PRIDE CANCELS NEXT PLANNED U.S. SHOW

By: Al Yu

MMAWeekly has confirmed that Pride’s April 28th show in the U.S. has been canceled. The event listing has been removed from the schedule on Pride’s official website.

The cancellation follows news of President of Pride USA Ed Fishman’s potential lawsuit with Dream Stage Entertainment, parent company of Pride Fighting Championships. Following Pride 33, Fishman and Pride had a falling-out due to disagreements over several issues. Part of the rift is due to differing views on business agreements in the U.S. and part is due to Fishman’s public push to buy Pride outright.

Sources close to MMAWeekly have reported that DSE offered to buy Ed Fishman out of his contract and relieve him of his duties at Pride USA, but that there is a dispute over the dollar amount owed to Fishman if a buyout were to take place. Fishman is apparently prepared to pursue legal action on the matter.

All of this has come to a head recently due to Pride’s heavily rumored financial troubles. Pride has received multiple offers for the company’s purchase, the two most prominent being Zuffa (the UFC’s parent company) and Fishman. Pride has consistently denied that the company is for sale.