[Lefty]

Akira Maeda, former Rings president announced today that they would hold another MMA event called Heros at Saitama Super Arena on March 26th.
Possible fightes are from K-1 like Bob Sapp, Uno, Akiyama and Genki Sudo.



Maeda will be in charge of booking talent from the Netherlands, Lithuania, Russia, Georgia, and South Korea. Essentially put, it will become a RINGS revival with shows every 2-3 months.

i just read that from kakuto.com. Rings was big years back then suddenly faded away when pride came about. Another MMA organization could be very interesting and I'm sure we'll get mixed feeling from mma fans (tony M ).
i personally think, the more mma, the better.

[Solaris Flare]

Hmm, does k1 in someway own(or buy) RINGS?

[Booker M]

Originally Posted by Solaris Flare

Hmm, does k1 in someway own(or buy) RINGS?

NO, K-1 producer, Tanigawa gives just a helping hand to Maeda. The early K-1 and Rings had a good relationship.
Tickets will be sold on March 5th and it'll be aired on free TV(Tokyo Broadcasting Station).
Can't wait. I was a big fan of Rings.

[Solaris Flare]

Originally Posted by Booker M

NO, K-1 producer, Tanigawa is just a helping hand to Maeda. The early K-1 and Rings had a good relationship.
Tickets will be sold on March 5th and it'll be aired on free TV(Tokyo Broadcasting Station).
Can't wait. I was a big fan of Rings.

Ah, well that is nice of K1 to do that for rings.

[Manfred]

Are fedor and his manager still in negotiations with Pride? If things don't work out maybe he'll return to his old hunting ground...

[Cbear]

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer www.liveaudiowrestling.com and Zack Arnold of www.puroresuspower.com have been covering this story for awhile. Yes, Maeda is wanting to rise again, but I think the odds are against him.

[kai]

Akira Maeda is the guy who almost crippled Andre the Giant right?

[kimura]

Fedor fought in RINGS just after he beat Nogueira so I guess it's been alive but not too mainstream? I'd love to find the rules they have in RINGS.

[robbypark]

As I understand it, in RINGS, strikes to the head while on the ground are not permitted. Other than that, everything else is regular PRIDE rules.

[Cbear]

Originally Posted by kai

Akira Maeda is the guy who almost crippled Andre the Giant right?

He is the guy who shot on Andre and took him down. The ring officials broke it up asap as they were smart enough to realize you don't expose one of the top 3 box office draws of all time. I can't remember why Maeda shot, but I think Andre was being uncooperative. Maeda is a loose cannon and the sucker punch is one of his tricks--he has done it backstage.

He does have his old booker back to help, I forget his name....Fuji maybe? So, he is trying to go back to the RINGS idea and re-create it.