The year 2006 was the 10th year in the history of the Pride Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. 2006 had 10 events beginning with, Pride 31 - Unbreakable.
The following fighters fought their first Pride FC fight in 2006:
See main article: List of Pride FC events.
| Event | Japanese name | Date held | Venue | City | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Pride FC - Shockwave 2006 | Otoko Matsuri - Fumetsu | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | 48,709 | |
| 65 | Pride FC - Bushido 13 | Yokohama Arena | Yokohama, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 64 | Pride 32 - The Real Deal | Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 11,727 | ||
| 63 | Pride FC - Final Conflict Absolute | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 62 | Pride FC - Bushido 12 | 2nd Round | Nagoya Rainbow Hall | Nagoya, Japan | rowspan="1 | |
| 61 | Pride FC - Critical Countdown Absolute | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 60 | Pride FC - Bushido 11 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 59 | Pride FC - Total Elimination Absolute | Osaka Dome | Osaka, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 58 | Pride FC - Bushido 10 | Ariake Coliseum | Tokyo, Japan | rowspan="1 | ||
| 57 | Pride 31 - Unbreakable | Dreamers | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan |
| Pride 31 | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | February 26, 2006 |
| Venue: | Saitama Super Arena |
| City: | Saitama |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Shockwave 2005 |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Bushido 10 |
Pride 31: Unbreakable[1] was an event held on February 26, 2006, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
| Pride: Bushido 10 | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | April 2, 2006 |
| Venue: | Ariake Coliseum |
| City: | Tokyo |
| Previousevent: | Pride 31 |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Total Elimination Absolute |
Pride FC: Bushido 10[2] was an event held on April 2, 2006, at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.
| Pride: Total Elimination Absolute | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | May 5, 2006 |
| Venue: | Osaka Dome |
| City: | Osaka |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Bushido 10 |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Bushido 11 |
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute[3] was an event held on May 5, 2006, at Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan.
This event featured the first round of Pride's 2006 Open-Weight tournament. Seven tournament matches were held along with one alternate match. The seven winning participants advanced to the second round, Pride Critical Countdown Absolute. The winner of the alternate bout will take the place of any fighter who is unable to participate in subsequent matches.
Pride Heavyweight Champion and 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Fedor Emelianenko was originally set to enter the tournament with a first round bye, but a hand injury prevented him from participating. Wanderlei Silva, then current Pride middleweight champion, received his bye into the second round.
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
| Pride: Bushido 11 | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | June 4, 2006 |
| Venue: | Saitama Super Arena |
| City: | Saitama |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Total Elimination Absolute |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute |
Pride FC: Bushido 11[4] was an event held on June 4, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
| Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | July 1, 2006 |
| Venue: | Saitama Super Arena |
| City: | Saitama |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Bushido 11 |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Bushido 12 |
Pride FC: Critical Countdown Absolute[5] was an event held on July 1, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
| Pride: Bushido 12 | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | August 26, 2006 |
| Venue: | Nagoya Rainbow Hall |
| City: | Nagoya |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Critical Countdown Absolute |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Final Conflict Absolute |
Pride FC: Bushido 12[6] was an event held on August 27, 2006, at Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
| Pride: Final Conflict Absolute | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | September 10, 2006 |
| Venue: | Saitama Super Arena |
| City: | Saitama |
| Previousevent: | Pride: Bushido 12 |
| Followingevent: | Pride 32 |
Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute[7] was an event held on September 10, 2006, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
This event comprised the semifinal and final rounds of the Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix tournament. The tournament began on May 5, 2006, at the Total Elimination Absolute event and then continued on July 1, 2006, at Critical Countdown Absolute.
On August 5, 2006, Mirko Cro Cop announced his withdrawal from the tournament following a dispute over pay with Pride.[8] On August 7, 2006, it was reported that the matter had been resolved and Cro Cop would once again take his place in the finals.[9]
1Fedor Emelianenko suffered a hand injury and could not participate in the tournament. He was replaced by Wanderlei Silva.
See main article: Pride 32.
| Pride: Bushido 13 | |
| Promotion: | Pride Fighting Championships |
| Date: | November 5, 2006 |
| Venue: | Yokohama Arena |
| City: | Yokohama |
| Previousevent: | Pride 32 |
| Followingevent: | Pride: Shockwave 2006 |
Pride FC: Bushido 13[10] was an event held on November 5, 2006, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
This event consisted of the semifinal and final rounds of the Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix.
In a lightweight championship bout, Takanori Gomi faced Marcus Aurélio, who had defeated Gomi in a non-title fight at Pride Bushido 10.
Originally Gilbert Melendez was set to face Shinya Aoki but an injury during training forced Melendez to withdraw from the fight. Clay French replaced Melendez in the fight.[11]
1 Paulo Filho dropped from the Grand Prix due to injuries sustained during his bout with Kazuo Misaki, who replaced him in the final round against Denis Kang.
See main article: Pride Shockwave 2006.