pride.


ALISTAIR OVEREEM: I think it was a good fight. I still think it took me a long time to choke out Victor -- I could have done it faster. I'm very happy to make it to the 2nd round of the GP.

(When asked why he went to the ground when he's known for his striking) For Pride we made this game plan. The fight is not always standing up, you have to be prepared to go to the ground. In the future I will fight more on the ground but always aggresive, full of action. It doesn't matter -- submission/striking.

(In regards to ADCC) I'll probably be withdrawing from ADCC. Pride is a bigger priority for me. We will probably send a team member.

(When asked what belt he holds in BJJ) I don't have a belt, actually I'm very proud of that. I gave myself the white belt -- I'm a white belt.

Henderson vs. Nogueira






DAN HENDERSON: I'm disappointed in myself. I took a mental break at the end of the fight and shouldn't have taken a break at that time. He took advantage of that and got a nice arm-bar.

I knew he was tough, just like his brother. Compared to his brother -- he's tough, he's still getting better.

My game plan was to land some good punches on my feet and to take him down to side-control. Keep landing some good knees and some good strikes on the ground, which I did for a good part of my game plan, but I got tired and took a break when I shouldn't have.


ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUERIA: The fight was very good. I think I could fight as planned and could show the techniques that I trained. As the fight went on, I could control the pace. He was very aggressive and punched me a lot. I then breathed and then set my own pace. I think I had the advantage in boxing.

I got a lot of advise from my brother and a game plan, which I could do. My game plan was to keep it on the feet, box, and take him to the ground and use my jiu-jitsu.

Sakuraba vs. Sik








KAZUSHI SAKURABA: I don't like to finish with a KO but..it was a short match -- so sometimes it's good. I heard my opponent didn't prepare for punches -- I punched him really hard. I thought I won VIA TKO but it was a KO -- I was suprised. It's my first KO.

I wanted to finish with a submission but my opponent punched me and made me angry, so I punched him back. I don't care if my opponent wears a GI or not, there are both advantages and disadvatages with that -- I don't care.

The baseball hat I wore to the ring is the one I used to always wear when I was a child. I was/am a big fan of the Hanshin Tigers. (Pro Baseball team in Osaka).

(When asked who he'd like to fight next) No one special but possibly a weak guy. (Meant as a joke) I'll resume training in 3-4 days because I have no injuries -- that's good for me. I will try to stay injury free during training.


YOON DONG SIK: I was happy to fight in front of a large audience. I can't say anything about the fight because I lost my memory due to Sakuraba's punches. I didn't have enough time to prepare for Pride -- I couldn't train for striking. (He doesn't explain why)

(When asked what he thought about Sakuraba's entrance, dressed as a school boy) I cannot say anything about that.

I wanna fight again for Pride, I need to train more striking and after that I'll fight again.

I feel kinda embarrassed since it was a short fight. I cannot say anthing about it.

Rampage vs. Shogun









QUINTON 'RAMPAGE' JACKSON: N/A
We were informed that he skipped the post-fight interview and went directly to the hospital, as a precautionary measure. We later found out that he had some ribs broken during the course of the fight.


MAURICIO 'SHOGUN' RUA:
I'm so happy about today's fight to represent my team and win. I'm so happy.

I'm sorry that I was overweight, I should care about that more.

Rampage is a great fighter. Especially he's one of the best fighters at middle weight.

(When asked if he realized that he broke Rampage's ribs during the fight) Maybe because of my knees. I always train that style with Silva.


Silva vs. Yoshida












WANDERLAI SILVA: Yoshida is a great fighter. His technique has improved but I was much better.

(In regards to the 2-1 decision)Yeah, I agree with that. Anyways...I won.

(Comparing his last fight with Yoshida) He became stronger, especially his stand up.

I needed to lose some weight to make middle. I did it...no problem.

(In regards to Yoshida's choke attempt) Yeah that was a great technique. I could hear my corner telling me the round was almost over so I didn't do anything but defend.

I was thinking of fighting with the GI, but right before the fight, I decided not to. If I have another fight with Yoshida, I will wear the GI.

Sakuraba asked me for another re-match and I said yes.

(When asked if he's confident he will win the MW GP) When I fight, GOD always protects me and gives me power. If GOD wants me to be the MW GP champion -- then I will win.


RUDIMAR: We always see Shogun and Silva fighting/training and it's great.....so I hope that they will meet in the finals.


Chute Boxe

HIDEHIKO YOSHIDA: N/A
We were informed that he skipped the post-fight interview and went directly to the hospital, as a precautionary method.

MISC PICS


Bas Rutten


Chonan


Gomi and Mach


Press Pass


Pride Announcer


Team Oyama


The future Mrs. Hody (Eiko Koike)


Phil Baroni


Mark Coleman


Mark Coleman


Random Audience

RING GIRLS










PRIDE ADVERTISEMENTS
















If any MMA print publications like the pics I took and would like to buy some, please contact me at rgracie@hotmail.com
I posted only a fraction of the pics...still have tons more left.

PRIDE Middle Weight Grand Prix - Total Elimination
Press Conference, April 24, 2005 LINK

Hody

[Gsus]

Overeem: (When asked what belt he holds in BJJ) I don't have a belt, actually I'm very proud of that. I gave myself the white belt -- I'm a white belt.

Hody : The future Mrs. Hody (Eiko Koike)

Bwahahahaha

Good work Hody