Pride FC is back! And on Spike TV?

Spike TV on Monday announced a new weekly mixed martial arts series. “Best of Pride Fighting Championships” will premier on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 11 p.m. ET/PT, featuring bouts from the now defunct fighting organization owned by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Word of the series first came to light when UFC President Dana White mentioned it at his Fight Club Q&A session at UFC 101 on Friday.

Part of the official press release below lists some of the important info:

New York, NY, August 10, 2009 – One of the most popular MMA organizations in the world during its ten years of operation (1997-2007), Pride Fighting Championships, based in Japan, featured world class mixed martial arts artists in some of the most dramatic bouts in the early history of the sport. Spike TV will re-broadcast the best of these bouts in “The Best of Pride Fighting Championships,” premiering Sunday, January 11, 2010 at 11pm ET/PT.

Hosted by Kenda Perez, the series features past and present UFC® champions among the legendary MMA combatants that includes Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, Dan Henderson, Mirko Cro Cop, Wanderlei Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Mark Coleman, Frank Trigg, Hidehiko Yoshida, Akihro Gono and Takanoro Gomi.

“As the destination for the best mixed martial arts on television, Spike TV is always looking for ways to give fight fans more of the incredible action and competition they crave,” said Kevin Kay, president, Spike TV.

Pride held more than 60 mixed martial arts events during a decade of operation including the largest live MMA event audience record of over 70,000 people in August 2002. Zuffa, LLC purchased Pride in March 2007.

Kelsey Philpott from mmapayout.com lists some reasons why this is great news for everyone!

1.) It’s more MMA on television.

2.) In addition to appeasing the hardcores, it’s going to help expose some of the more casual UFC fans to Pride and the accomplishments of current UFC fighters (which may give them a boost in popularity).

3.) The UFC opens up yet another revenue stream – however small it may be – from the royalty fees it will receive in owning the Pride footage shown on Spike. It may not make the Pride deal any easier to swallow, but at least they’re making some money off the brand now. The deal could also open up the door to a resurgence of Pride clothing.

4.) The show will also provide an additional avenue for sponsors to advertise to the MMA demographic; you’re likely to see UFC, Xyience, BSN, Bud Light, and Harley Davidson adds all over the place.