Back when Pride was around, the UFC had to step up their production game otherwise ot made PRIDE look like a more pro org with better fighters....
There really was no competing with PRIDE's production tho.....they wanted their stars to look like super heroes, not just promote their own brand....and the fighters loved them for it.
Keep in mind this is before the show started.....
EDIT: EVERYTHING about PRIDE was better....my god....Even the crowd....theres nothing like a 30,000 person live crowd cheering loudly during the introductions, but quiet as a mouse during complex grappling exchanges actually able to understand sweeps and position control.....then a light applause if a fighter is able to get themselves out of danger.....
Its a shame the golden ERA of mma came and went so soon.....