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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Methodical Brazilians and Some Explosive Newcomers, October 17, 2001
First of all, here is the lineup:Ricco Rodriguez v. Gary Goodridge
Igor Vovchanchyn v. Daijiro Matsui
Gilbert Yvel v. Vitor Belfort
Akira Shoji v. John Renken
Carlos Newton v. Naoki Sano
Alan Goes v. Vernon White
Carlos Barreto v. Tra Telligman
Heath Herring v. Willie Peters This Pride features two very experienced Brazilians, Carlao Barreto and Alan Goes, both former Carlson Gracie fighters. These guys are very good, but they fight in the old, conservative Jiu-Jitsu style; they try not to lose rather than to win. They move methodically and don't take chances. This a good way to win on points, but it makes for somewhat slow-moving fights. Unfortunately Tra Telligman and Vernon White, their opponents from the Lion's Den, don't have the ground skills to derail their game plans. There are some more interesting fights on the tape as well: Current UFC welterweight champ Carlos Newton, as always, is smooth like BUTTAH! The future of the sport looks bright. American BJJ fighter and Mark Kerr protege Ricco Rodriguez explains to monstrous Gary Goodridge why it might be useful to learn some martial arts skills - pretty big, pretty strong and skilled versus very big, really strong and, um, not all that skilled. Young Heath Herring takes on Dutch fighter Willie Peters: Herring took out wrestler Tom Erickson and handles himself well against a somewhat stale Peters. Herring is on the move. Akira Shoji takes on John "The Saint" Renken. It should be enough to say that Renken gave himself his nickname. Let's face it, if you can fight then other people will give you a nickname. Last but not least, we have the quintessentially dangerous Igor Vochanchyn taking on the ever popular Daijiro "no, really, it doesn't hurt as bad as it looks" Matsui. It's a good thing for Matsui that Pride happens in Japan and that he comes from the same gym as Kazushi Sakuraba, because otherwise he wouldn't get to keep coming back into the ring to get mashed by world-class fighters. Actually, it might be better for Matsui if someone STOPPED him from getting into the ring with guys like Vovchanchyn. I hope I never see another fight that ends with Matsui wobbling next to the referee with a face like Mr. Potatohead. Pride needs to put Matsui in with someone closer to his skill level. If the promoters of this show wanted to be more honest, they would entitle it "Pride FC: Daijiro Matsui's Blood."
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