1. Nobuhiko Takada’s Career
Nobuhiko Takada is currently an executive working with the Rizin promotion. When Takada first got into MMA, however, he was more concerned with turning himself into a star than building the sport.
Takada had been a pro-wrestler in Japan when Pancrase and the UFC got their starts in 1993. In 1997, Takada formed Pride FC and scheduled himself against Rickson Gracie at Pride 1. Takada was going to show the world he wasn’t just a phony pro-wrestler but in the end, he could only win fixed fights.
Gracie made him tap in the first round at Pride 1. Takada then “defeated” Kyle Sturgeon at Pride 3 before again losing to Rickson Gracie at Pride 4. At Pride 5, Takada defeated Mark Coleman in a fight Coleman has all but admitted was fake. Takada would never win another MMA fight his entire career.
