August 21, 2018
By Ryan Porzl
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Dan Severn
Appeared At: PRIDE 1 (October 11, 1997)
Dan "The Beast" Severn is obviously a living legend in MMA specifically during the 90s in the UFC becoming the second and final UFC Superfight Champion, the UFC 5 & Ultimate Ultimate 1995 tournament winner, and the UFC 4 tournament runner up. Though mostly known for his UFC run, some may have forgotten Severn competed in the PRIDE ring in the middle of it. Severn's only run in PRIDE was at PRIDE 1 on October 11, 1997 where he took on UFC vet Kimo Leopoldo. The fight would last the 30 minute time limit and went to a draw. Severn, not known for his exciting fights, would add another lackluster one here right alongside his "Detroit Dance" with Ken Shamrock.
Branko Cikatic
Appeared At: PRIDE 1 (October 11, 1997), PRIDE 2 (March 15, 1998), & PRIDE 7 (September 12, 1999)
Unlike most of the people on this list, Cikatic isn't an MMA fighter but a kickboxer. The Croatian is best known for being the inaugural K-1 World Grand Prix Champion in 1993 and being one of the few non-Dutch fighters to achieve the honor. During his kickboxing career, Cikatic would make a few trips to PRIDE where his resume wasn't something to be proud of. He debuted at PRIDE 1 where he took on Ralph White in a kickboxing fight but the fight lasted less than 2 minutes when Cikatic kicked a downed White resulting in a no contest. Cikatic's antics didn't stop there as he made his MMA debut a few months later at PRIDE 2 on March 15, 1998 where he took on former 2 time UFC Tournament winner Mark Kerr. The fight lasted a little bit longer before Cikatic was disqualified due to multiple rule breaks including repeatedly grabbing the ropes to block a takedown and refusing to let go along with constantly going between the ring ropes and illegally elbowing Kerr in the back of the head. The following year, Cikatic returned at PRIDE 7 on September 12, 1999 and faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith. Cikatic would lose due to submission via a forearm choke. Cikatic never fought in MMA again.
Sean Sherk
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 2 (February 15, 2004)
Sherk is best known for his time in the midwest regional circuit and then achieving success in the UFC where he challenged Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 42 in April 2003 and his second run from 2006-2010 where he became UFC Lightweight Champion by winning the revived title at UFC 64 in October 2006 after the championship was put on ice for a few years. Between these two UFC runs, Sherk ventured to Japan and PRIDE competing at PRIDE Bushido 2 on February 15, 2004 where he took on inaugural DEEP Welterweight Champion Ryuki Ueyama. Sherk ended up winning on a unanimous decision but it proved to be his only appearance for the Japanese based promotion with Sherk later explaining the lack of health insurance and having a better chance to support his family locally then flying to Japan were his reasons for not returning. His one appearance did get him something else besides a win as Sherk later claimed it was the Japanese who gave him his nickname "The Muscle Shark".
Rulon Gardner
Appeared At: PRIDE Shockwave 2004 (December 31, 2004)
Like Mark Schultz in my UFC one, Gardner isn't well known as a fighter but as a legendary amateur wrestler. Gardner is a former greco-roman wrestler who competed in the 2000 & 2004 Olympics where he won a gold in 200 and a bronze in 2004. His biggest claim to fame was in 2000 where he not only won an Olympic Gold Medal but defeated the legendary Aleksandr Karelin who has often been considered the greatest greco-roman wrestler of all time having won gold medals in the last three Olympic games as well boasting a wrestling record of 887 wins but only 2 losses. Gardner's win also made him the first American to win a gold medal in greco-roman wrestling in a full international field. Gardner fought at the yearly New Year's Eve show Shockwave in 2004 taking on another Olympic gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida and ended up victorious scoring a win by unanimous decision. Sadly, Gardner proved one and done in MMA as he never fought after that and at 47, doesn't appear will ever fight again.
Yushin Okami
Appeared At: PRIDE: The Best Vol. 3 (October 20, 2002) & PRIDE Bushido 2 (February 15, 2004)
Long before "Thunder" scored a disqualification win over Anderson Silva in Rumble in the Rock and was one of the best Middleweight fighters in the world for the UFC along with becoming a contender for the UFC Middleweight Champion, Yushin Okami made a few appearances in PRIDE. Okami first debuted at PRIDE: The Best Vol. 3 on October 20, 2002 against Steve White in only his second MMA fight. Okami won the fight by submission due to punches in the second round. A year and a half later, Okami returned at PRIDE Bushido 2 on February 15, 2004 where he faced future DEEP Middleweight Champion Ryuta Sakurai and ended up winning by unanimous decision.
Tank Abbott
Appeared At: PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 (August 28, 2005)
Like Severn, Abbott is best known as a big name in the early years of the UFC quickly becoming a massive favorite due to his devastating knockouts. Abbott was runner up in the UFC 6 tournament and the 1996 Ultimate Ultimate tournament while being a finalist at the UFC Ultimate Japan tournament before pulling out. Abbott also challenged for the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Maurice Smith at UFC 15 in October 1997. After a failed return to the UFC in 2003, Abbott made his one and only appearance for PRIDE when he took on Hidehiko Yoshida at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 on August 28th in a fight that was a classic case of "striker vs. grappler". Abbott came up short submitting to a single wing choke in the first round.
Josh Thomson
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 8 (July 17, 2005)
"The Punk" is best known for his run in the Strikeforce organization from 2006-2012 where he won both the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and Strikeforce United States Lightweight Champion as well as his fights with Gilbert Melendez as well as for his runs in the UFC. Prior to his career making run in Strikeforce, Thomson made one appearance in PRIDE where he took on Daisuke Sugie at PRIDE Bushido 8 on July 17, 2005. Thomson scored the win by submission via kneebar in the first round.
Gilbert Melendez
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 12 (August 26, 2006) & PRIDE Shockwave (December 31, 2006)
Like Thomson, Melendez is best known for his time as Strikeforce becoming one of the top lightweights in the world as well as the inaugural WEC Lightweight Champion. Melendez made appearances towards the last few months of PRIDE making his debut at PRIDE Bushido 12 on August 26, 2006 where he defeated Nobuhiro Obiya by unanimous decision. Melendez's second and last appearance was at the final Shockwave on December 31, 2006 where he took on top lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri. In what would be one of the biggest moments of his career, El Nino defeated Kawajiri scoring another unanimous decision. Melendez was originally set for a third appearance in between when he was set to face Shinya Aoki at the final Bushido event but Melendez suffered an injury and was forced out. The fight wouldn't happen until three and a half years later at Strikeforce: Nashville with Melendez defeating Aoki.
Robbie Lawler
Appeared At: PRIDE 32 (October 21, 2006)
"Ruthless" is best known for his exciting styles and being a journeyman in MMA including runs in the UFC to EliteXC to Strikeforce with his return to the UFC resulting in him becoming the UFC Welterweight Champion and one of the most unlikely UFC Champions ever. Because of all this, it's probably not surprising that Lawler appeared for PRIDE in their US debut. Lawler fought at PRIDE 32 on October 21, 2006 where he fought former KOTC Middleweight Champion Joey Villasenor. Lawler wouldn't last long as he only needed 22 seconds to get the win via KO by flying knee.
Shinya Aoki
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 12 (August 26, 2006), PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006), PRIDE Shockwave 2006 (December 31, 2006), & PRIDE 34 (April 8, 2007)
Like him or not, it's impossible to think of the greatest lightweights in history without Aoki. Aoki has achieved big success and championship success in almost every promotions he's appeared in from Shooto to DREAM to ONE Championship while also arguably being the face of DREAM. Because of all this, it's possibly resulting in Aoki's run in PRIDE almost going under the radar. Aoki was another who came at the end so he wasn't able to make a big splash. He debut at PRIDE Bushido 12 on August 26, 2006 where he took on Jason Black and scored a quick win by submission with a triangle choke. Aoki returned at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th against Clay French who, as mentioned above, was replacing Gilbert Melendez. Aoki scored another win this time by flying triangle choke. Aoki then fought at PRIDE Shockwave on New Year's Eve where he fought Joachim Hansen for the first time and scored another quick submission win by submitting Hellboy via gogoplata in less than two and a half minutes. Aoki then fought at PRIDE's final event PRIDE 34 on April 8, 2007 where he defeated Brian Lo-A-Njoe again by submission, this time by armbar in only 1:33 in Round 1.
Sean O'Haire
Appeared At: PRIDE 32 (October 21, 2006)
O'Haire is best known as a professional wrestler who competed in WCW and WWE during his career. After retiring in 2004, O'Haire turned to combat sports where he fought in both kickboxing and MMA going 0-4 in kickboxing and 4-2 in MMA. During his brief MMA career, O'Haire made one appearance for PRIDE in their US debut at PRIDE 32 on October 21, 2006. His involvement was interesting as he faced boxer Butterbean and replaced Mark Hunt due to the Nevada State Athletic Commission believing Hunt had an unfair mat advantage due to his fights with and wins over Wanderlei Silva & Mirko Cro Cop. In the end, O'Haire was quickly TKOed by the super heavyweight boxer in only 29 seconds.
Hector Lombard
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 11 (June 4, 2006) & PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006)
Lombard is best known for his success during the early years of Bellator as the Season One Middleweight Tournament Winner and the inaugural Bellator Middleweight Champion as well as his time in Cage Fighting Championship where he won their Middleweight Championship. Sadly, Lombard has also become known for his extremely disappointing run in the UFC where he has not be able to live up to expectations. However, UFC wasn't the first major promotion Lombard struggled in. Lombard had his first mainstream exposure when he briefly fought in PRIDE back in 2006. He debut at PRIDE Bushido 11 on June 4, 2006 entering the promotion's 2006 Welterweight (183 pounds) Grand Prix and taking on 2005 Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinalist Akihiro Gono. Lombard ended up losing the fight by unanimous decision. His second and last appearance would be at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th taking on another up and comer Gegard Mousasi in the reserve bout of the grand prix. Unfortunately for him, lightning stuck twice and he lost once again by unanimous decision.
Mike Plotcheck (Bart Gunn)
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006)
Plotcheck isn't a name familiar to people as he's known for other alias. Plotcheck gained famed not as a fighter but a professional wrestler and became most known for his time in the WWF from 1993-1999 under the name "Bart Gunn". He later had a good run in Japan competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling & New Japan Pro Wrestling as Gunn and later Mike Barton. Having previously won WWF's infamous legit toughman contest the Brawl for All, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Plotcheck would try MMA. After retiring from wrestling, Plotcheck had a brief MMA career only competing in two fights with his debut being a win over Wesley Correira at Rumble in the Rock in June 2006. Plotcheck's second and last fight was in PRIDE taking on fan favorite Ikuhisa Minora at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th. Plotcheck would come up short losing to the future Minowaman by unanimous decision.
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006)
Plotcheck isn't a name familiar to people as he's known for other alias. Plotcheck gained famed not as a fighter but a professional wrestler and became most known for his time in the WWF from 1993-1999 under the name "Bart Gunn". He later had a good run in Japan competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling & New Japan Pro Wrestling as Gunn and later Mike Barton. Having previously won WWF's infamous legit toughman contest the Brawl for All, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Plotcheck would try MMA. After retiring from wrestling, Plotcheck had a brief MMA career only competing in two fights with his debut being a win over Wesley Correira at Rumble in the Rock in June 2006. Plotcheck's second and last fight was in PRIDE taking on fan favorite Ikuhisa Minora at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th. Plotcheck would come up short losing to the future Minowaman by unanimous decision.
Gegard Mousasi
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 11 (June 4, 2006), PRIDE Bushido 12 (August 26, 2006), & PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006)
Mousasi is one of MMA's all time greats and a successful journeyman competing in almost every major promotion including Bellator where he's the current middleweight champion as of writing, the UFC, DEEP, M-1 Global, DREAM, & Strikeforce capturing championships and tournaments almost everywhere he's been. Before he established his legend in MMA, Mousasi competed in PRIDE early on in his career. He debuted at PRIDE Bushido 11 on June 4, 2006 where he competed in the 2006 Welterweight (183 pounds) Grand Prix. In the first round, he defeated 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Makoto Takimoto but TKO due to a broken orbital bone. He returned at PRIDE Bushido 12 on August 26th taking on Akihiro Gono in the quarterfinals but lost by submission via armbar. Mousasi then appeared at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th taking on Hector Lombard in a reserve fight which Mousasi ended up winning by unanimous decision.
Appeared At: PRIDE Bushido 11 (June 4, 2006), PRIDE Bushido 12 (August 26, 2006), & PRIDE Bushido 13 (November 5, 2006)
Mousasi is one of MMA's all time greats and a successful journeyman competing in almost every major promotion including Bellator where he's the current middleweight champion as of writing, the UFC, DEEP, M-1 Global, DREAM, & Strikeforce capturing championships and tournaments almost everywhere he's been. Before he established his legend in MMA, Mousasi competed in PRIDE early on in his career. He debuted at PRIDE Bushido 11 on June 4, 2006 where he competed in the 2006 Welterweight (183 pounds) Grand Prix. In the first round, he defeated 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Makoto Takimoto but TKO due to a broken orbital bone. He returned at PRIDE Bushido 12 on August 26th taking on Akihiro Gono in the quarterfinals but lost by submission via armbar. Mousasi then appeared at PRIDE Bushido 13 on November 5th taking on Hector Lombard in a reserve fight which Mousasi ended up winning by unanimous decision.
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