Team TATAME has got the confirmation with Pride of the first three names that will join the card of the Grand Prix Heavyweight which takes place in Japan on April 25th. How many people predicted, Emelianenko Fedor, Rodrigo Minotauro and the Croatian Mirko Cro Cop will be on the show. The interesting thing is the way they classify the fighters. Fedor is called as a Heavyweight champion, Minotauro is classified as an interim champ and Cro Cop as the most feared fighter.

props to www.tatame.com

I hope he faces Mirko in the opening round, that would be SO sweet!

this is gonna be hella sick.

Any rumors on who's going to be competing other than Nog, Fedor and CroCop?

Heath Herring, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Kharitonov Sergey & Igor Vovchanchyn won the survival matches for the GP so I think they're in.

I want tom erickson in there.

The HW GP isn't going to be half the event the LHW GP was. I mean, there just isn't the talent at HW past the top 4 in the divison, except maybe Barnett but he hasn't had any serious fights for awhile now

Originally posted by Creed
The HW GP isn't going to be half the event the LHW GP was. I mean, there just isn't the talent at HW past the top 4 in the divison, except maybe Barnett but he hasn't had any serious fights for awhile now

Emelianenko Fedor, Rodrigo Minotauro, Mirko Cro Cop, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Heath Herring amount to Wanderlei Silva, Yoshida, Rampage Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Busta, Sak, and Overeem.

And to say the HW GP is'nt even completed yet.... bro, you don't know MMA... you know hype. **** you and your posts.

Originally posted by DOGGx0
Emelianenko Fedor, Rodrigo Minotauro, Mirko Cro Cop, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Heath Herring amount to Wanderlei Silva, Yoshida, Rampage Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Busta, Sak, and Overeem.

And to say the HW GP is'nt even completed yet.... bro, you don't know MMA... you know hype. **** you and your posts.

If you honestly think that the HW GP will be as good as the LHW one was, your insane. Herring and Igor don't have a chance to win this. Its going to be a 3, or maybe a 4 horse race, BRO

Originally posted by Creed
If you honestly think that the HW GP will be as good as the LHW one was, your insane. Herring and Igor don't have a chance to win this. Its going to be a 3, or maybe a 4 horse race, BRO
So exactly like the MW GP then?

Originally posted by HockeyFighter
So exactly like the MW GP then?

You could of given guys like Bustamante a chance, some people were even saying Overeem was gonna beat Liddel. My point is that the first round of the MW grand prix had some interesting match ups. The first round of the HW GP is going to have some slaughters

that's because it's 16 man not 8

You have got to be kidding me. Ninja may be in there. Sliva wants in too. What if we get a ufc heavyweight in there?

When in the HW Gp going to air?

Originally posted by Creed
If you honestly think that the HW GP will be as good as the LHW one was, your insane. Herring and Igor don't have a chance to win this. Its going to be a 3, or maybe a 4 horse race, BRO

i am not insane, you ****twat. i actually pay attention to the ****ing sport and dont go spoutin **** out like i know it all. in mma, everyone has a chance. i thought overeem would **** up liddell, but i didnt think he would make it past that, i knew tamura wouldnt win, it was in stone that sak wouldnt win... everyone knew it was gonna be silva and rampage. you can be so stupid sometimes. the level of fighters are the top guys in the game fighting in the HW GP. if you disagree with that, your ****ing insane. i hate arguing with you, because you act like your a ****ing MMA GOD, when your just a piece of ****. i hate you.

this GP is gonna be hella sick and of the heez. oh well if you dont think its gonna be as good as the LHW GP, its 2 different classes of fighters. stop *****ing about fights for once and just shut the **** up... have a good time, relax, and have fun watching it. if you're gonna keep *****ing... then dont ****in order it. this sport is better than it ever was right now and you're *****ing does'nt portray that. its getting better, just shut the **** up please, coz its really ****ing annoying.

Well, I just hope Hendo or Ninja doesn't enter, although the rumors around state otherwise. I want this to be a true Heavyweight GP. Also, UFC's got to send over one of their guys.
Here are a few guys I'd like to see in the GP:
Barnett
Ricco
Cabbage
Sylvia

That would kick ass. 8 pride guys and 8 ufc guys. It would be the first real world champ of mma if it happened that way.

Originally posted by DOGGx0
.... bro, you don't know MMA... you know hype. **** you and your posts.

I with you on this one Dogg.

thanks, nuno. good to see that i am not alone on this.



ALSO! This just in....

Below are some of the matchups that DSE/PRIDE has announced for their PRIDE Heavyweight tournament opening rounds show, scheduled for April 25th:

Confirmed participants for PRIDE GP are Mirko, Nogueira, Herring, Vovchanchyn, and Sergey Kharitonov.

About Fedor, DSE is negotiating with his new team RED DEVIL but he will enter the tournament.
(On 2H2H ring, Fedor officially announced his participation in GP.)

Mirko himself denied the rumor about he offered Pat Miletich to train in MFS.

There is a strong possibillity that Stephan Leko will enter the tournament.

Takayama denied the offer from Mirko and won't be in GP.

Murillo Ninja may be Chute Boxe's representative for GP.
(W.Silva said same thing in his interview by KAMIPURO. )

Fujita and Josh Barnett have little possibility of entering the tournament due to political issue between DSE and Inoki's company (New Japan Pro Wrestling).

Besides Fedor's match, DSE is planning Coleman vs Vovchancyn, Yoshida vs Leko. But nothing is certain.

Other possible participants for PRIDE GP:
Yoshida(He may go to Athens as a TV reporter of Judo)
Sentoryu(ex-sumo wresler aka Henry Miller)
Predator(ZERO-ONE Prowrestler and he won his MMA debut match in Dynamite!!)
Hirotaka Yokoi(RINGS, PRIDE veteran and have no loss in MMA. DSE planned Yokoi vs Nog at PRIDE27 and Yokoi vs Einemo at Bushido2.)
Jon olav Eienemo(He is BookerK's favorite. But as Gryphon said, he is out for 6-12 months due to injury.)

Also, they mentioned Shilt, Arona, Frye, Andrei Kopylov, Giant Silva, Rizzo, and Mcgee.

i think wanderlei should enter this. that way theres a chance someone will beat him sometime. :)

I am sorry, but any HW GP with someone like Ninja in it, isn't worth watching. How about a Heavyweight fighter?

I hope Rizzo gets in there

Rizzo might be a spoiler. I don't think he would win it, but he might beat one of the favorites. Kinda like Bustamante was in the MW GP

Originally posted by Creed
I am sorry, but any HW GP with someone like Ninja in it, isn't worth watching. How about a Heavyweight fighter?

:?:

Do you need a tissue? WTF is wrong with having an exciting fighter enter the tournament?

Originally posted by lightweight
:?:

Do you need a tissue? WTF is wrong with having an exciting fighter enter the tournament?

The fact he isn't a heavyweight?

Dude, I like watching Ninja fight, he is awesome. However, whats the point of putting him in there to get the crap kicked out of him?

As much as I like to watch him, Ninja would get owned by even a fighter like Herring or McGee. I don't like seeing fighters fight guys that have like 50 lbs on him. Its not a sport then, its a farce

Ninja now weighs 220. Mirko weighs roughly the same. So does Nog.

Yea, Creed... you make absolutely no sense. Ninja is the ****. How can you actually think that putting Ninja in there would'nt be worth watching?... and dont ****ing say you didnt say that, coz you did (read above). Coz a fighter has 50 lbs on him? if hes in the HW tourney, you think he gonna fight as a LHW in the tourney? No. Of course he is gonna be as big as the other guys. You don't like seeing guys fighting that have 50lbs of weight over their opponent? i guess you did'nt enjoy Nog vs Sapp much, nor Sudo vs Butterbean. Its sport. It makes plenty of sense.

Please do yourself a favor and stop posting. the more you go on and on, the more you make yourself look mad stupid.

5'11 220 is a HW in my books. Fedor is 6'0 230 and BOOM, champ. Ninja just hasn't grown into his body yet and looks flabby. In 2 years he will be 225 ripped.

Ninja isn't even a top 10 fighter. Anyone that gives him a serious chance is on crack. Remember, this is the guy that lost to Randleman

And yet he also had decisions with Henderson and Arona that could have gone either way. BOOM, next.

Is it just me or was Ninja already a flabby 205 guy? If he's putting on weight, via bodybuilding, he's just building muscle on fat. That extra weight isn't going to help him, IMO. He won't be as mobile at 225 and I don't know if his cardio will be the same. That's just my opinion, though.
Sure, Ninja's an exciting fighter. But there are other natural heavyweights out there who are exciting as well. Barnett and Rizzo come to mind...****, even Frye, Coleman and Goodridge (yeah, he's retired) would be better picks. Real heavyweights.
If DSE wants Chute Box to be represented so badly in this GP, then so be it. But if you ask me, I'd rather see Rizzo or Barnett in there, instead of an overweight Ninja.

We have no idea what he'll look like. Let's just wait and see.

Saying he has no chance is really dumb. It proves you don't know anything about MMA.

Ninja vs Nog, Fedor or Cro Cop = No Chance

Originally posted by Nuno
We have no idea what he'll look like. Let's just wait and see.

Saying he has no chance is really dumb. It proves you don't know anything about MMA.

You're not confusing me with Creed, are you? Re-read my posts and I don't think you'll find me ever saying that Ninja doesn't have a chance.
If Ninja does enter, he'd be the longshot, IMO. And of course he has a chance at winning. All I'm saying is that I'd rather see a real heavyweight in there, e.g. Rizzo or Barnett.

I have to go poopy.

i wouldn't say no chance on Fedor or CroCop

Fedor would KILL ninja.

No one will beat Cro Cop this year. Not Nog or Fedor or a crack head with a tire tool.

Nog already beat Fedor by submission, and he could do it again. Mirko will NOT win the HW gp. Coleman could probably beat him too. Mirko might be able to beat Fedor though.

Ninja will beat CroCop
Fedor will probably beat Ninja, but I'd still pick Ninja. I think he has a good chance. Fedor would tear CroCop apart.
I'd pick Nogueira over all 3

I'd like to see Ninja vs. Crocop, and I also agree about Nog over all 3. However, Fedor doesn't really have a good shoot, he takes people down from the clinch and I think getting close enough to cropcop for the clinch could be dangerous for Fedor.

Ninja was a good fighter even before his break..now that he has taken time to refine his striking and improve overall he's going to be a lot better no matter what weight class he fights in. It would make sense for him to fight at 205, but it's his choice.

I think Fedor will beat CroCop senseless. CroCop has a good sprawl but from the clinch he's going to get thrown around, especially by Fedor. I don't think he'll have a hard time getting to clinch.

Fedor will maul Cro Cop. Only chance Mirko would have is landing a high kick and I don't think Fedor is stupid enough to get caught by one. It's a 2 man fight for the GP, Fedor vs Nog. Everyone else is a longshot.

Ninja lost to Randleman and Henderson. What makes you think he can even last a round against Nogueira or Fedor or espically Cro Cop? (very bad style match up) I really do hope some of you are joking about wanting to see Ninja vs Cro Cop or Fedor or whatever. He would be killed. You can't give away 30 or 40 lbs in a fight and think your going to win.

I think Crocop and Ninja are pretty close in weight now.

yeah they are close in weight....Most LHW cut weight except for Sak and Henderson.

Yeah and Cro Cop did so much damage to Silva that he basically lost that fight........Same type of match up.

Fedor vs nog 2 would be nice to see. And for those cro-cop vs. nog people. First off he already beat him. Nog has never been knocked out in a pro fight and nog would school cro-cop on the ground.

ninja isn't giving up 30-40 pounds to CroCop, Nogueira, or Fedor or very many heavyweights at all.

it doesn't matter who ninja has lost to in the past. if rudimar and ninja feel he can compete in the heavyweight grand prix then i'll trust their opinion over anyone on the internet who has no idea how much he has improved over the past year.

Originally posted by Cesaro
ninja isn't giving up 30-40 pounds to CroCop, Nogueira, or Fedor or very many heavyweights at all.

it doesn't matter who ninja has lost to in the past. if rudimar and ninja feel he can compete in the heavyweight grand prix then i'll trust their opinion over anyone on the internet who has no idea how much he has improved over the past year.

you posting this just gave me a reason on why i was waiting on arguing more with Creed. now i don't have to. thank you. i could'nt agree more.

Cro Cop win own Pride this year.......


That is all

I just wanted to go on record with this.

My pick is Fedor.

mmafanman, I wasn't talking to you before. I was referring to Creeds comments.

For the record....No chance and MMA don't go together. Actually you can say that about almost any sport.

Crocop WILL NOT win the GP, he's too one dimensional. It will be Nog or Fedor. Hopefully Nog. Also, IMO Arona DECISIVELY beat Ninja, so Fedor would have no trouble taking Ninja down and pummeling him to death.

My money is on Crocop, his ground game is not too spectacular, but it is good enough, since hes gonna be kicking everyones heads off. Is Mark Coleman going to return, as the Pride heavyweight tournament champion?

A good wrestler owns CroCop. Most people he fights from now on are gonna be ready for the kick, then he is just your average kickboxer with an okay sprawl. I got Fedor or Nog winning it. I wonder if UFC is going to send a represenative. I'd like to see Rizzo or Sylvia in there...........

good point, but how many people thought Ron Waterman was gonna beat Crocop? Crocop proved them wrong........

Nobody I talked too thought that, but Waterman did have Cro Cop on his back for some time. A more skilled wrestler like Coleman, Couture, **** even Kerr could keep him down and GNP a whole thru his head........

No way Coleman or Kerr beat Mirko. Fedor has a suspect chin. Nog is the only one who could beat him.

If I understood correctly, Yamamoto is OUT because of what he said about Kerr. Takada said that if he won his fight against CroCop THEN he could advance to the GP! Am I the only one to read about this? Ive heard it from SEVERAL mma sites! If im mistaken, please correct my mis-information.

Yamamoto being out is a good thing.

I personally think that the winner will be either Mirko, Fedor, or Nog. Just in that order is how I would rate their chances of winning the GP too. I dont ride bandwagons, and have always been a strong Mirko supporter, so I'm gonna go with Mirko.

Mirko, along with a few others are one of my few favorite fighters. So I am biased, **** you, die. Mirko wins this.

Actually, I bet Coleman could take Mirko down and keep him there. Mirko CAN win it, I just think it will be Nog or Fedor.

I'm taking Fedor.

Those bush quotes are funny!

mirko would man handle coleman, and kerr, we all saw kerrs last pride debut. they are past their prime, and anyone who decides to stand with crocop will get KO'd.

Nog doesn't have a very good shoot and was able to take Mirko down with a double leg. So did Silva and Sak did with a single leg. If those guys can do it than a wrestler of Coleman's caliber would have no problem, even if he is old. CroCop is a deadly stand up fighter, but he'll get owned when he fights good grapplers, especially ones bigger than him that can shoot. Mirko probably has a good chance against Fedor because Fedors takedowns come from the clinch and getting that close with your dome in the air could be dangerous, but if Fedor gets Mirko down he's going to pummel him through the mat.

Originally posted by Blue Dawg
Nog doesn't have a very good shoot and was able to take Mirko down with a double leg. So did Silva and Sak did with a single leg. If those guys can do it than a wrestler of Coleman's caliber would have no problem, even if he is old. CroCop is a deadly stand up fighter, but he'll get owned when he fights good grapplers, especially ones bigger than him that can shoot. Mirko probably has a good chance against Fedor because Fedors takedowns come from the clinch and getting that close with your dome in the air could be dangerous, but if Fedor gets Mirko down he's going to pummel him through the mat.

Blue is a wise man. Ablunt, what makes you think that Coleman would stand with Mirko? Blue basically said it all, if Silva, and Nog are gonna take Mirko down, a wrestler the calibre of Coleman could do it alot easyer......

u guys all have good points, i'd just personally like to see Mirko win it. is it confirmed that coleman is fighting again?