Dana White: Pride FC was the Only True Competitor to the UFC

In this interview with the UK's Telegraph, Dana White says that Pride FC was the only true competitor to the UFC.  He said:

"If you look back throughout history, there's only one show that I have ever said was a competitor to the UFC and it was Pride. Pride was the only show that I would ever put on the same level--and put on a pedestal--that was the same as the UFC."

Nice of Dana to give Pride props, but it was a huge mistake for the UFC to shut down the Japanese organization.  Pride filled 100000 seat arenas, and there is nothing like it right now.  The day Pride died was a truly sad day for MMA fans in Japan and all over the world.

For some behind the scenes details of exactly how the UFC acquired Pride, check out my original short story: Business is War: The Inside Story of the UFC's Acquisition of Pride.

Check out the Dana Telegraph interview after the jump.