Because of fan demand, Pride decided to expand their programming with an extra series of events. Aside from their main cards and annual big tournaments, they introduced the Bushido series, cards stacked with more fights, shorter round times (one 10min, one 5min, instead of their usual10-5-5) to accommodate the larger card and hopefully encourage more action from the fighters. Originally the format had a ‟Versus‟ concept, Team Chute Box Vs. Team Japan, Team Gracie Vs. Team Japan, but very quickly the event would just become a focus for emerging talent, primarily from the lower weight chasses, the welters and the lightweights.

The color commentators are Mauro Ranallo and Matt Hume, the latter filling in for regular commentator Bas Rutten, which is a tad unfortunate since Bas is a combination of knowledgeable, witty and lively, whereas Hume is knowledgeable but dry.

Shamoji Fuji Vs. Kim Jin Oh- Inexperience shows in this opening match. Both are pretty raw, with judo guy Jin Oh being a novice mma-er. I've seen better drunken girl fights.

Alexander Emelianenko Vs. Matt ‟The Twin Tiger‟ Foki- The fight stat card amusingly reads ‟Sambo Vs. Rugby‟. Pretty much a shut out with the imposing Emelianenko having a fifty-five pound weight advantage and a seven inch height advantage, a wealth of Russian prison tattoos, and looks about forty instead of his actual age twenty-two, and you can garuntee thats because he's a mean mofo.

Kazuo Mizaki Vs. Jorge Patino- Renzo Gracie joins the commentary team for the next couple of fights. Love it when someone has enthusiasm but not the language. This is the first really good fight on the card. Both men have terrific exchanges on the feet and the ground, winging punches, circling, kicking, pressing, absorbing shots, and dodging.

Carlos Newton Vs. Daiju Takase- Carlos Newton used to be the UFC welterweight champ and has fought tons of top names from the very beginning of his career. This is one of last performances he had before some time off to go to school for a couple of years. Takase is game but sloppy, still managing to eek out a close split decision win. Renzo Gracie's shining commentary moment: ‟Dis Japanese has a jaw!‟

Akira Shoji Vs. Tamakairiki- Akira Shoji is known as ‟Mr. Pride‟ because he fought at nearly every Pride event for their first 20 shows. Tamakairiki is a former sumo wrestler wanting to start a fight career. In the boxing world, this fight would be like putting a guy fresh out of the amateurs into the ring with a top twenty veteran fighter. This match lasts eighteen seconds.

Kazuhiro Nakamura Vs. Chalid Arrab- Judo fighter Nakamura is fast on his way to becoming the modern ‟Mr. Pride‟. Arrab's background is kickboxing, and this fight basically shows why grappling is the superior sport fighting base. Doesn't matter how great you can punch or kick because that all goes away if someone can close the distance and take you down. Nakamura has some great clinching, a headlock to a trip, and some brazen diving ankle picks. Renzo Gracie notes, ‟... how fast those Japanese hands are.‟

Hiromitsu Kanehara Vs. Mirko ‟Cro Cop‟ Filipovic - Cro Cop is one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the business, a man who's hands and especially kicks have ended many a fighters night. But, this is his first fight off a devastating (and mma world shocking) knockout at the hands of Kevin Randleman. So, to get Cro Cop back on track they give him Kanehara, an all guts fighter who will step up to anyone and usually lose spectacularly. Mirko seems to get frustrated when his first series of clean shots don't obliterate Kanehara. Cro cop gets winded and a little gunshy, yet the fight is basically Cro Cop rocking Kanehara from pillar to post, literally moving him with every kick and punch combo, but Kanehara amazingly doesn't get ko'd or die.

Ryo Chonan Vs. Ricardo Almeda- Early, Chonan shows some good aggression mixing up his kicks and punches. Almeda quickly turns the tide once the fight hits the ground, secures the mount, and reigns down punches on Chonan who goes into survival mode. When Chonan's defense proves hard to break, Almeda goes for a sidechoke, Chonan sweeps, and gamely proves himself by weathering the storm.

Takanori Gomi Vs. Ralph Gracie- Another short one. Gomi has become one of the top light heavyweights in the world, and this is one of the fights that put him on the map. Basically, Ralph bull rushes in for a takedown and meets a knee to hios noggin'. Lights out.

Ikuhisa Minowa Vs. Ryan Gracie - A technical snoozer of a main match. It ends up being a ground stalemate, two good grapplers who seemingly lack, at least on this night, the ferocity to go for the finish. Gracie works for good, dominate positions, but the colorful, mulleted Minowa always seems to have a counter.

The DVD: Brentwood.

Picture: Fulkl-screen Standard. Pride has great production values. The opening number with a stage of trees and falling blossoms while a traditional Taiko drummer pounds away. Great fx and lighting in a huge arena. Image appears nice and crisp. The definition is pretty good, not ‟see every bead of sweat‟ good, but good nonetheless. Technically there is a bit of compression evident but not to any severe degree.

Sound: 2.0 Dolby Stereo. Routine sport with commentary mix. Nothing exactly awe inspiring, just gets down to the basics.

Extras: Fighter Photo Gallery, Event Program cover and poster. --- Text info: Pride rules, Fighter Bios, and Fight Term glossary. --- Commercial and ‟What Is Pride?‟ Featurette (10:01). --- Bonus Fights: Betrand Anussou Vs. Raou Raou and Choi Mu Bae Vs. Yoshiniga Yamamoto.

The ‟What is Pride ?‟ Doc is on pretty much every Pride DVD since the early releases. It has become a tad dated. The bonus, never before aired fights, are not spectacular. The Anussou-Raou fight, for instance, is two judo guys who, puzzlingly, more or less engage in an amateur kickboxing match.

Conclusion: I would rate this as a C level event. Some good talent but not the greatest matches, a few highlight reel moments, as well as a few weak fights. A good dvd at a very buy-friendly price.