Rise and Fall: Has Lil' Nog's Loss Ended The Dominance Of Pride FC in MMA?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

For the past two weeks MMA fans have witnessed two former Pride FC fighters outclassed and defeated in impressive fashion. UFC 128 saw former Pride star, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, manhandled by newly-crowned champion Jon Jones, while this past weekend Antonio Rogerio ' Lil' Nog' Nogueira fell to former NCAA division one standout, Phil Davis. 

As unexpected as it seems to see once-dominant fighters being dominated by a younger breed, it is becoming more obvious that fighters like Nogueira and Rua are having a difficult time making a successful transition inside the Octagon. 

Perhaps it became no more apparent then when UFC acquired one of the Japanese promotion's most successful stars in Mirko Cro Cop. The Croatian heavyweight was one of the most feared strikers in MMA, highly regarded for his devastating kicks. There was a lot of praise for Cro Cop upon his entrance in UFC, but it was a displeasure to watch for fans. As competitive as Cro Cop appeared to be, his age and reoccurring injuries limited him to perform to the best of his abilities. 

Another former Pride FC star who failed to reach his potential was Wanderlei Silva, arguably the organization's most popular fighter. Highly touted for his aggressive style and brutal knockouts, the Brazilian never quite met the company and fans expectations, and has accumulated a disappointing 2-3 record in the UFC. 

Other acquisitions such as Antonio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira and Heath Herring would follow the same path, but ended up suffering more setbacks than most fans would imagine. 

Could age be a cause for the unsuccessful transition? 

Does the style of fighting play a factor? 

Or, ultimately, when it came to showcasing the best talent MMA had to offer, did UFC simply have the superior brand? 

Whatever is argued or debated upon, one thing that has become increasingly more evident is that the fighters, who once were expected to become stars, have instead become a thing of the past.