Before UFC was cool, Japan threw the wildest party in fight sports history.
Pride 1 was the first mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride (later renamed Pride Fighting Championships). It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on October 11, 1997. In addition to the MMA bouts, there was one kickboxing bout between K-1 Grand Prix Champion Branko Cikatic and Ralph White.
Production
Tokyo Dome spectacle with lasers, drums, and pure 90s excess.
Practical Effects
Real fights, minimal rules, maximum cultural collision.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pride 1 launched Japan's obsession with 'gaijin' fighters as villains, creating pro wrestling-style narratives that UFC would later copy.
The event lost money spectacularly, and founder Nobuyuki Sakakibara allegedly yakuza-funded future shows—explaining the sudden budget upgrades.
JP
