We take a look at some of the latest PRIDE FC releases by BCI. These are notable for the fact these are the first released by Zuffa, owners of the UFC, since the transfer of PRIDE from Dream Stage Entertainment to Zuffa. Fans have been worried that the DVD releases would be stopped or otherwise damaged because of a lack of interest by Zuffa. This early test indicates that the answer will be no.
Video: Both events are presented in 1:78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is interesting because of the fact that PRIDE never released any of these events in Widescreen. However, as some will know often certain fights appeared in Widescreen on the Japanese Region 2 release of PRIDE DVDs. It seems Zuffa is simply using a widescreen master that Dream Stage had, but only used for certain fights. To the best of my knowledge none of the fights look cropped at all and in a more telling way, US announcer footage (produced by PRIDE USA) are in regular full screen (and presented the way ESPN does with certain non-widescreen ads or programs on its HD channel). The picture quality is great and it’s nice to see PRIDE events in Widescreen (and not cropped to achieve it).
Audio: The audio uses a standard stereo mix and sounds fine. It is important to note, as is somewhat obvious by the appearance of Kill The Messenger’s Music Supervisor credit, certain music has been replaced. The most notable example of this is the insane J-Pop song that played during the intro for Shockwave 2006 and replaced with a generic angry nu-metal sound. It’s a shame, but DSE routinely cut intros for rights reasons, and the costs to license the song and others may not have been in Zuffa budget for the DVD release (Zuffa does this with their own UFC releases). Still the fights sound great, so fans should still enjoy the contests themselves.
Extras: Each disc contains certain extra fights. PRIDE 34 has the only in the Japan match up of Butterbean vs Zulu’s son. It’s a shame the Japanese TV version couldn’t appear on the disc as the promotion of the Super Heavy-Weight Grand Prix is pretty funny. Essentially all fights that occurred at each event should be on the discs. There is a lot of editing on the PRIDE 34 DVD as the main feature is less than 90 minutes. The fights are uncut, but a lot of the closing events and waiting for the fight setup has been cut (PRIDE 34 was a long event live).
Overall: If you are looking for low-priced ways to view some of the last events PRIDE put on these DVDs are a great way besides importing the expensive Japanese DVDs. While some of the production end decision Zuffa made, but all the fights are present and they picture and audio quality are good. So I would recommend picking these DVDs up if you’re a fan of PRIDE events.
Today, I had the extreme pleasure of being able to cover the Affliction Banned Press Conference that was held at the Trump Tower in Manhattan at 57th and 5 Avenue in Lower Manhattan. I also got the chance to talk with former UFC Heavyweight Champ former Pride, NJPW, and current Pancrase, World Victory Road, and IGF fighter Josh Barnett.
I arrived shortly before the press conference was about to start at the Trump Towers so I had a chance to get a free Affliction t-shirts, which was also given out to fans who were attending the press conference as it was open to the public. I have to say Affliction made a smart decision in giving out free shirts, as regardless of ones opinion on the brand, it is well known and highly regarded and a way to draw people to an event. Trump Tower was also an excellent location choice with its exquisite interiors which helped give the proceedings in New York a very refined and regal look. The interior and exterior was adorned with many posters inside and outside the building including a massive 3-5 floor banner setup behind the conference table.After collecting my t-shirt, I signed in at the press desk collecting my packet and badge id. I then took the escalator down to the first floor where the press conference was being held. Members of the public who were there were able to view the proceedings from the railings of the floor above.
The Press Conference itself including short speeches from all of the participants except for Ben Rothwell’s since he is still listed as fighting TBA and was joked about by Rothwell and some of the other fighters. Not much of substance was really discussed that has not been reported in the past, but I did have a chance to discuss HD coverage with Afflictions media people and they stated that since they will be with InDemand and Dish Network among others, that as long as you have an HD capable cable box your provider will have Banned available to purchase and view in HD. Banned will also be available in Russia and Japan to view which is quite amazing when you think this is the companies first event.
Affliction and their production team did a great job promoting the event even getting Donald Trump who was in attendance to give a small speech putting over Affliction.
After the Press Conference formally ended, the fighters themselves did interviews with members of the press. Because of time constraints I only had a chance to talk with Josh Barnett. I did accidentally nail Matt Lindland with my bookbag. Matt pointed out this out, too which I immediately apologized, and Matt responded with a hearty laugh and an “its ok”.
I figured since fight discussion would be what everyone else was going to be talking about with Josh, I would talk about some of the less beaten areas involving the Japanese fight scene and anime. We began talking about one of Josh’s favorite (along with mine too) anime Fist of the North Star. Josh himself told me that he had not had a chance yet to view some of the newer Gaiden’s yet, but that he really wants to as he is such a massive fan of the series. He has had heard very positive feedback on it from one of the fighters he works with. He also did not pick up the Japanese box sets that recently came out and retailed for over 100,000 yen, because he still relies on English subs. It may be a surprise too some, but Josh is not fully fluent in Japanese even though many think he is. He rates his skills as being able to pick it up and engage around conversational level Japanese, but that it comes and goes, and definitely would not describe himself as fluent by any means. He also was gracious enough to sign a box set of Fist of the North Star that I had and will now a fixture in the office. The music rights to use Fist of the North Star’s first theme, “Ai wo Torimodose!!” for Josh’s entrance have not yet been secured, but Josh is still not sure if he is going to use it or not as entrance music, pointing out Japan and America as different markets and if American fans would responds.
We discussed Josh’s plans for fighting in Japan, he stated that he had no plans for fighting in DREAM because of carry-over issues from PRIDE. He did wish the people fighting in the organization the best, but he did not plan on being involved with the organization in any capacity, so it will look like Josh will be with World Victory Road for the near future in terms of national MMA in Japan. Josh stated that he would love to keep fighting in Pancrase and defending his Open Weight King of Pancrase title, but that Pancrase is having trouble finding challengers that want to compete at Open Weight. He stated that Pancrase is trying and that the door is always open.
In terms of the Inoki Genome Federation, Josh is going to be back there in June and August and stated that “he wasn’t leaving until he had a belt”! I also asked him why does Inoki not just start an MMA group and why have the IGF. Josh felt it is because for Inoki he feels that wrestling and the skill involved is not fake (which is a view Josh holds) and that Inoki wants pro-wrestlers who can compete as if they were MMA fighters in a legit sense. I mentioned that this also seemed to be the goal with Inoki Bom-Ay-Ye and for example, the Yuji Nagata-Cro-Cop match. Josh agreed, but pointed out at the time that no one had truly known how powerful Cro-Cop was and it was not an even match up. IGF seems to have as a goal the evolution in the ideas of the Bom-Ay-Ye and having truly well rounded fighters in the legit and Puro sense.
I then thanked Josh for taking the time for the interview and snapped a quick photo and departed. One thing that was interesting to me was how I was similar in height to Fedor and at the other end of the stick how gigantic Tim Sylvia is, but as both men know and our readers do, size while important isn’t the end all. National Coverage in the forum of ESPN, NBC, and other major groups along with MMA press were present, including a great deal of Russian and European media.
I left shortly afterward, but not before seeing the huge throngs of fans waiting in line to get the signatures from the fighters. Affliction put on a great presentation for both the media and the fans today and I just cannot wait to see their first fight card July 19th.
It's also good to get more MMA on use TV's and here is the chance to get the latest from Japan. It's from some of the same people who brought you PRIDE FC (yes, thats a very good thing). Also feel free to toss in a K-1 request also :)
Thanks to SonnyakaPig at Sherdog. Here are the email addys and two form letters you can use.
Here's two general requests. One for HDNet and one for FEG.
I am very pleased with HDNet's interest in and coverage of the growing sport of MMA. I am a devoted fan of the sport and I enjoy watching a wide variety of MMA promotions.
As a continued show of support for MMA's growth, will you please consider looking into the possibility of broadcasting the new MMA promotion, Dream. Dream is the product of the FEG corporation and it possesses an extremely strong stable of world class fighters.
I have no doubt that the number of HDNet subscribers would increase if your channel carried the Dream events. Dream has the potential to be a very strong and entertaining MMA promotion and I am confident that fans of the sport would do everything in their power to watch the Dream promotion on your excellent high definition channel.
Thank you for considering my email. And please continue providing a great HD channel in HDNet.
Sincerely,
FEG
Dear Gentleperson,
Congratulations on the creation of your new and exciting MMA promotion Dream. You have done a wonderful job in obtaining world class fighters to fill your roster.
As a devoted MMA fan that does not live in Japan, I strongly desire the opportunity to view your Dream events. Please consider working with television companies that have the capability of broadcasting your Dream events outside of Japan.
The high definition channel HDNet made history when they broadcasted the NYE Yerrenoka event in high definition. Countless HDNet subscribers were elated with the opportunity to watch a fine Japanese MMA promotion in high definition.
Perhaps, HDNet would be an equally good home for Dream events.
In addition to HDNet, please consider broadcasting the Dream events on pay per view. I have no doubt that fans throughout the world would order the highly exciting events that you have lined up.
Thank you for considering my email, and again, congratulations on the creation of Dream.
