Pride 2004: Countdown Results and Recap
Pride Critical Countdown 2004 took place on June 20, 2004, at Saitama Super Arena as the heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal round. Fedor Emelianenko submitted Kevin Randleman with a kimura at 1:33 of round one. Quinton Jackson knocked out Ricardo Arona with a slam, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira submitted Heath Herring, and Hidehiko Yoshida submitted Mark Hunt.
Four heavyweights advanced
Emelianenko and Nogueira joined Naoya Ogawa and Sergei Kharitonov in the tournament’s final four. Ogawa stopped Paulo Cesar “Giant” Silva with punches at 3:29 of round one. Kharitonov’s victory over Semmy Schilt also came through a first-round TKO, recorded at 9:19.
Nogueira’s anaconda choke ended his meeting with Herring 30 seconds into the second round. All four quarterfinals therefore produced finishes, setting the semifinal field without any of those contests requiring a judges’ decision.
Action outside the Grand Prix
The remaining bouts were separate from the heavyweight tournament. Yoshida submitted Hunt with an armbar at 5:25 of round one, while Jackson’s slam knockout of Arona came at 7:32. Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Antonio “Nino” Schembri by unanimous decision in the only bout on the seven-fight card to reach the judges.
That distinction helps make sense of the event: not every notable winner advanced in the heavyweight bracket. The tournament supplied four semifinalists, while the supporting matches added their own results and highlights. For a return viewing, the mix of submission techniques, striking stoppages and one full-distance contest offers a useful guide to the card beyond the main event alone.
Selected Bout Results
- Fedor Emelianenko defeated Kevin Randleman by Submission (Kimura); round 1, 1:33.
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Heath Herring by Submission (Anaconda Choke); round 2, 0:30.
- Hidehiko Yoshida defeated Mark Hunt by Submission (Armbar); round 1, 5:25.
- Naoya Ogawa defeated Paulo Cesar Silva by TKO (Punches); round 1, 3:29.
- Sergei Kharitonov defeated Semmy Schilt by TKO (Punches); round 1, 9:19.
- Quinton Jackson defeated Ricardo Arona by KO (Slam); round 1, 7:32.
- Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Antonio Schembri by Decision (Unanimous); round 3, 5:00.
Sources
Article Tags
Pride Critical Countdown 2004, MMA History, Mixed Martial Arts, Event Results
