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In 1996, the UWFI folded. Takada entered the world of [[mixed martial arts]] by joining [[PRIDE Fighting Championships]].
Though Takada's [[Submission Arts Wrestling]] skills were never doubted either by the Japanese public or the matchmakers, it was his conditioning that would make the essential difference. Takada, being in his 30's at the time of his debut and in less
Nobuhiko Takada's very debut in MMA was against the legendary [[Rickson Gracie]], which ended in Gracie winning via armbar. Takada would then go on to finish maverick Kyle Sturgeon by a heel hook at PRIDE 3. Takada wanted a rematch with Rickson Gracie, to which Gracie agreed, saying that "I feel Takada is a warrior and deserves the chance to try and redeem himself"[http://bjj.org/interviews/rickson-1998-04.html]. The match however, ended by Takada losing via armbar in a match that lasted 9 minutes and 30 seconds, a feat rarely achieved by most who fought Rickson Gracie. Takada fought his next match at PRIDE 5, against [[Mark Coleman]]. Though, in better condition, Coleman was caught unprepared by a heel hook from Takada and submitted, resulting in Takada's greatest victory to date. Then at PRIDE 7 he beat Alexander Otsuka by a TKO when he put him in a rear naked choke and passed out and the referee stopped the fight. Critics questioned the outcome of both this fight and the Kyle Sturgeon fight, suspecting that both were [[Work (professional wrestling)|worked]] in Takada's favor to prevent his record from becoming too poor. Takada was then pitted against [[Mark Kerr]], a freestyle wrestler with similar ground and pound fighting style as Mark Coleman. However, Kerr was able to slip on a submission hold and make Takada tap out in just over 3 minutes at PRIDE 6.
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