Pride 33
Pride 33: The Second Coming was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event organized by the Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC), held on February 24, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] It featured nine bouts across various weight classes and marked Pride FC's second and final event in the United States.[2] The event drew an attendance of 12,911 spectators and generated $2,033,098 in ticket revenue.[1] The main event was a Pride FC Middleweight Championship bout between defending champion Wanderlei Silva and challenger Dan Henderson, with Henderson securing a technical knockout victory via punches at 2:08 of the third round, becoming the promotion's first simultaneous two-division champion by also holding the Light Heavyweight title.[3] In the co-main event, lightweight matchup between Nick Diaz and Takanori Gomi ended in a no contest after Diaz's apparent second-round submission (gogoplata) win at 1:46 was overturned due to his positive test for marijuana.[2] Other notable fights included Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's first-round TKO (punches) over Alistair Overeem in a light heavyweight clash at 3:37, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou's stunning 23-second knockout of Antônio Rogério Nogueira, and Sergei Kharitonov's first-round armbar submission of Mike Russow at 3:46.[1] These outcomes highlighted a night of upsets and high-level competition, underscoring Pride FC's reputation for showcasing international talent before its eventual acquisition by UFC parent Zuffa later in 2007.[4]Event Background
Organizational Context
By 2006, Pride Fighting Championships, operated by Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE), faced severe financial difficulties exacerbated by a scandal involving alleged ties to the yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicate, which led to the termination of key sponsorships and television broadcasting contracts. This crisis prompted DSE to accelerate its expansion into the United States market as a survival strategy, seeking new revenue streams amid declining viability in Japan. Pride 33, held on February 24, 2007, in Las Vegas, represented a critical phase in this pivot, serving as the organization's second U.S. event following Pride 32 in October 2006 and marking it as the penultimate show before DSE's sale to Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), announced on March 27, 2007, for less than $70 million. The acquisition effectively led to Pride's dissolution by October 2007, with its assets integrated into the UFC. The shift to U.S. events was driven by regulatory hurdles in Japan, including heightened scrutiny from authorities over the yakuza links, which eroded public and corporate support, compelling Pride to pursue sanctioning from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for American operations. To secure NSAC approval, Pride adapted its distinctive ruleset, which had long permitted aggressive techniques like soccer kicks and stomps to grounded opponents, to align with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. These modifications banned soccer kicks, stomps, and knees to the head of downed fighters while introducing elbows, ensuring compliance for Nevada-hosted bouts and facilitating the organization's brief trans-Pacific foothold. Central to these efforts was Nobuyuki Sakakibara, DSE's CEO and Pride co-founder, who spearheaded the planning and execution of the U.S. expansion, including negotiations for Las Vegas venues and partnerships to host events under regulated conditions. Sakakibara's strategic oversight extended to managing the sale process, stepping down after Pride 34 in April 2007 as Zuffa assumed control, reflecting his pivotal role in navigating the organization's final turbulent months.Announcement and Promotion
Pride Fighting Championships officially announced Pride 33 in late October 2006, shortly after their inaugural U.S. event at Pride 32, confirming the follow-up show for February 24, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5] This marked Pride's second venture into the American market, aiming to capitalize on growing MMA interest stateside amid regulatory approvals from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The initial card reveal highlighted a stacked lineup of international talent, setting the stage for Pride's push to establish a stronger foothold in North America.[6] The main event booking featured Pride welterweight champion Dan Henderson challenging middleweight titleholder Wanderlei Silva in a highly anticipated rematch, building directly on their first encounter at Pride 12 in December 2000, where Silva defeated Henderson by unanimous decision after the second round. This unification bout was positioned as a marquee attraction, with Pride officials emphasizing the personal rivalry and the potential for Henderson to become the promotion's first simultaneous two-division champion. By early January 2007, promotional materials had solidified the matchup as the centerpiece, drawing on the fighters' contrasting styles—Henderson's wrestling base against Silva's aggressive striking—to generate buzz.[7][8] Promotional efforts revolved around the event's subtitle, "The Second Coming," symbolizing Pride's resurgence and intent to build a lasting U.S. audience following the moderate success of Pride 32.[6] Posters and video trailers prominently showcased the Silva-Henderson clash alongside other high-profile international pairings, such as American Nick Diaz versus Japanese lightweight ace Takanori Gomi, which was formally announced in mid-January 2007 after Diaz signed a new contract with the promotion. Key pre-event activities included a press conference in Las Vegas two weeks prior, where fighters hyped the cross-cultural rivalries, and the official weigh-ins on February 23, which amplified media coverage of the diverse card featuring talents from Japan, Brazil, and the United States.[9] These efforts underscored Pride's strategy to blend spectacle with competitive depth to attract PPV viewers and live attendees.Event Details
Date, Venue, and Attendance
Pride 33 took place on February 24, 2007.[1] The event was held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, a multi-purpose arena on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus that features a seating capacity of approximately 18,645 for boxing and mixed martial arts configurations, with the Pride ring centrally positioned to accommodate the crowd.[10] It drew a total attendance of 12,911 spectators, including 8,334 paid admissions, generating a live gate revenue of $2,033,098.[1] Compared to the preceding U.S. event, Pride 32, which also occurred at the Thomas & Mack Center just four months earlier and attracted 11,727 total attendees (8,079 paid), Pride 33 demonstrated growing local interest in mixed martial arts in Las Vegas by increasing overall attendance by about 10 percent.[11][12]Broadcasting and Officials
Pride 33 was distributed in the United States via pay-per-view, marking the promotion's effort to reach American audiences through established cable providers such as In Demand.[13] The event featured an English-language broadcast team led by play-by-play announcer Lon McEachern, with color commentary from Josh Barnett and Frank Trigg, providing analysis throughout the card.[1] Internationally, the fights were transmitted through Pride's global distribution network, reaching viewers in multiple countries.[14] The event took place under the oversight of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), adhering to the unified rules of mixed martial arts, which included three five-minute rounds for non-title bouts and five rounds for championship fights. Referees appointed for the evening included Steve Mazzagatti, Mario Yamasaki, Yuji Shimada, and Daisuke Noguchi, with Shimada handling the main event between Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva.[15] Judges evaluated bouts based on effective striking, grappling, aggression, and ring control as per the NSAC guidelines, ensuring standardized scoring across the fights. The production included highlight packages aired during breaks, though no preliminary bouts were broadcast on free television like Spike TV.Fight Card
Scheduled Bouts and Changes
The original fight card for Pride 33 featured a main event pitting Pride welterweight champion Dan Henderson against middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva for the Pride Middleweight Championship.[1] Other key main card matchups included lightweight champion Takanori Gomi against Nick Diaz in a non-title affair and heavyweight contenders Maurício "Shogun" Rua versus Alistair Overeem.[16] The undercard was rounded out with bouts such as Hayato Sakurai vs. Mac Danzig, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Sergei Kharitonov vs. Gilbert Yvel, Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Travis Wiuff, Frank Trigg vs. Kazuo Misaki, and Joachim Hansen vs. Jason Ireland.[1] Several alterations occurred leading up to the event due to regulatory issues, injuries, and safety concerns from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The proposed heavyweight matchup between Sergei Kharitonov and Gilbert Yvel was cancelled after the NSAC denied Yvel a fighter's license, citing his history of disqualifications for fouls including eye gouges and an altercation with a referee in 2004.[16] Yvel was replaced by American wrestler Mike Russow, who stepped in on short notice for the bout against Kharitonov. Kazuhiro Nakamura withdrew from his scheduled light heavyweight fight against Travis Wiuff due to a left knee injury sustained in training.[16] King of the Cage veteran James Lee was brought in as the replacement opponent for Wiuff.[17] Additionally, the undercard saw the inclusion of the light heavyweight clash between Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Antônio Rogério Nogueira as part of ongoing adjustments to fill out the card amid these changes.[1] Two potential heavyweight bouts involving Wes Sims were rejected by the NSAC on competitive grounds. A proposed fight between Sims and Kazuyuki Fujita was turned down due to the significant disparity in experience and skill levels between the fighters.[18] A subsequent matchup pitting Sims against Mark Hunt faced the same fate, with the commission ruling it uncompetitive and thus unsafe to sanction.[1] As a result, Sims did not appear on the final card.[1]Results Summary
The results of Pride 33, held on February 24, 2007, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, are as follows:[1]| Bout | Winner | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Henderson vs. Wanderlei Silva (for the Pride Middleweight Championship) | Dan Henderson | TKO (punches) | 3 | 2:08 |
| Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi | No Contest (originally submission via gogoplata; overturned due to Diaz testing positive for marijuana metabolites post-fight) | N/A | 2 | 1:46 |
| Maurício "Shogun" Rua vs. Alistair Overeem | Maurício Rua | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:37 |
| Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Mac Danzig | Hayato Sakurai | KO (punch) | 2 | 4:01 |
| Rameau Thierry "The African Dream" Sokoudjou vs. Antônio Rogério "Minotoro" Nogueira | Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:23 |
| Sergei "The Paratrooper" Kharitonov vs. Mike Russow | Sergei Kharitonov | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 3:46 |
| Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg vs. Kazuo "Yoshiki" Misaki | Frank Trigg | Unanimous decision | 3 | 5:00 (per round) |
| James "The Beast" Lee vs. Travis Wiuff | James Lee | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 0:39 |
| Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen vs. Jason Ireland | Joachim Hansen | Submission (armbar) | 3 | 2:33 |