PRIDE 30

UK's Thompson To Face Romania's Lungu at

PRIDE Fighting's Fully Loaded

Official Release

October 23, 2005

Saitama Super Arena

Saitama, Japan

TOKYO, Japan –

The final bout has been announced for PRIDE FIGHTING’S upcoming event, FULLY LOADED, and will

feature two gargantuan heavyweights as James “The Colossus” Thompson of the United Kingdom faces

Romania’s Alexandru Lungu. FULLY LOADED is scheduled to premiere on North American pay per view

on Monday, October 24th, 2005 at 10:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm PT.

Representing the United Kingdom, James Thompson makes his third appearance in PRIDE. His debut came

on October 31, 2004 at HIGH OCTANE against Russian Aleksander Emelianenko. Thompson suffered a

loss by KO, but the fight was one of the most memorable of the year and one thing was clear … Thompson

comes to fight! “The Colossus” recovered from the loss at BUSHIDO 8 by knocking out American Henry

“Sentoryu” Miller in the first round. However, despite his 6’4, 265 pound frame, Thompson will be in for a

challenge as he takes on Romanian Alexandru Lungu. A behemoth of a man, Lungu stands 6’1 and weighs

368 pounds. He’s a 30-time national judo champion, 2-time national wrestling champion, and defending

national sambo champion (all in his native Romania). It will be titan versus titan as Thompson squares off

with Lungu!

James Thompson (UK) vs. Alexandru Lungu (Romania)

Previously announced matches include the return of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as he takes on

Japanese fighter Hirotaka Yokoi … a match up of judo against judo as Japan’s Makoto Takimoto (Olympic

gold medalist) takes on Korea’s Yoon Dong Sik (under mixed martial arts rules) … the long-awaited

rematch between Croatian Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and American Josh “The Babyface Assassin”

Barnett … Cro Cop’s teammate, Fabricio Werdum, against rising heavyweight contender Sergei

Kharitonov … Murilo “Ninja” Rua of the Chute Boxe Academy makes his return to the ring taking on

Murad Chunkaev of the Chechen Republic … American Sumo Henry “Sentoryu” Miller battles Brazilian

giant “Zulu” … and it’s legend versus legend as Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba goes head to head with MMA

pioneer Ken Shamrock.

FIGHTCARD:

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (Croatia) vs. Josh Barnett (USA)

Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan) vs. Ken Shamrock (USA)

Sergei Kharitonov (Russia) vs. Fabricio Werdum (Brazil/Spain)

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (USA) vs. Hirotaka Yokoi (Japan)

Murilo “Ninja” Rua (Brazil) vs. Murad Chunkaev (Chechen Republic)

James Thompson (UK) vs. Alexandru Lungu (Romania)

Henry “Sentoryu” Miller (USA) vs. Zulu (Brazil)

Makoto Takimoto (Japan) vs. Yoon Dong Sik (Korea)

Additional matches to be announced soon.

Fight card subject to change.

FULLY LOADED premieres on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK,

UrbanXtra, TVN1, VU!, and Viewer’s Choice Canada on Monday, October 24th, 2005 at 10:00 pm ET, 7:00

pm PT (including a countdown show at 9:30pm ET, 6:30pm PT).

For additional replay times, please contact your pay per view provider or pridefc.com.

For more information on PRIDE FC, visit pridefc.com!

- From Dream Stage Entertainment with a little editing from us (color, highlights, etc...)

(10/13/05)