Jamie

Press-conference in Japan

Titled Yarennoka, which roughly translates as "can you do it?"

Now, this is looking more like it:

A press conference was held today by former PRIDE staff members to announce that there would be an MMA show on 12/31 at Saitama Super Arena. The promoters are labeling the event as being “Yarennoka! supported by M-1 Global Mixed Martial Arts.” Takada, Sasahara, Saeki, Lenny Hardt, Kei Grand, Daisuke Sato, and major names from DSE’s management past are involved in the show. Fighters announced included Fedor, Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Shin’ya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Mitsuhiro Ishida. Photo mugshot of DSE management here.

Take notice of the NYE logo for Yarennoka, which uses the exact same font as the past DSE-produced Otoko Matsuri (Man Festival) shows did. Furthermore, the web page for Yarennoka is only a slightly modified format as compared to the old PRIDE web site.

Other potential names floated include Joachim Hansen, Ricardo Arona, Gilbert Melendez, Luiz Azeredo, Kazuo Misaki, and Hidehiko Hasegawa.

The event will be broadcasted on SkyPerfecTV PPV. It will not be seen on free-to-air television.

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Sounds great!

Jamie

So theres no interest in this at all?

Fedor, Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Shin’ya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Mitsuhiro Ishida and possibly Joachim Hansen, Ricardo Arona, Gilbert Melendez, Luiz Azeredo, Kazuo Misaki, and Hidehiko Hasegawa.

MuayThai4Life

The only reason I'm not all that interested in it is that it's going to be held mostly in Asia. I really wonder about how much these fights will hit home here in America. I'm interested in seeing Fedor fight of coarse and I do like Arona and Mitsuhiro, but I don't see them being able to market much to the American audience. Not to mention I don't see what caliber of HW's they can find to have Fedor fight. Monson is a good fighter but he's not someone I'd say keeps Fedor in the #1 spot. I really think that the most talented of the heavier fighters are found now in the UFC. Both for LHW and HW.

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Robert_Lake

This is awesome, finally MMA fans who are fed up with the UFC will have another top organization to watch. Hopefully the event will take place under full Pride Rules. I imagine this show will be absolutely amazing.

Pride 34 was a long time ago, and for MMA fans in Japan this is the first huge MMA event since. I expect the Saitama Super Arena to be packed to the rafters.

I dont think it matters if the American fans even tune in atall to this show. All of europe will watch, not to mention massive amounts of fans in Asia and Russia. Most of these places dont even have UFC available to order on PPV.

So far the line up for this one card has been better than any single show the UFC has put on since they purchased Pride.

since M-1 global has Fedor, then that means any HW in the world who is not signed will want to sign with that organization just so they can possibly fight the best HW in the world.

The only reason that the UFC has got some depth now is because they bought out Pride and then decide to do nothing at all with it, forcing alot of the former Pride fighters to sign withthe UFC.

I can almost guarantee you that once those former pride fighters that are now in the UFC contracts run out they will flee the UFC and it's nazi ways and probably wind up with M-1 global.

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way26

This is awesome. Like Rob said this gives us fans another venue to check out the top fighters outside of the UFC.

I may have missed it, but will they be operating under the Japanese / PRIDE style rules? (Ring format, stomps, etc.)? Also I'm not sure what SkyPerfecTV Pay-Per-View is, and is that available on cable/satellite providers in the United States?

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daywealldie

i agree with everything u said rl. it is actually the first promotion coming out with the asian foundation of production. i hope its like PRIDE but i have a feeling they wont have a 10 min first round or kicks on the gound. it would be my dream for M-1 to encorporate both elbows on the ground and feet like UFC and stomps/kicks to the ground like PRIDE. personally under those rules i think it would be the best org. in the world. not to even mention theyr card looks great so far.

Jamie

I think it is the full Pride FC rules.

The event is pretty much organised by the DSE. There are some other pictures around the net. Takada and both the Japanese Male and the Crazy Pride lady are seen in the pictures. I'm really looking forward to the show, should be great.

Jamie

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This is going to be a great card. NYE I get to see Chuck Vs Wand, Hughes Vs GSP and Yarennoka!!!!

Bring on 2008!

MMAWeekly has also confirmed Zentsov and Aleks are on the card.

Robert_Lake

I wonder if they will use the old Pride fighters theme when the show starts. I will literally have an orgasm if that happens. I don't know why but those first 4 initial Japanes drum beats always gives me goosebumps.

The line up so far is amazing. Jesus Christ, so many questions, i can't wait. It's very doubtful but i would love to see Bas doing the commentating for this event.

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JamesBambridge

this sounds awesome this is what i found on it:



It won't be under the PRIDE banner, but make no mistake – the December 31 "Yarennoka" has the makings of the final PRIDE event.

Organized by former PRIDE executives and staff members and a card to be packed with fighters who became superstars fighting PRIDE, the entire show is essentially PRIDE, without calling it so. Details such as the logo and website, resemble PRIDE. Yes, even the screaming lady ring announcer and the guy with the mohawk and large sunglasses will call in the fighters.

"Yarennoka" is a one-shot event, one final goodbye to PRIDE. The organizers have no plan to continue running future shows. But just like any successful movie finding its way to a sequel, there is a possibility for a revival if the show is a huge success.

Shinya Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai were among the PRIDE icons who confirmed their participation by attending the Nov. 21 press conference.

Fighters listed on the official "Yarennoka" website include: Gilbert Melendez, Hidehiko Hasegawa, Ricardo Arona, Kazuo Misaki, Joachim Hansen and Luiz Azeredo.

Emelianenko, who recently signed with M-1 Global, flew to Japan to finalize his participation in a tradition that will see him fight for the fifth straight year on New Year's Eve. His opponent has not been announced but the current rumored opponents are Hong Man-Choi and Hidehiko Yoshida.

In addition to the fighters listed above, expect to see members from Emelianenko's camp.

Judging from the fighters currently announced, the event will surely surpass the final Dream Stage Entertainment-promoted PRIDE 34: Kamikaze. The overwhelming consensus was that the show was a major letdown, unworthy of a fair send off to the promotion, which at times was arguably the number one MMA promotion in the world.

To clarify, the event is not being promoted by M-1 Global. The upstart company will hold its first show in February. The title of "Yarennoka" being tagged with "Supported by M-1 Global" is due to M-1 Global lending out Emelianenko.

Tickets for "Yarennoka! New Year's Eve! 2007 Supported by M-1 Global" at the Saitama Super Arena go on sale Nov. 25 for special advance reservations. Tickets will be available for the general public Dec. 2.

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