Fighting Network Rings

Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, was a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods: shoot-style puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and a revived amateur MMA organization from 2008 onward, and continued holding events under the RINGS name until at least 2022. RINGS was founded by Akira Maeda on May 11, 1991, following the end of the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), where Maeda had been the promotion's Ace and one of its leading figures. Founded in 1984, the UWF was a pioneering promotion in shoot-style, a form of professional wrestling that emphasized realistic-looking combat, legitimate martial arts techniques, and competition rather than the more theatrical style traditionally associated with professional wrestling. RINGS was established to continue and develop this approach, while differentiating from other UWF successors by hiring foreigners with experience in legitimate martial arts and combat sports rather than established pro wrestlers, particularly from the Netherlands and Eastern Europe, as Maeda implemented influences from Dutch kickboxing and Sambo. While initially mainly a professional wrestling promotion, RINGS occasionally had shoot fights between its performers, and gradually began incorporating more legitimate combat sports into its events. In 1995, the promotion began fully transitioning to have only real fights under the RINGS ruleset, marking its transition towards the nascent sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), although worked shoot-style matches continued to appear sporadically. Following Maeda's retirement in 1999, RINGS completed its transition to legitimate MMA, culminating in the King of Kings Tournament 1999, a 32-man international tournament featuring many prominent MMA fighters. RINGS also distinguished itself through its organization of foreign fighters into country-based teams, helping connect fighters and combat sports scenes from around the world with the developing Japanese MMA scene. RINGS expanded internationally during...