World Victory Road

Infobox Company
company_name=World Victory Road
company_logo=
company_type=Private
foundation=October 15, 2007
founder=
location_country=Japan
location_city=flagicon|JPNTokyo
key_people=Naoya Kinoshita President
industry=Mixed martial arts promotion
parent=Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
company_slogan=
homepage=http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/

World Victory Road (WVR) is a Japanese MMA promotion formed following the purchase of PRIDE FC by Zuffa, the owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In conjunction with the also newly-formed Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (JMM), World Victory Road held it's first show, "Sengoku", on 5 March. The promotion has signed many famous mixed martial artists, including former PRIDE lightweight champion, Takanori Gomi and former UFC heavyweight champion, Josh Barnett.cite web|url=http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/fighters.php|title=SENGOKU OFFICIAL WEBSITE|accessdate=2008-05-19]

Broadcast

The promotion received a boost in visibility in their endeavor to compete with DREAM when it reached an broadcast agreement for Fuji TV to televise matches in Japan. It was significant given the fact that this is the first MMA promotion to be televised on the network since it dropped PRIDE FC from its lineup in mid-2006. The events will be shown live on Fuji TV 739 and then a 2 hour version later in the night on Fuji TV. cite web|url=http://www.mmaontap.com/mma/entry/world-victory-road-on-fuji-tv/|title=World Victory Road on Fuji TV?. MMA on Tap. March 21, 2008|accessdate=2008-04-09]

Rules

The rules are different from the North American Unified Rules. Among the differences are the allowance of knees and stomps to the head of downed opponent. However elbows to the head and soccer kicks are prohibited. [ [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4959&zoneid=13 Rules of WVR] ]

Fights have 3 rounds each lasting 5 minutes.

WVR Events

Notable Fighters

*flagicon|JPN Takanori Gomi - Former PRIDE Lightweight Championcite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=11082|title=Gomi to World Victory Road Sherdog.com January 31, 2008|accessdate=2008-04-09]
*flagicon|USA Josh Barnett - Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
*flagicon|BRA Roger Gracie - 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion and current Jiu-Jitsu World Champion
*flagicon|USA Kevin Randleman - Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
*flagicon|USA Jorge Santiago - 2007 Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament winner
*flagicon|JPN Kazuo Misaki - 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix winner
*flagicon|JPN Hidehiko Yoshida - 1992 Judo Olympic Gold Medalist
*flagicon|JPN Makoto Takimoto - 2000 Judo -81kg Olympic Gold Medalist
*flagicon|USA Nick Thompson - Former BodogFight welterweight champion
*flagicon|BRA Evangelista Santos - Former PRIDE fighter
*flagicon|JPN Kazuyuki Fujita - Former PRIDE fighter
*flagicon|USA Travis Wiuff - YAMMA Pit Fighting Heavyweight Tournament Champion
*flagicon|POL Paweł Nastula - 1995 and 1997 Judo World Champion, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
*flagicon|KOR Seung Hwan Bang - Current DEEP Lightweight Champion

References

External links

* [http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/ Sengoku Official site]