I'm a UFC fan and have watched many fights going back to the late 90's but when I heard the UFC was going to buy out Pride FC last year I was ticked off. For sure it was a good business decision on the part of Dana White and it helped keep them ahead of the MMA pack here in North America, but Pride FC was something special.

I'm not sure whether it was the matchups, the lights, or the ring. Or the fact that martial arts originated in Asia and is part of the spirit of the people, that made a Pride fight such a great event to watch. But it had an atmosphere that I think the UFC will never have.

The UFC is great, no doubt, and it has a darker tone with the 'octogan' surrounded by a black cage. But some, although not all, UFC crowds still boo the minute a fighter tries to become strategic instead throwing wild fists. (UFC 88 Evans v Liddel was a good example where Evans fought a very very smart match that kept him moving and dodging and I thought the crowd was getting restless early on in the fight).

Maybe the DREAM venue will recapture the old Pride FC spirit. Its basically K-1 Heroes + Pride FC I guess, but I've yet to see an event or read an article on it(post a link in comments if you wrote). Heres a favorite PRIDE YouTube highlight vid that captured the Pride FC spirit. -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44EODcjFQk8&feature=related