From The Ashes Of Pride FC Rises World Victory Road

From the ashes of the once proud Pride FC, rises a new hope for MMA in Japan and a return to glory. World Victory Road Inc., will be supported by Don Quijote, a Japanese discount retailer that has seen soaring business in their "no frills" stores.

Newly named WVR CEO, Naoya Kinoshita stated, “MMA in Japan seems to be on the downside. Japan was the place where MMA was born and our country had great passion for MMA. But looking at the current state of MMA in Japan, the sport is in danger of disappearing. Therefore a number of us have stepped in and have decided to form a federation." He went on to state, "I would like the sport of MMA, which was born in Japan, to be recognized around the world. In order to do that somebody had to take the lead and I decided to do that myself. I would like to give the fans and the fighters, who are training hard, some type of opportunities by assembling this new company."

The company has secured the Satima Superdome for a New Year's Eve show (much like Pride FC did yearly) and has a TV deal in the works with an as of yet unannounced partner. WVR will also be participating in a newly formed sanctioning body, the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (JMM), which will oversee and unified set of rules and regulations. Gone will be soccer kicks and spinal attacks, but in its place will be a more world wide respected rule book. The goal of the JMM is to legitimize the sport of MMA and make it a viable option for the International Olympic Committee.

Surprisingly, the WVR has been in the works for six months ever since the demise of Pride FC became public. Don Quijote is a major Japanese company with a lot of money to fund the WVR and make it a competitor to not only fellow Japan MMA company K-1, but also America's UFC. The rumor mill has already stirred up possible signings of Japanese legend Hidehiko Yoshida and Takanori Gomi to lead an international return of high caliber fighters to WVR.

This is the best possible news for Pride FC and MMA fans in general. The argument can be made that MMA began in Japan and many of their great fighters either have not been invited or will not go to American MMA organizations. Pride FC is dead, but perhaps World Victory Road will rise in its place to return the honor and pageantry to MMA for the next 500 years.