PRIDE FC represented the wild wild west of blended martial arts, a spot the place 250 pound Croatian particular forces fighter Mirko Crocop may combat Minowaman, a 170 pound Japanese dude in a pink speedo. Or 400 pound boxer Butterbean may grapple with 350 pound Zuluzhinho.
There have been a whole lot of freakshow fights, and there have been a whole lot of reputable fights. However both manner, practically everybody was completely shredded to the gills on efficiency enhancing medication.
Is that simply an assumption? A Diaz-style accusation that ‘everyone seems to be on steroids?’ How might we probably know? Effectively, it’s as a result of a whole lot of the athletes who competed in PRIDE have come out and stated it. And now 55-year-old legend Enson Inoue has dug out his outdated PRIDE Preventing Championship contract from 1998, and it comprises a clause in it particularly excluding steroids from a post-fight drug take a look at.
The multi-fight deal was for a collection of occasions, with PRIDE signing Inoue to take part at PRIDE 9, 10, and both PRIDE 11 or PRIDE 12. PRIDE agreed to tell Enson of an opponent 40 days out from every occasion. PRIDE agreed to take out a 50,000,000 yen insurance coverage plan (roughly half 1,000,000 U.S. {dollars}) to cowl any medical prices incurred following the combat. Fairly regular MMA contract stuff … after which it will get bizarre.
“Try my outdated Satisfaction combat contract,” Inoue wrote on Twitter together with the video. “Are you able to imagine it truly stated….”
Below a piece titled ‘Unlawful use of Narcotics’, the contract said “Fighter agrees to be examined instantly following the combat of every Preventing Occasion to verify the liberty from use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and barbiturates. Ought to the take a look at consequence be optimistic then Fighter shall forfeit all quantities payable underneath this Settlement.”
“Efficiency enhancing stimulants of steroid primarily based household are particularly excluded from the scope of the take a look at.”
Inoue would find yourself combating for PRIDE 5 occasions between April 1999 and February 2022. He went 1-4 with losses to a number of prime worldwide heavyweights together with “The Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr, Igor Vovchanchyn, Heath Herring, and “Large Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
It was a tricky consequence for “Yamato Damashii,” which translated to Japanese combating spirit. However Enson Inoue introduced such ardour and grit with him into the PRIDE ring that he stays a revered legend in combat sports activities to today.
