PRIDE Fighting Championships was founded in 1997.
The Japanese promotion began with a major event at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997. Its first show was built around the long-awaited fight between Nobuhiko Takada and Rickson Gracie. PRIDE later became one of the world’s most important MMA organizations, especially during the early and mid-2000s.
PRIDE was known for large arenas, tournament formats, soccer-style kicks and knees to a grounded opponent, and a roster that included Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Mirko Cro Cop. Its rules and presentation differed from those used by the UFC at the time.
PRIDE’s final event took place in 2007 after the promotion was sold to a group connected with the UFC’s ownership. The UFC later absorbed many of its fighters and helped preserve PRIDE’s legacy through shared historical records and matchups.