Perhaps the lack of interest is related to what may be Pride’s weakest card in recent memory, with a main event that features the ponderous Semmy Schilt versus a lumbering Yoshihiro Takayama. The most intriguing fights on the card promise to be the first three.

In the opening bout, Daijiro "The Human Punching Bag" Matsui takes on the larger but possibly depleted Quinton Jackson, who was forced to cut between eight and 10 pounds to make the 205-pound weight limit the morning of the fight. Next, IVC 14 champion Alex Stiebling faces Allan Goes, who sources report to be distracted by personal concerns. Then, Murilo "Ninja" Rua will pit his impressive ground skills against Alex Andrade, said to be the Lions Den’s best striker.

Two other fights have at least some potential for competitiveness. In the first, the wearied Igor Vovchanchyn, due for a lengthy vacation after appearing in every event save one since Pride 4, will test the resolve of the seemingly uninspired Valentijn Overeem. Then, Jeremy Horn makes his much-anticipated Pride debut in a tune-up with Akira "The Sacrificial Lamb" Shoji.

As for Vanderlei Silva, the only drama enshrouding his bout with Alexander Otsuka is whether or not he can set a record for the quickest knockout in Pride history.

Pride 18 Notes

• The lone rule change for Pride 18 is that chokes to the windpipe are now deemed illegal. Dubbed the "Tom Erikson Rule," the change addresses the fighter’s finishing move versus Matt Skelton. Backstage, some of the fighters laughingly referred to the move as the "Bitch Choke" and the "Bouncer Choke." Sadly, it is no more.
• According to Jackson, Pride officials did not inform him that he would have to make weight until the night before the fight. Of course, Pride officials dispute that contention.

Pride 18 Cold Fury 2
December 23, 2001
Marine Messe Arena, Fukuoka, Japan

Official Bout Order

• Fight One
  Daijiro Matsui vs. Quinton Jackson

• Fight Two
  Allan Goes vs. Alex Stiebling

• Fight Three
  Murilo Rua vs. Alex Andrade

• Fight Four
  Norihisa Yamamoto vs. Jan "The Giant" Nortje

• Fight Five
  Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Valentijn Overeem

• Fight Six
  Akira Shoji vs. Jeremy Horn

• Fight Seven
  Vanderlei Silva vs. Alexander Otsuka

• Fight Eight
  Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Semmy Schilt

• Fight 1 Single bout (Middleweight) [5min X 2R]
  Hidetaka Monma(A3-GYM/JAPAN) def. Kyosuke Sasaki(U-FILE CAMP/JAPAN)
  by decision 2R(2-0)

• Fight 2 Single bout (Lightweight) [5min X 2R]
  Naoyuki Kotani(RODEO STYLE/JAPAN) def. Takahito Iida(A3-GYM/JAPAN)
  by arm-bar 3:02 1R

• Fight 3 Single bout (Lightweight) [5min X 3R]
  Tatsuya Maeda(SHOOT BOXING/JAPAN) def. Stephen Gillinder(RINGS AUSTRALIA)
  by rear naked choke 1:42 2R

• Fight 4 Single bout (Lightweight) [5min X 3R]
  Genki Sudo(BEVERLY HILLS JJ CLUB) def. Kenichi Yamamoto(POWER OF DREAM/JAPAN)
  by rear naked choke 1:46 2R

• Fight 5 Open-weight Tournament semifinal [5min X 3R]
  Christopher Haseman(RINGS AUSTRALIA) def. Egidijus Valavicius(RINGS LITHUANIA)
  by arm-bar 3:08 1R

• Fight 6 Open-weight Tournament semifinal [5min X 3R]
  Emelianenko Fedor(RINGS RUSSIA) def. Lee Hasdell(RINGS UK)
  by neck lock 4:10 1R
  Fedor is the present RINGS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

• Fight 7 Single bout (Middleweight) [5min X 3R]
  Volk Ataev(RINGS RUSSIA) def. Tsuyoshi Kosaka(RINGS JAPAN)
  by decision 3R(2-1)

• Fight 8 Single bout (Heavyweight) [5min X 3R]
  Hiromitsu Kanehara(RINGS JAPAN) def. Paul Cahoon(RINGS HOLLAND)
  by decision 3R(2-1)

Come out and join the Lions Den celebration! It will be a fun filled day of festivities which will include, demonstrations, seminars and training clinics,for a fee of only $5.00. Plus a special picture and autograph session too! A one time special discount will be offered on all Lions Den merchandise and new students who enroll on Jan 5^th will also receive a special signup rate.

Come meet and train with some of the greatest champion athletes in the world today! All of your favorite Lions Den Fighters from San Diego will be there! The World’s Most Dangerous Man Ken Shamrock, Vernon "Tiger" White, Tony "The Bull" Galindo, all the young boys and the rest of the San Diego Lions Den Family as well.

With the new location being adjacent to the Silver Strands Fitness Gym we are excited to welcome professional body builder and 7-time winner of the Mr. Olympia none other than Mr. Doryan Yates along with Dan Freeman who is ranked among the top elite for professional body building and a huge MMA supporter. They will be conducting a clinic and will also be available for any questions you may have concerning fitness and nutrition.

Imperial Beach is a beautiful beach community in the Southern part of San Diego County, in fact it is also known as "The Most Southwesternly City in the US" you can literally walk to the beach from the new Lions Den training facility. So bring your training gear,surfboard and all of your friends for this will be a event you dont want to miss! See you there!