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December 31, 2004

Saitama Super Arena

Saitama, Japan

PRIDE's New Years Eve card is starting to take shape. Announced at PRIDE 28, 2000 Olympic Greco-

Roman wrestling Gold medalist Rulon Garner will make his MMA debut on the December 31st card against

fellow Olympic gold medalist (Judo) Hidehiko Yoshida. Also, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fedor

Emelianenko will battle once more to conclude the heavyweight Grand Prix tournament that was postponed

from August 15th when the original final was ruled a no-contest due a head butt that caused a deep cut on

Fedor. Others expected to participate in the event include the return of Kazushi Sakuraba who, according

to Sportsnavi, would like to face Kiyoshi Tamura and PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva.

Sportsnavi also reported a possible match-up between a couple of K-1 veterans may be in the works which

would see Mark Hunt face Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. More as announced...

Line-up (so far):

Fight 1 - Heavyweight Grand Prix Final

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko 

Fight 2 - Heavyweight Bout (Olympic Gold Medalist collide)

Rulon Gardner vs. Hidehiko Yoshida

Also expected to participate:

Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Takanori Gomi, Mark Hunt, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, and

Giant Silva

Card subject to change

(11/1/04)