In the United States, Sundays PRIDE card, which airs on pay-per-view Monday, is known as Fully Loaded. But in Japan fans are looking forward to watching Starting Over. With much of the card comprised of fighters coming off losses their last time in the ring, the Japanese title seems more appropriate. Either way, this is a solid card with some potential show-stealers.
Cro Cop and The Baby-Faced Assassin meet for a second time; the first bout was cut short due to injury. You also have Ninja, Yokoi and Thompson in action. From the debut of Zulus son to the Russian Special Forces fighter from RTT, PRIDE 30 has all the potential to deliver some serious slugfests.
While today we focus on three under card bouts, the entire line-up breaks down as follows:
English striker
James Thompson (Pictures) of Team Trojan and Romanian judoka Alexandru Lungu of the Liberty Judo Club square off.
Sumo wrestler
Henry Miller (Pictures) takes on Vale Tudo fighter Zuluzinho of the B-TOUGH/Wolfslair Gym.
Chechen Golden Glory wrestler
Murad Chunkaiev confronts Chute Boxe fighter
Murilo Rua (Pictures).
Japanese submission fighting legend
Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) from Takada Dojo meets Lions Den founder and fellow legend
Ken Shamrock (Pictures).
Russian Top Team member
Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures) goes toe-to-toe with Team Cro Cop jiu-jitsu fighter
Fabricio Werdum (Pictures).
Croatian striker
Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) and American submission fighter
Josh Barnett (Pictures) take to the ring for a second time.
Hirotaka Yokoi (Pictures) from Takada Dojo faces American
Quinton Jackson (Pictures).
Yoshida Dojo judoka
Makoto Takimoto (Pictures) battles Korean Freelance judoka
Yoon Dong Sik (Pictures).