Edson Claas Vieira

Pride 34: Kamikaze was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships on April 8, 2007 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This was the last Pride show promoted by Dream Stage Entertainment before the sale of the company (see Pride Worldwide). Although Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua were negotiating with Pride to compete, Silva did not participate because of a medical suspension received from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The commission had stated that if a Japanese doctor cleared Silva for competition, they would consider lifting the suspension three days early, but this did not come to fruition. Gilbert Yvel was originally slated to fight Bazigit Atajev, but Atajev withdrew due to an internal disease

Pride Critical Countdown Absolute was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on July 1, 2006. This event comprised the second round of the Pride 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix tournament, featuring the advancing fighters from the first round held at Pride Total Elimination Absolute. Wanderlei Silva was inserted into the tournament in place of Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, who was unable to participate due to a hand injury.