Pride FC

pride fighting championships. the top mixed martial arts promotion in japan. pride was in operation from 1997 to 2007, dream stage entertainment was the parent company. the fights were held in a ring as opposed to a cage. by pride fc rules, elbows to the head of a downed opponent were not allowed. knees to the head of a downed opponent, soccer kicks, and stomps were all legal, however. the unified rules (which the ufc operates under) prohibit knees to a downed opponent, soccer kicks, and stomps; but elbows to the head of a downed opponent are acceptable. in a normal pride fight, the first round was ten minutes long, the second and third were each five, with a two minute rest period between rounds. under the unified rules, there are three five minute rounds, with one minute between them. title fights were five rounds.