The PRIDE FC Grand Prix 2000 was a historic openweight mixed martial arts tournament held in Tokyo, Japan, over two events: the opening round on January 30, and the finals on May 1, 2000. The tournament is remembered as one of the most significant events in MMA history, featuring legendary fighters and iconic moments.
 
Tournament structure and key details
Format: The tournament was a single-elimination, open-weight bracket featuring 16 competitors. The opening round featured all 16 fighters, and the 8 winners advanced to the one-night finale.
Venue: Both the opening and final rounds were held at the Tokyo Dome.
Winner: American wrestler Mark Coleman won the tournament and a grand prize of $200,000.
Final fight: Coleman defeated Igor Vovchanchyn via submission due to knee strikes in the second round.
 
Legacy
The PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 is widely considered a defining moment in the history of mixed martial arts. It helped shape the landscape of the sport and established PRIDE as a major global promotion with a reputation for putting on high-stakes, exciting tournaments. The tournament's chaotic and unpredictable nature, combined with classic matchups and dramatic finishes, created some of the most memorable moments in MMA history.