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Virtually everyone who watched, followed or covered mixed martial arts from 1997 through 2007 fondly remembers Pride Fighting Championships. The Japan-based organization was known as being home to some of the greatest fighters on the planet, and its events were typically loaded with memorable battles and featured some of the most brutal knockouts and spectacular submissions the sport has ever seen.

Pride ruled the MMA world for a time, and many fans still lament the day in October 2007 when it shuttered its doors, mere months after being bought out by Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company Zuffa.

In the latest edition of the Sherdog Top 10 series, we examine the greatest fights in the history of Pride, as voted upon by a panel of Sherdog.com staff and contributors.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS: Carlos Newton vs. Jose Landi-Jons (Pride 19), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Josh Barnett (Pride “Final Conflict Absolute”), Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride 25), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Bob Sapp (Pride “Shockwave”)

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Number 10 » Sakuraba vs. Newton