PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Brings 'The Real Deal' to Las Vegas on October 21

PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Brings 'The Real Deal' to Las Vegas on October 21

Tickets to Mixed Martial Arts Fight Go on Sale Sunday, August 20

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS (FC), the worldwide leader in mixed martial arts, holds "The Real Deal," the organization's first United States fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on October 21.

A legendary event in Japan, PRIDE FC matches the world's fiercest fighters in competitions of strength and honor, featuring an intense mix of combative sports such as wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, karate, judo, kickboxing and others. Originating in 1997, PRIDE FC has quickly earned a reputation for creating a fight experience that trumps most rock concerts, with its mind-blowing action and theatrical and cultural spectacle. Boasting an enormous fan following, PRIDE events consistently sell out arenas around the world of up to 74,000 seats.

Tickets to PRIDE FC's "The Real Deal," go on sale Sunday, August 20 and are available at www.pridefc.com or 1-866-US FIGHT. Ticket prices range from $50 to $700. PRIDE's first U.S. card will also be featured on Pay-Per-View for $39.95. Check your local cable or satellite provider for details.

Currently available in the U.S. via FOX Sports Network, PRIDE sets itself apart from other popular mixed martial arts events by allowing its fighters to face off in a ring rather than a cage, giving the audience optimal views of the extreme sport. Aside from the actual bouts, PRIDE creates a unique production for its guests, utilizing dazzling pyrotechnics, lights and music to entertain the audience.

The October 21 card will feature nine bouts, showcasing PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, PRIDE 2000 Grand Prix Champion and Olympic wrestler, Mark Coleman -- who also happens to be a three-time UFC champion -- and "The New York Bad Ass" Phil Baroni. Other fighters expected to step into the ring include Josh Barnett, a native of Seattle, Washington and former UFC heavyweight champ, former three-time All-American and two-time national collegiate wrestling champion Kevin Randleman and Olympic Judo gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida. A complete list of bouts on the card for "The Real Deal" will be announced soon.

"We are thrilled to bring the honored tradition of PRIDE not only to the U.S., but to Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world," says Nobuyuki Sakakibara, CEO of Dream Stage Entertainment, creators of PRIDE. "Our fighters are among the toughest on the planet, and this event is sure to showcase not only their extreme athleticism, but also PRIDE's ability to awe and entertain."

For more information about PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS, visit www.pridefc.com.

About PRIDE FC

PRIDE FC is organized by parent company Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE). Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, DSE has nurtured the growth of mixed martial arts in its native country and is now committed to expanding into North America and the world.

Source: PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

CONTACT: Terri Maruca or Michelle St. Angelo, both of Kirvin Doak
Communications, +1-702-737-3100, for PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Web site: http://www.pridefc.com/

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