Souwer is the second Dutchman to wear the World Max Crown -- compatriot Albert Kraus won the inaugural Championship in 2002. (The 2003 winner was Japan's Masato; who Buakaw beat in the final last year.) With its 70kg (154lbs) weight class, World Max offers a light-on-the-feet, fast-paced variety of the K-1 experience and has become a big hit with fightsport fans around the world. The eight-man elimination tournament and Superfights on today's card were contested under regular K-1 rules (3 min x 3 round w/one tiebreaker round, two possible tiebreaker rounds for the final only).

The first tournament matchup saw the quick and technical Japanese fighter and '03 World Max Champion Masato pit his kicks against the brutal fists of compact Greek slugger Mike Zambidis.

Masato started out as expected, firing in low kicks, which Zambidis surprisingly answered with more than a few good low kicks of his own. Zambidis put a nice left body blow in early on and followed up with a flying knee to end a hard-fought first round. In the second, Zambidis was aggressive, leaning in and looking confident with his stuff -- and frequently had his opponent on the defensive.

But Masato got what he needed in the third, planting a right straight punch on Zambidis' jaw on a counter to score a down that brought the crowd to its feet in rapture. Zambidis was visibly disappointed with himself for his defensive lapse, and turned up the pressure in the late going, but Masato was more than able to hold on and take the unanimous decision.

A thrilling bout and a solid effort from Zambidis, whose legwork was much improved. But what was this -- as he left the ring, Masato wore a grimace of pain on his face, and had to be helped in walking by his cornermen. Clearly the Japanese fighter was hurt, and time would tell how badly.

In the second matchup, it was kickboxer Takayuki Kohiruimaki of Japan and Dutch Shootboxer Andy Souwer. The pair were tentative in the early going, tossing front kicks to control the distance and unwilling to mix it up until Souwer started to step in with punches. The fight frequently went to the clinch thereafter, both men working the knees to little avail. There was more of the same in the second, Souwer in with punches and Kohiruimaki tying him up with the clinch. Souwer took control late in the round, brutalizing his opponent with straight punches and hooks, and at the bell a knackered Kohiruimaki was turned away, clinging to the ropes.

The third was all Souwer, the Dutch fighter connecting with straight punches and body blows, and putting a high kick or two up for good measure; while about all Kohiruimaki could manage was the clinch. There were scattered groans of disbelief when one judge called the fight a draw, but thankfully the other two were more perceptive, scoring Souwer up by a comfortable margin to give the Shootboxer a trip to the semis.

Albert Kraus of Holland tangled with John Wayne Parr Australia in the third bout. Kraus is a great puncher and former Champion, but Muay Thai stylist Parr was many experts' pick here. The Australian came out with fire in his eyes, laid in with punches and landed a solid left hook, but Kraus was generally good with his blocking, leading with the left and following nicely with the right and body blows. Parr, meanwhile, was unable to get his kicks working here.

Parr attempted high kicks in the second, but these sailed past Kraus, who was always in motion and repeatedly stepped in to close the distance and work the body. Both fighters got some licks in, but neither was able to inflict serious damage here.

The third was fast and hard, Kraus pumping in body blows and cocking his opponent's noggin back with a hard right uppercut. Parr put the kicks up and rattled Kraus on occasion, and threaded some good punches through to keep it close. But Kraus was just a bit faster throughout, light on his feet, always there with the proper attack for the situation and showing superior evasive techniques.

At the pre-event press conference, Parr had confidently mapped out his road to tournament victory, and looking past the opening bout might have hurt the Aussie, in any case he didn't have the focus or drive to carry him through. A smart fight and unanimous decision for Kraus, who advanced to the semis.

The last of the quarterfinals had Defending World Max Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk of Thailand taking on Mongolian fighter Jadamba Narantungalag.

Narantungalag put power behind his early punch/kick combinations, but Buakaw weathered these, keeping his cool and looking for openings. Not a lot of strikes connected in the first, and in the second, it was Narantungalag who got the first good kick in. Both fighters connected here, but the fight was far from technical.

In the third again there was too much clinching. Buakaw had the best strike here with a left short hook, but could not put the decisive blow in. The Thai fighter planted some hard kicks to Narantungalag's midsection, and although he was not at his best, he was good enough to squeak through with a majority decision (one judge saw a draw).

In the aftermath of the tournament's first bout, the question of damage to Masato's leg had weighed heavily on the minds of the Japanese fighter's fans. Unfortunately, their worst fears were confirmed when K-1 Rules Director Nobuaki Kakuda stepped into the ring to announce that a hairline fracture on the left ankle had rendered the Masato unable to continue in the tournament. A terrible break for the former Champion, who limped into the ring to apologize to his fans.

In what had been a weird reserve fight earlier on, Kazuya Yasuhiro of Japan suffered three low blow kicks from Darius Skliaudys of Lithuania in the first round (earning the Lithuanian a red card); then had a bad cut open over his right eye in the second, which forced a doctor stop. The fight went to the cards, where Yasuhiro prevailed by a point on each to win.

And so the Seidokaikan fighter was handed an unexpected opportunity, taking Masato's place against Andy Souwer in the first of the semis. Yasuhiro came out like a loaded gun, firing a flurry of punches in on Souwer, then leaping and flipping numerous fancy back and overhead kicks toward his flabbergasted opponent. These missed, but kept Souwer on the defensive from the get go. In time, however, Souwer found his form and put a left punch in which reopened the cut over Yasuhiro's eye. There was another doctor check, and Yasuhiro was cleared to continue, but moments later it became apparent to all that the cut was not going to close up, and the fight was stopped, putting Souwer through to the final.

Albert Kraus is the only fighter to beat Buakaw in K-1 (by decision, this February), and the Dutch fighter had to be looking to repeat that achievement in the second semi. But Buakaw was apparently thinking revenge, for he looked faster and more focused here, snapping in three hard low kicks to start the round. With jabs and front kicks, Buakaw controlled the distance, and Kraus could not get in much through the first.

Buakaw took charge in the second, although Kraus connected with a couple of punches, the Thai fighter was better with high and low kicks, knees, and put on a surprisingly good display of boxing midway through when the two got close. The third saw Kraus increasingly fatigued, while Buakaw the dynamo just kept on coming with the leg attacks and punches. Aware he was down on points as the fight wore down, Kraus desperately tried to get the right hook in for a down, hoping to force an extra round, but his attempts were stymied by good blocking. The result was a comfortable unanimous decision for Buakaw, earning the Thai a date with Souwer in the final.

Coming off his quick and painless first round victory against Yasuhiro, Souwer was fresh for the final. Buakaw had fought longer on the night, but the Thai is know for his stamina.

From the bell, Souwer took to throwing straight punches and combinations, while Buakaw fired in low and middle kicks, and made partial contact with a high kick. Souwer was more aggressive at the start of the second, but when the distance closed the pair too-often ended up locked in the clinch, twisting away as if in a vertical wrestling match. Souwer led with the right punch to effect here and midway through the round pumped a good left in, but Buakaw was equally effective with the kicks. The second ended with a nice volley of punches from Souwer, but none of these hit the target cleanly. The third saw Buakaw throw more punches, while Souwer was again good with the right, snapped a left in and mixed his attacks up well with kicks. Again, neither fighter able to dominate due the excessive clinching and throwing. At the bell both fighters raised their arms to signal victory.

Judges also saw it even and called for a tiebreaker. Here again Buakaw stayed back with the kicks while Souwer leaned in with the one-two punch combinations. When the pair got close, again we saw the clinch, and so there was little sustained striking. Souwer adjusted his style somewhat here -- resigned to the clinch, he came off the breaks with quicker punch attacks, intent on beating Buakaw's kicks and outscoring the Thai fighter. Souwer recorded a good right straight, but without a really good strike from either fighter, judges sent this contest to a fifth and final round.

And again, coming back the many breaks, Souwer was faster in with his fists, and midway through made partial contact from in close with a left uppercut. The Dutchman repeatedly complained about Buakaw's clinching, and in the end, it may have been Souwer's greater willingness to mix it up that tilted judges in his favor, giving him the win with the narrowest possible margin of victory -- a split decision after two tiebreakers.

"I want to thank my team, my family and my fans!" said a teary Souwer from the winner's circle. "I never dreamed I would make it here, none of the fights went the way I though they would, it was a strange night!"

"In the end, I was frustrated by Buakaw's clinching," said Souwer later, "I think he was afraid of my punches. But I had good stamina so I could have kept on going for a couple more rounds!"

Asked what he plans to do with the considerable winner's purse, Souwer didn't miss a beat: "My partner and I have a seven month old son, I'm going to spend the money on my family!"

In a Superfight on the card, Kickboxer Yoshihiro Sato of Japan met Virgil Kalakoda. The son of legendary South African trainer Steve Kalakoda, Kalakoda impressed in his K-1 debut this May, where he held his own but lost by decision against Albert Kraus.

Here, Kalakoda was the more aggressive fighter from the start -- head down, always rushing in with the fists. Sato stayed almost exclusively with the low kicks, and Kalakoda got the best of it with a right hook, left uppercut and left straight punch in the first.

In the second, Sato tried to use his 6cm (2") height advantage to bring up the knee from the clinch, but Kalakoda countered well with body blows and overhands. Kalakoda tossed a few low kicks here, but obviously wanted to box, smashing in a wicked left straight. The third saw more hard punches from the South African, including another spot-on left straight. Although he was clearly ahead by this point, Kalakoda did not hang back but kept inflicting punishment to the end to earn the unanimous decision.

"Sato fought a hard fight, he's tough," said a gracious and emotional Kalakoda in his post-bout interview. "It feels great to pick up my first win in World Max, I am very happy and ready to continue on in the sport!"

A special 75kg Superfight saw Ramon Dekker of Holland and American Duane Ludwig go head-to-head. Dekker is 35 years old, Ludwig almost a decade younger -- and so this was a classic experience-versus-youth matchup. Dekker was always moving forward in the first, and late in the round powered a terrific left straight punch in on Ludwig's jaw to catapult the American back and score a down. In the second, Dekker, looking focused and fighting smart, again took the fight to Ludwig. The American had his moments to be sure, and was good with low kicks and a couple of combinations, but Dekker was better, and got a left hook in here to score a second round.

In the third, Dekker was textbook perfect, rattling Ludwig with a right high kick then firing the left punch in once again to score a third down. A good sport, Ludwig beamed a smile as he sat the canvas -- a smile that said 'if I am going to be beat up, there is no shame in being beat up by a master on his game' -- for that is what Dekker was tonight. The two combatants embraced warmly after the fight as Dekker was awarded a unanimous decision.

In the opening bout, Japanese fighters Akeomi Nitta and Koutetsu Boku made a war of it -- non-stop action with Nitta taking the close but unanimous judges' decision.

The K-1 World Max 05 Final attracted a sellout crowd of 17,720 to the Yokohama Arena, and was same-day broadcast in Japan on TBS. The event will be shown on a delayed basis in 64 countries -- look for it on MBC ESPN in South Korea, ViaSat in Scandinavia, Eurosport in Europe and the Middle East, ProTV in Romania and GloboSat in Brazil. For scheduling information check with your local network.
 

All bouts will be contested under K-1 rules (3 Min x 3R w/1 Tiebreaker R).

The first tournament matchup will see the quick and technical Japanese fighter Masato pit his kicks against the brutal fists of Greek fighter Mike Zambidis

Said Masato: "Zambidis is tough but I know how to prepare for a three-match tournament, avoiding damage and so on. I feel much better than I did last year, in training I did everything I had to do and I will show everyone how well I prepared when I step into in the ring."

Zambidis: "I think there will be a lot of my supporters there tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to the tournament. Masato is a super fighter, I respect him of course. But I am improved over the last time I met him two years ago and I will do better. I take one fight at a time and all my energy will go into beating Masato."

In the second matchup, it will be Takayuki Kohiruimaki of Japan and Dutch Shootboxer Andy Souwer.

Kohiruimaki: "Regarding Souwer, I don't have any special impression or plan, I just plan to do my best and I hope to fight through three matches on the day."

Souwer: "It will be a great tournament with the best eight in the world. I know that Kohiruimaki is a Japanese fighter and he has a KO in his legs, so it may be tough -- but I'll do my best to win!"

Albert Kraus of Holland will tangle with John Wayne Parr Australia in the third bout.

Said Kraus, in Japanese: "I want to be number one in the world again, and I will do everything I can to achieve this goal."

Parr: "I plan to go all the way, and I can even tell you how -- I'll get past Kraus in the first fight with my Muay Thai skills, with my legs; then win over Buakaw in the second fight, and beat Masato in the final!"

The last of the quarterfinals sees Defending Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk of Thailand taking on Mongolian fighter Jadamba Narantungalag.

Said Buakaw: "I know everyone will do their best in the tournament, but I look forward to protecting my belt, and wearing a new one with the year 2005 written on it!"

Narantungalag: "I am prepared for the tournament and I am ready to be the Champion."


In Superfights on the card:

Yoshihiro Sato of Japan will take on South African fighter Virgil Kalakoda.

Said Sato: "I will make people wish I was in the tournament."

Quipped a confident Kalakoda: "It will be an exciting fight, but I have too much power and speed for Sato -- he is going to get knocked out!"

Veteran Ramon Dekker of Holland and American Duane Ludwig will meet in a special 75kg Superfight.

Dekker: "Last time I was in a K-1 event I fought out of my style, now I'm here in Japan and ready to do some kickboxing. I'm looking forward to it and I'll show what I can do!"

Ludwig: "I have nothing but respect for Ramon, but it's business and may the best man win!"

In the tournament reserve fights, Seidokaikan fighter Kazuya Yasuhiro of Japan will meet Darius Skliaudys of Lithuania; and Japanese fighters Akeomi Nitta and Koutetsu Boku will do battle.

The K-1 World Max 05 Final will be held at the Yokohama Arena, which is already completely sold out. Japanese fans can watch the event on TBS from 9:00 pm, elsewhere check with local broadcasters for scheduling information.
 

K-1 will make history this summer when, for the first time ever outside Japan, the world's premier fightsport goes open-air with K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawaii 05, set for July 29 at the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

All tournament and Superfight bouts will be contested under regular K-1 rules with the exception of a special match featuring Hawaiian wunderkind BJ Penn and Brazilian veteran Renzo Gracie, which will be conducted under mixed martial arts rules. This fight has Hawaiian sports fans hopping with anticipation, and follows on Penn's win in Honolulu last November over Renzo’s cousin, Rodrigo Gracie, by unanimous judges' decision.

The Gracies of Brazil are mixed martial arts most revered family -- their name is synonymous with Jiu-jitsu in Brazil, and so Renzo will be looking for revenge. He has the pedigree, but Penn, regarded as one of the world's finest young grapplers, will have both youth and the hometown crowd on his side.

Penn had this to say regarding the fight: "I don't care if we stay on our feet or if we go to the mat. I am ready to do it either way. Renzo Gracie is a fine fighter but he represents the old school of Jiu-Jitsu. On the other hand, I represent the new style, the next generation, and I want to prove that the new style is superior!"

Another Hawaiian will appear in the second Superfight (under K-1 rules). The much-loved 'moke' Akebono is a big former Japanese Sumo Wrestling Yokozuna (Grand Champion) and a living legend in his home state. Here he will step in against another giant of a man, Hong-Man Choi of South Korea. There will be a total of 380 kilograms or 840 pounds of warrior clashing in the ring during this battle of the behemoths. 

Choi was the surprise winner at the K-1 Asian Grand Prix earlier this year, and is currently the only undefeated fighter qualified for the Osaka Final Elimination, having beaten none other than Akebono along the way.

For Akebono, the question is -- has the big guy found a way to harness his incredible power and can he put a stop to Choi's streak? Expect to hear the cheers all the way to Diamond Head if he does.

Said Akebono: "I’m glad I get the chance to face him again. Last time, his size didn't bother me, but because of his height [Choi is 218cm or 7'2"] it was the first time I had to defend against blows coming from above. Now I know how smaller fighters feel! I'm in top condition this time and because the fight is in Hawaii, I can't afford to lose, you know? That kind of pressure makes it easier for me to train even harder!"

Of course, Choi has a thing or two he wants to prove as well: "As the Asian K-1 Champion and as a Korean, in Hawaii I want to show the world that Asians are strong. I hope to use the experience in Hawaii to prepare for the big match at the World GP Final Elimination in Osaka."

In other Superfight action, Rickard Nordstrand of Sweden will try to build on a strong performance against Defending World GP Champion Remy Bonjasky in Sweden earlier this year when he takes on Japanese Seidokaikan fighter Musashi. This is a very interesting bout, with Musashi now clearly ranked among K-1's elite, and Nordstrand aware that an upset win here would reflect very favorably on his future in K-1.

The event will also incorporate the eight-man K-1 Intercontinental GP Tournament, the last of the regular qualifying tournaments for this year's World GP Final Elimination.

The Final Elimination is set for Osaka this September. It will be an eight-bout (one match) tournament, with the winners advancing to the this year's Tokyo Dome Final. Already qualified for the 16 Osaka spots are the 2004 Final Eight -- Remy Bonjasky (Holland), Mighty Mo (USA), Peter Aerts (Holland), Ernesto Hoost (Holland) Francis Botha (South Africa), Ray Sefo (New Zealand), Musashi (Japan) and Kaoklai Kaennorsing (Thailand).

Joining these fighters will be Choi Hong Man (South Korea), who won the Asia GP in Seoul this March; Glaube Feitosa (Brazil), who took the US GP title in Las Vegas in April, Semmy Schilt (Holland), victor at the European GP in Paris in May, and Bob Sapp (USA), who won the Japan GP in June. Also going to Osaka is Jerome LeBanner (France), winner over compatriot Cyril Abidi in a special qualifying Superfight in Paris.

The Champion in Honolulu will pick up the 14th of 16 spots at Osaka. One more fighter will qualify when this year's runners-up do battle at the last-chance Repechage Tournament at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas this August, with the final spot being awarded for exceptional fighting spirit on the year.

Fighting in the Hawaiian World GP tournament will be K-1 stars such as Gary Goodridge, Hiromi Amada and Carter Williams, as well as local fighters such as Wesley "Cabbage" Correia and Scott Junk. For all the matchups, visit the K-1 Official Website ( http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top668.htm )

K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii is set for July 29 with a July 30 rain date. It will be broadcast in Japan on the Fuji TV network; and in North America on both InDemand and DirecTV at 9 PM Eastern Daylight Time (18h00 Pacific Daylight Time) on Sunday July 31. South Korean fans can tune into MBS ESPN for live coverage. There will be delayed-broadcasts on Eurosport across Europe, Viasat in Scandinavia, ITV in the UK and Astro in Malaysia. Check with local providers elsewhere and for broadcast schedules.
 

TOKYO, July 6, 2005 -- Following on the success of the inaugural "Hero's" mixed martial arts event at Japan's Saitama Super Arena last year, K-1 this year supported Hero's second incarnation, which was held today at the Yoyogi Olympic Complex in downtown Tokyo.

Of special interest to K-1 fans was the presence on the card of three elite K-1 fighters. American Bob Sapp was here, as were a couple of K-1 veterans making their mixed martial arts debuts -- three-time World GP Champion Peter Aerts of Holland and Ray Sefo of New Zealand.

Bob Sapp uses his superior strength (and new-found stamina) to compete equally well under K-1 or mixed martial arts rules -- on this night he faced Russian fighter Alan Karaev.

The bout started with both men swinging hard and fast, and they soon tumbled to the mat with the Russian on top. There was no abundance of grace in the grappling that ensued. After the referee called a break and with the pair resuming from a standing position, Sapp fired in a left straight punch that connected with Karaev's nose and flattened him. The Russian lay there helpless, bringing in the referee and giving Sapp the victory.

"I used the straight punch more tonight," said Sapp post-bout, "and I have a few other things I will show my fans in future bouts. Get ready for the 'Beast Hurricane'!"

Ray Sefo, meanwhile, stepped in against Korean fighter Min Soo Kim. This bout was fought under special rules, three rounds of three minutes each, with any strike causing a down resulting in a count.

Sefo's strategy here was to stay on his feet and punch, and with the lighter gloves this proved effective in the first as he pelted Kim, who could get the takedown he wanted until the bell ending the round. In the second, the Kiwi again controlled the distance, and early in clocked Kim with a right for a down. Kim beat the count, but after resumption Sefo pumped the fist in again to down his opponent again and cement the victory in convincing fashion.

"I'm going to do this [mixed martial arts] again, for sure," said a satisfied Sefo in his interview afterward, "and I want to try more interesting stuff next time."

Peter Aerts faced a big opponent in his bout -- Japanese former Sumo wrestler Wakashoyo outweighs the Dutch Lumberjack by about 40kg (90lbs).

Aerts threw a number of strikes in the early going, but Wakashoyo was able to execute a throw from the clinch and end up on top when the two went to the mat. Aerts proved capable in his guard though, forcing a stalemate and a resumption from the standing position. This time Aerts came in fast with a right punch that dropped Wakashoyo. With the big guy laid out helplessly, Aerts moved forward and put in another punch. With no indication of a defensive potential on Wakashoyo's part, the referee quickly stepped in to stop the fight and Aerts had the victory.

"This style is more aggressive," laughed Aerts later. "I knocked him down and for a moment I was confused -- I thought, 'Oh, so I have to continue now'! Being on the ground was not a problem, I blocked and he couldn't hit me in the face. I'd love to try it again sometime!"

No stranger to K-1 or mixed martial arts, the explosive Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto of Japan took on multidisciplinary fighter Ian Schaffa of Australia in the night's final fight.

The Kid started in with kicks, and Schaffa countered with punches. The two stayed on their feet most of the first, trading good hard punches and kicks, but in the late going Schaffa ended up on his back, defending with bicycle kicks against the Kid's attempts to pass with punches. The second was much the same, the pair standing and striking, both scoring points while avoiding the knock-down blow. The Kid threw more kicks, while Schaffa wanted the winning punch. Midway through they went to the mat, and although it looked at first like the Kid might take a good position, Schaffa worked for a lock-up that went to the bell. In the third the Kid got the chance he was looking for, stunning his opponent with a big right uppercut then dropping him with a right-left punch combination and moving in with a vicious stomp to force a stoppage and take the win.

Post-bout, the Kid revealed his secret weapon: garlic. "I caught a bad cold about ten days ago," said the Japanese fighter, "and I could hardly breathe. So I took some garlic shots to get my condition up, and they worked! I had planned to go to the mat more but it didn't work out that way, anyway I won and I am happy with that."

In other action on the card:

Brazilian Rodrigo Gracie beat Kiuma Kunioku of Japan by unanimous decision; former Asian Judo Champion Yoshihiro Akiyama of Japan worked an armbar to submit Aussie Muay Thai fighter Carl "Tombstone" Toomey in the first round of their bout; and Akira "Killer Bee" Kikuchi of Japan used fists to brutalize compatriot Katsuya Inoue from a rear mount position and win in the first round of their one-sided contest.

Japanese fighter Hiroyuki Takaya put in a hard right hook then jumped on the stunned Swede Jani Lax to get the referee stop and record a victory; Kazuyuki Miyata of Japan submitted Shamil Gaydarbekov of Russia with a sleeper; and Remigijus Morkevicius of Lithuania smacked a devastating left in on the cheek of Japanese fighter Takehiro Murahama to down the Japanese fighter, then moved in with a second left to force a stoppage and take the win.

Judges scored Brazilian Alexandre Franca Nogueira and Japanese fighter Hideo Tokoro's bout a draw after three. But the aggressive Tokoro connected with a spinning back punch early into the extra round, then followed up with a flurry of punches on his downed opponent. The referee stepped in to stop the punishment, giving Tokoro the upset win to the delight of the partisan crowd.

And in a fight that stayed almost entirely on the mat, mixed martial arts legend Royler Gracie of Brazil (who turns 40 this year) weathered Japanese challenger Koji Yoshida's hard punches while working his superior grappling techniques to earn a unanimous decision.

A boisterous crowd of 10,697 filled the Yoyogi Olympic Complex for the Hero's event, which was supported by K-1 and FEG.

[July 4, 2005] In an effort to acquire new blood for its world renowned martial arts fighting circuit, the K-1 organization will stage its second-ever open tryout at Las Vegas, Nevada’s Mirage Hotel and Casino on Thursday, August 11th and Friday, August 12th, one day prior to its “Mayhem At The Mirage” mega-card.

The two-day trial will be open to all fighters who meet the weight requirements of either of K-1’s two weight divisions – the 154-pound limit “Max” class and the 200 pounds and above, super heavyweight group.

Participants will partake in various exercises that test a wide array of skills including speed, power, coordination, flexibility, and knowledge of the sport. They will also engage in sparring sessions with one another.

During its first open tryout in history last August, K-1 played host to over 100 contestants who hailed from various regions of The United States and whose combat sports training background included experience in a wide range of disciplines ranging from kickboxing to western boxing to wrestling. Both Max and super heavyweight finalists were later enlisted to compete in K-1 events held in Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Japan.

As he did last time around, K-1 USA Fight Coordinator Sven Bean will oversee and direct all activities during the two-day trial period. A group of judges as well as executives from K-1 Japan and K-1 USA will observe the tryouts and make recruiting decisions. Last year, judges included legendary K-1 competitor Sam Greco as well as three-time K-1 tournament champion, Michael McDonald, and “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge.

Those who wish to register for the tryout should contact Mr. Bean via email at beanz4@msn.com or should fax a request for an official tryout application to 303-400-1756. Candidates will be required to make their own arrangements for travel and stay in Las Vegas during the tryout period.

Leading martial arts equipment supplier, Fairtex, will provide all gear necessary to conduct the tryout sessions.
 

K-1 “Battle at Bellagio III” tournament champion “Mighty Mo” Siligia (26-3 (20 KO’s) will collide with former world boxing champion Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha (46-11-2 (30 KO’s) during a three-round K-1 “Mayhem At The Mirage” Superfight on Saturday, August 13th.

Expected to be a duel dominated by punching power, the matchup between the 265 pound Siligia and the 250 pound Botha will mark the first time ever that the two will have met in competition.

Siligia is coming off his single greatest triumph in the squared circle, a hard-fought, Superfight victory over reigning K-1 king Remy Bonjasky at Las Vegas, Nevada’s Bellagio on Saturday, April 30th. A considerable underdog, Siligia patiently waited to close the distance between his long legged opponent and him and, upon finally doing so in the third and final scheduled round of action, struck Bonjasky down with a short, but vicious right hand. Bonjasky recovered, but the knockdown gave Siligia a slight edge on the judges’ scorecards and a victory via split decision.

Since he made his introduction to K-1 last February, Siligia, a protégé of trainer Eddy Millis, has become recognized as a force amongst martial arts fighting’s best, one who recently expanded his arsenal to include a heavy roundhouse kick. During what was only the second tournament start of his career on August 7th of last year, the stocky, heavy hitter defeated three straight opponents to capture the K-1 “Battle at Bellagio III” tournament championship.

A former International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight crownholder, Botha undertook a new challenge in “The New Fighting Sport” a year and a half ago. After coming up short in his first few attempts, the South African native abruptly turned his fortunes around towards the close of last year when he scored back to back knockouts on two of the sport’s most accomplished figures in Peter Aerts and Jerome LeBanner in September and December, respectively.

Botha’s only four defeats in the world of boxing came at the hands of Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Wladimir Klitschko, all of whom were present or former world champions at the time Botha faced them.

Tickets for K-1 “Mayhem At The Mirage” will officially go on sale on K-1 North America’s website, www.k-1usa.net, on Friday, July 1st. Tickets will be priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, respectively.

The remainder of the lineup for the August 13th K-1 event has yet to be announced, but the names of participating fighters will be revealed gradually over the course of the next several weeks.

 HIROSHIMA, June 14, 2005 -- A display of superior stamina and newfound prowess with kicks propelled Bob "The Beast" Sapp past three opponents and earned the American former-NFLer the Championship at the K-1 Japan Grand Prix '05. Sapp, who has been criticized in the past for fading shy of finishing a single round, battled through eight tough rounds tonight to win the tournament before a full house at the Hiroshima Green Arena.

Also on the card, in Superfight action, Ray Sefo reaffirmed his status among the K-1 elite by dispatching Ruslan Karaev; and South Korean fighter Hong-Man Choi remained undefeated in K-1 with a win over Tom "Green Beret" Howard.

The first of the Japan GP tournament matchups was a battle of two tough guys, as Tatsufumi Tomihira and Hiromi Amada stepped in for a repeat of their semifinal war at the Japan GP last year. Amada won that bout by third round KO, going on to take the tournament, and was many experts' pick to repeat as Japan Champion this year.

But Tomihira has shown steady improvement in K-1, impressing many with his first round KO win over K-1 veteran Mike Bernardo last year. Here the scrappy Karate fighter -- who the Japanese media have dubbed "Mr. Yellow Card" for his tendency to record fouls -- started off with kicks, but ate a lot of leather in the early going as Amada was characteristically aggressive with the fists.

Amada repeatedly moved in with the punch combinations in the second round, while Tomihira stayed light on his feet, peppering his opponent with low kicks while looking to get the high kick through. In the third, Tomihira closed the distance to work the knees, and fired in more low kicks -- while, again, Amada was there with the fists.

It was a close fight, and an uncommon 1-1-1 result from the judges forced an extra round. Here, Tomihira was more aggressive, scoring points with low kicks and jumping in with knees. Amada wanted to do it all with his punches, but now Tomihira was controlling the distance well enough to stymie these attacks. When it was over Tomihira had exacted revenge for his loss last year, recording an upset win by split decision to advance to the semis.

Yusuke Fujimoto took on Hajime Moriguchi in the second fight. Moriguchi, a late substitute in this tournament, had not fought in K-1 since dropping a decision to Nobu Hayashi back in 2002, and looked rusty in the early going. Fujimoto, on the other hand, was aggressive from the start, snapping in quick hard low kicks and combinations to set the pace. In the second it was Fujimoto again looking good with the low kicks and threading straight punches through to rattle Moriguchi. In the third round Fujimoto led with the jab and put some nice rights in to score enough points to win with the night's first unanimous decision.

The lone non-Japanese fighter in the tournament, Bob "The Beast" Sapp brought a 20cm (8") height and whopping 60kg (135lbs) weight advantage to the ring for his quarterfinal match with former wrestler Yoshihiro Nakao.

From the bell, The Beast charged forward in his signature style, but Nakao intercepted him center-ring to go to the clinch. Sapp threw several kicks and a couple of knees to demonstrate greatly improved legwork and balance here. Several times during the bout Sapp appeared to pump late blows down on his opponent after a slip, but the referee was always quick to separate the fighters. In the second, Sapp threw kicks and knees as well as punches, but Nakao was cocky and defiant -- dropping his guard and taunting The Beast. The final round saw Nakao start with a brave flying kick then move in with the punches, but Sapp came out better with his counters. There was a final questionable attack on Nakao while he was on his knees in the third, and this time Sapp was assessed a yellow card.

The Beast's improved stamina was evident here, as he continued to come in with attacks right up to the final bell -- a little bit past the final bell, actually. A wild ride culminating in a unanimous decision for Sapp.

A couple of capable technical fighters, Tsuyoshi Nakasako and Hiraku Hori, did battle in the last of the first-tier bouts. Once touted as the next big thing from Japan, Nakasako has had a tough time as of late, losing three of his last four -- and had to be looking to change his luck here.

But Hori, at just 23 years of age the youngest fighter in the tournament, was confident and well-balanced with good evasive technique and solid punch and kick combinations. Nakasako stepped in with the right straight in the first, but was not able to take control, as Hori the southpaw held his ground. The second saw Hori start with a dandy combination and keep the pressure up with a wide variety of punch and kick attacks. After a Hori high kick opened a cut over Nakasako's eye, time was stopped for a doctor check, but Nakasako was cleared to continue. Now somewhat more desperate to score points, Nakasako repeatedly invited Hori in to mix it up, and Hori obliged to effect.

In the final round the two went toe-to-toe, and both scored with punches, Nakasako looking good with an uppercut. After stepping back, Hori just missed with a big high kick, and a moment later Nakasako connected with one of his own. In the late going, the pair looked tired, but Hori hang on, having done enough to win a unanimous decision and advance.

The first of the semis saw Tatsufumi Tomihira take on Yasuke Fujimoto. After a slow and cautious start by both fighters, it was Fujimoto who came in -- the right straight punches doing well for the glabrous gladiator. But Tomihira was solid with his blocking, and soon took to tossing the kicks in. This was beginning to look like it would be a long, hard battle. Then, in the blink of an eye, it was over.

With Fujimoto's guard down after throwing a punch, Tomihira seized the opportunity to snap a perfect right high kick up which connected fully with the side of his opponent's head, dropping him in a heap. A woozy Fujimoto struggled to his knees, but could not make it to his feet, and Tomihira had the KO win and a trip to the final.

Bob Sapp and Hiraku Hori made a wild start to the second semi. Sapp shifted to overdrive here, bulldozing in on Hori from the bell with his fists wailing relentlessly. This continued until Hori slipped to the canvas, after which time was stopped and a doctor check called due a cut over Hori's left eye. He was cleared to continue.

Sapp was doing something he hasn't in the past -- breathing deeply. This kept the big guy's energy level up much longer than usual, and he looked great with the jabs, haymakers and hooks until well past the halfway point, when he finally slowed down. Now Hori was able to take the initiative, pumping in body blows and tossing up high kicks while Sapp rode the ropes. But The Beast's blocking was sound and he got out of the round.

In the second, Sapp stepped forward with punches, and put some low kicks in for good measure -- really, Hori was not up to stopping this new improved Beast. After a break from a clinch midway through, rather than charging in, Sapp stayed back and invited Hori to come to him. This the Japanese fighter did, and during the ensuing slugfest Sapp got a right hook through to stun Hori. Quickly, Sapp came in with another right and then a third to score a down. Hori beat the count, but after resumption Sapp simply got the big punches working again. In no time Hori was on his knees and the referee had no choice but to stop the fight, putting Sapp into the final.

Bob Sapp and Tatsufumi Tomihira put on a heck of a show in the final. The Beast came on strong in the early going, charging in and scoring a down with a right hook just seconds in. Tomihira had no effective defense against Sapp, and went to the bear hug clinch repeatedly out of desperation, for which he was assessed a yellow card. Sapp just kept on coming, corralling Tomihira into the corner midway through the first and beating him up to score a second down. Tomihira showed a lot of spunk, and the yellow card man had to laugh when Sapp tagged him on the back of the head while he was on his way to the canvas -- a taste of his own medicine? Sapp very nearly got the third and decisive down near the end of the first, when a combination of punches and knees against a cornered Tomihira put him off balance, but the Japanese fighter was saved by the bell.

In the second Sapp again managed to pound away on a Tomihira closed up in the corner, but could not score any more downs in this bout, as Tomihira showed a lot of heart to stay on his feet -- even when Sapp put a precise high kick up at the clapper. The third round saw Tomihira start with punches, but Sapp answered this by charging forward once again, throwing good hard low and mid kicks. As the fight wore down, the two tired fighters reached something of a stalemate -- Tomihira had nice low kicks and body blows, but they didn't have the oomph to hurt Sapp, who was slower now but no less tough, launching attacks to the end.

A unanimous decision and tournament win for Sapp, who addressed the crowd from center-ring: "I want to thank all the Japanese samurai warriors tonight! They put up a hell of a fight, but I'm not tired, and for that I want to say a special thank you to my trainer Sam Greco!"

In the post-tournament interviews, Greco had praise for his student: "When Bob called me about training him for this tournament the first thing I asked was 'Are you serious?' He said he was, so I gave him my conditions -- first, he would miss the Hollywood premiere of The Longest Yard (Sapp stars in the new version of the classic football film); second, he would leave Seattle, where he lives, and Japan, where he enjoys the good life, and move to Australia to train every day. He accepted, and came over and trained like a true, dedicated athlete. I believe in Bob Sapp, he will only get stronger."

Sapp was bruised but beaming at his post-tournament interview: "It was the hardest I've ever trained, I totally changed my style. I think I may have broken my ankle tonight and I tore a nail off my toe, which hurts something awful, but I believe that if you're going to get hurt, you have to make sure the other guy hurts more, so I just kept going on sheer aggression. I've had low points in my career, now this is a high point and I am enjoying it! I think I've proven I belong in K-1."

With the win, Sapp picks up 5,000,000 yen in prize money (about 48,000 US dollars or 40,000 Euros) and a place in the World GP Final Elimination September 23 at the Osaka Dome -- an eight-bout, one match format tournament that will qualify eight fighters for this year's Tokyo Dome Final.

In advancing to Osaka, Sapp joins Choi Hong Man (South Korea), who won the Asia GP in Seoul this March; Glaube Feitosa (Brazil), who took the USA GP title in Las Vegas in April, Semmy Schilt (Holland), victor at the European GP in Paris last month; and Jerome LeBanner (France), who beat Cyril Abidi in a special qualifying Superfight also in Paris. The 2004 Final Eight -- Remy Bonjasky (Holland), Mighty Mo (USA), Peter Aerts (Holland), Ernesto Hoost (Holland) Francis Botha (South Africa), Ray Sefo (New Zealand), Musashi (Japan) and Kaoklai Kaennorsing (Thailand) -- have a bye to Osaka. The three remaining spots will be filled at the World GP Intercontinental in Honolulu next month and the World GP Repechage in Las Vegas in August, with one additional fighter to be selected based on extraordinary performance in the ring this year.

There were two Superfights on the card:

In the first, South Korean behemoth and 2005 Asia GP Champion Hong-Man Choi stepped in against "Green Beret" Tom Howard of the United States.

"Choi is a household name in Korea, a national hero." said Korean media producer Yun-Sung Ji, who came to Hiroshima to cover the fight. "Everyone in Korea is extremely interested to se how he does in this bout!"

Choi stands 218cm (7'2"), which gave him a 26cm (10") height advantage over Howard. Undaunted, the American threw the first strike, an overhand (what else?) right punch. Choi answered with a knee. Howard continued throwing the overhand, mixing in some low kicks, but could not get past Choi's reach to do any damage. For his part, Choi looked more than capable with his left jab and threw several good punch combinations.

Midway through the first, Choi went on the attack, moving in on his opponent, closing the distance and throwing knees. Choi's sheer size and power proved too much for Howard, who powerless to defend. It was a left knee that got up to Howard's face from the clinch to send the American tumbling backward and onto the canvas in a heap. Howard looked like he might try and beat the count, but there was no point, as his face was awash with blood. An impressive KO win for Choi, who now has to rank as one of the best of K-1's big fighters.

The second Superfight pitted K-1 veteran Ray Sefo of New Zealand against Russian kickboxer Ruslan Karaev.

Karaev looked pretty good here -- for about a dozen seconds. From the bell the Russian came in quickly with a left hook, then tossed up a good high kick, intent on taking charge. But Sefo would have none of it. Showing why he is arguably the best puncher in K-1, the Kiwi went in with his fists, intrepid, backing Karaev into the corner. It didn't take long before a left hook connected to put the Russian down. Seconds after resumption, Sefo planted three more punches on the hapless Karaev's kisser to bring the referee in. A standing count was called, but Karaev was in no condition to continue, and so Sefo had the KO victory.

"Of course I'm happy with the win," said Sefo in his post-fight interview. "Although it was my first fight of 2005, I kept up my training and I was ready. Now, I'm more than ready for my next fight!"

The K-1 Japan Grand Prix 05 attracted a sellout crowd of 7,166 to the Hiroshima Green Arena. It was same-day broadcast across Japan on the Fuji TV Network and in South Korea on the MBC ESPN Network; and can be seen on a delayed basis elsewhere -- check with local providers for scheduling details.
 

PARIS, May 27, 2004 -- Jerome LeBanner came out better than Cyril Abidi in a grueling battle of the Gauls Superfight; and Dutch Seidokaikan Karate fighter Semmy Schilt turned aside all challengers to capture the crown in the K-1 European Grand Prix 2005.

The event was K-1's third in the City of Light and drew 11,250 boisterous fans to the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy. All 11 bouts on the card were fought under adjusted rules in deference to the French sanctioning organization's restrictions on knee strikes.

The Superfight between Jerome LeBanner and Cyril Abidi was the most highly-anticipated bout on the card. The hard-punching LeBanner's tight technical style and killer instinct have made the veteran one of K-1's most feared combatants. And then there is Abidi -- the relatively lanky and cocky street punk, a kickboxer whose wild and wide-open style has produced some of K-1's most exciting matches over the last few years.

From the introductions it was clear the crowd was solidly behind LeBanner, who received thunderous applause. In sharp contrast, Abidi's entrance was met with a riot of jeers and boos, tempered by the scattered cheers of a few bravely defiant fans. It should be pointed out that the crowd was not acting from a strictly personal bias -- another determining factor was the fact that the Paris St. Germain and Marseilles football (soccer) teams have the most intense rivalry in the French League. With Abidi from Marseilles, the Normandy-born LeBanner was adopted by the arena full of sports fans as a Parisian for the night.

There was no sportsmanlike touching of gloves, instead this bout started with a bang, the two combatants literally smashing into one another in what would become a veritable streetfight. What it lacked in grace this bout made up for in raw emotion -- these two were at war, and it went on the entire five scheduled rounds.

In the first LeBanner soon got the better of it with his right punches, while Abidi could only rarely put the kicks past his opponent's very capable blocking. The atmosphere in the arena already electric, LeBanner turned it up a notch when he scored his first down with a brutal right just 28 seconds into the second round. But there was a nasty cut over LeBanner's right eye, the result of accidental head-to-head contact, and for a tense moment, time was stopped for a doctor's check. With the bleeding judged as not serious enough to warrant a stop, LeBanner was allowed to continue.

In the third, LeBanner again leaned in with the punches, and, head down, repeatedly plowed forward, like a tank, taking the fight to Abidi. Again the right earned LeBanner a down here, and it now looked as though LeBanner might be holding off finishing the dizzy Abidi, intent instead on inflicting ever more punishment on his archrival. LeBanner pushed Abidi onto the ropes, and put the punches in, then stepped back to fire in high kicks -- but through it all, to his credit, Abidi never gave up, and tried valiantly to get something going. He lost this round on all the cards -- he lost all the rounds on all the cards, in fact. But, he fought on.

Abidi appeared somewhat revived at the outset of the fourth, while LeBanner seemed to be running out of steam -- but again LeBanner reached down and got his right in, late in the round this time, and again he scored a down. Abidi had a desperate late rally of his own here, and there was a second time stop for a doctor check on LeBanner's eye, but again he was cleared to continue.

The fifth and final saw LeBanner cock Abidi's head back with a right straight punch, then do the same again seconds later. It was amazing that Abidi stayed in this one -- afterward K-1 Event Producer Sadaharu Tanikawa remarked that perhaps the fight should have been called earlier, but the referee was respecting the fighters' desire to soldier on to the end. Abidi kept on swinging, and put the high kicks up there, but LeBanner continued to block with ease. There was some confusion at the end, as LeBanner put another brutal right in, then shoved Abidi to the canvas after Abidi's cornerman stepped into the ring. And so on. So although the two fighters went pretty well all the way to the final bell, the bout was officially scored a fifth round TKO for LeBanner.

There were no hugs or congratulations after the bell, but one would like to imagine the fighters left the ring with greater respect for one another than they had when they entered.

LeBanner went to have his eye checked and so did not appear for his post-fight interview. A battered Abidi did, however, come out for his -- further testimony to the warrior spirit that characterized this fight.

"I'm from Marseilles", Abidi laughed defiantly, "and we don't give up -- we fight with all our heart. I was not 100%, I hurt my leg in a motorcycle accident not long ago, but I don't want to make excuses -- I lost, that is sport and that is that. But he is in the hospital right now, not me! Anyway, I want to tell my fans that I hope I didn't disappoint you, I tried my best but unfortunately I didn't win. Thanks for your support, I will do better next time."

To the tournament:

Alexey Ignashov, considered a favorite to defend the European GP Championship he won here last time round, came up against Japanese fighter Noboru Uchida in the first bout. Ignashov brought a 12cm (5inch) height and 22 kg (50 lb) weight advantage to the ring. Further, the Belorussian had spent several months preparing for this bout at Ray Sefo's gym in New Zealand. But, ominously, Ignashov's right knee was revealed to be bandaged when he entered the ring.

From the bell an adjustment in style was apparent as Ignashov worked a variety of different punch attacks and was quick with the evasions, but didn't throw kicks. Despite the straight punches and hooks, Ignashov never really got Uchida in trouble here, while the Japanese fighter kept coming in with his own punch and low kick attacks. Throughout the second, again, Ignashov stayed back, rarely using his legs.

Just as Ignashov's lack of aggression began to elicit jeers from the crowd, he put a right punch in to stun Uchida, and followed this up with a nice left hook. But Uchida was always coming forward, and used low kicks to balance out his attacks. In the third, Ignashov again eschewed kicks and although he did rather nicely with the fists, he was far from the explosive fighter he can be. Here again, Uchida's low kicks were scoring points, and although it was a close call, judges liked the Japanese fighter, who reacted with a look of surprise when his upset victory was announced.

In the second matchup it was Aziz Khattou of Belgium and French fighter Naoufal "Iron Leg" Benazzouz, a late substitute for Chalid "Die Faust," who was forced to withdraw due a hand injury. Iron Leg had the height advantage here, towering 11 cm (4 inches) above his opponent, and Khattou didn't seem to know how to get in on the big guy. So in the early going Khattou retreated often to a defensive posture. Benazzouz soon found a hole in the defense, and brought the Iron Leg up to the side of the Belgian's head to score a down. Khattou just beat the count, but soon after resumption the Iron Leg struck again to earn Benazzouz the win under K-1's two-down rule.

The third pairing saw Semmy Schilt step in against Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic.

And here we had an even bigger height differential -- Schilt, who stands 211 cm (6' 11"), towered a full 28 cm (11 inches) over Vondracek. The big Dutch fighter came in surprisingly fast, and chased his opponent round with the fists early in the first. But to the crowd's delight, Vondracek closed the distance and fired a number of tight hooks and uppercuts in late in the first to take the round on all three cards. In the second Vondracek started well, but Schilt put a left front kick in that winded the Czech and forced a standing count when he could not assume a fighting position. Schilt now took charge of the fight, connecting with a hard high kick and generally using his preternatural reach to fire in the blows at will, and scored a second and decisive down just 20 seconds from the end of the round. A good effort by Vondracek, but Schilt's size and power proved too much to overcome.

In the last of the tournament matchups, Japanese fighter Nobu Hayashi took on French fighter Freddy Kemayo. This was a most exciting fight, Kemayo looking light on his feet and throwing in fast and impressive combinations that included low, high and ax kicks and solid punches to the head and body. Hayashi was no slouch, but Kemayo was better from the bell, totally controlling the fight. In the first round, it was the fists that earned one down, and the fists again seconds later that got another to take the win and a trip to the semifinals.

In the first of the semis, Iron Leg Benazzouz dominated Uchida from the start, much to the delight of the increasingly noisy partisan crowd. In the first, Benazzouz snapped in the low kicks and looked good with his blocking when Uchida tried to counter. Iron Leg controlled the distance and the flow with a solid repertoire of high and low kicks through the second, and was usually better with the punches as well. The third started with a fancier Benazzouz launching spinning kicks, but these missed and so the French fighter soon settled back into his proven power attacks. Uchida tried to snipe in with the low kicks and threw a few punches, and wasn't bad -- always alert and looking for his chances -- but Benazzouz clearly had the edge here and so went through with a unanimous decision.

The second semi pitted Schilt against Freddy Kemayo. The thing about Schilt's size is that he can keep you back with his reach, then fire in "low" kicks which just might end up smacking you in the head. This Kemayo learned in the first round, and as the kicks pelted him, inflicting no small amount of pain and, moreover, keeping him outside. Kemayo frequently tried to pass and get inside to box, but Schilt repeatedly stymied him with the clinch. The Dutch fighter was shown a yellow card for this in the first, and a red card in the second. Alas, even as the crowd screamed encouragement, it was becoming apparent that Schilt represented a challenge beyond Kemayo's not inconsiderable abilities. In the third, after absorbing a lot of punishment, Kemayo took two right kicks to the head which left him stunned. The referee stepped in to call a standing count, and as the French fighter drooped against the ropes, smiling in contemplation of the hopelessness of his situation, the bout was called and Schilt was in the final.

And so the French fans had a final local hope -- could the Iron Leg chop down the seemingly unbeatable Schilt?

As it happened, Benazzouz gave Schilt a very tough ride -- remaining focused, light on his feet and good with the evasions to stay out of harm's way through the first. Benazzouz was quick and precise with his attacks, low kicks and combinations, just missing with a haymaker and putting a left straight punch up to rattle Schilt. For his part, Schilt was less aggressive here, and looked reluctant to move forward and take punishment from the Iron Leg.

But, as every K-1 fan knows, any bout can change with a single strike -- and that is what happened here. Benazzouz was leading smartly with his right, and had just put in a good low kick down when Schilt capitalized on a chance, firing in the perfect right punch to drop his opponent to the canvas in a heap. Benazzouz just barely beat the count, but when the referee asked if he was ok, the answer from the swaying French fighter was a simple but truthful "No."

An impressive run for Benazzouz, but this was Semmy Schilt's night. By winning the K-1 European Grand Prix 2005, Schilt advances to the World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome this September.

"I feel very good," said a beaming Schilt in his post-tournament interview. The Dutchman was quick to give credit to his opponent. "The first fight, against Petr Vondracek, was very hard. He was aggressive and at first, I kept wanting to knee all the time. By the second fight I had adjusted, but Freddy Kemayo, I didn't know him but I will say that he is one tough Frenchman. And I was also surprised by Naoufal Benazzouz, he had a lot of good attacks. But now I am on my way to Japan for the September event. I know there will be a lot of tough fighters I may face there, but I'm not afraid of anyone, I feel confident I can win!"

The second Superfight featured Mavrick of Germany and Japanese legend Nobuaki Kakuda, who promised to show the true Japanese Karate spirit in his return to action after a hiatus of several years.

Fit and ready, Kakuda looked like he really wanted to fight, and wasted no time coming in with his fists. Less than a minute in, with Mavrick retreating, Kakuda planted a right hook on the feckless German to score a down. Mavrick could not find his feet, and Kakuda had the win. In a display that brought a roar of appreciation, Kakuda addressed the crowd in French afterwards, thanking them for their support.

In other action, the tournament reserve fight saw Petar Majstorovic of Switzerland tangle with Gregory Tony of France. Tony got a good uppercut through in the first, and had the better of it again in the second with his combinations. These two are good friends, and that may explain why Majstorovic never got angry and pushed the fight. The challenges were there, but Tony was always better, smart with the combinations, and so the Frenchman took the unanimous decision.

In a 70kg weight class open bout, talented French fighter Samir Berbachi threaded a left straight punch through on counter to score a third round down against Karim Mahri, and weathered a late rally by Mahri to win the 2min x 5R contest by unanimous decision.

The K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 was broadcast in Japan on the Fuji Television network; on the pay-per-view network inDemand across North America; and on Eurosport and TPS Star in Europe. There will also be broadcasts on a delayed basis in scores of other countries, check with your local network for details.

 

In the first fight, Defending European GP Champion Alexey Ignashov and Japanese fighter Noboru Uchida will do battle.
Said Ignashov: "I hope to make the most of my time in France."
Uchida: "I will give my all."

In the second matchup Aziz Khattou of Belgium will meet French fighter Naoufal Benazzouz, who is the substitute for Chalid "Die Faust."
Said Khattou: "I want to put on a display which will make the crowd enthusiastic."
Benazzouz: "This is a great chance, I will prove myself."

The third pairing will see Semmy Schilt step in against Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic.
Said Schilt: "I'm very glad to fight for my gym and also for Seidokaikan in this tournament."
Vondracek's comment was that he had "No comment."

In the last of the tournament matchups, Japanese fighter Nobu Hayashi will take on French fighter Freddy Kemayo.
Said Hayashi: "It's great to be back here in Europe, I'll do my best."
Kemayo: "I hope to do everything I can to represent France well."

The reserve fight will be Petar Majstorovic of Switzerland vs Gregory Tony of France, and a 70kg weight class open fight will see talented Frenchmen Samir Berbachi and Karim Mahri go head to head.

In a much-anticipated Superfight, Jerome LeBanner will meet Cyril Abidi. The two stood on stage together, but never looked at one another.

Said LeBanner: "I'm happy to be here, I wish good luck to all fighters."
Abidi: "This is just another fight, I'm happy to be here, and I'll be happy to pick up the winner's purse."

The second Superfight will feature Mavrick of Germany and Japanese legend Nobuaki Kakuda.
Kakuda, speaking carefully but flawlessly in French to the delight of the crowd, promised "I will show France the Japanese Karate spirit tomorrow, I hope you will enjoy it."
Said Mavrick: "It is an honor for a streetfighter like me to fight Mr. Kakuda."

The K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 will be a classic eight-man tournament with the winner advancing to the World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome this September, and kicks off at 8:00 p.m. Paris time on Friday May 27 at the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy. The event will be broadcast in Japan on the Fuji Television network; on the pay-per-view network inDemand across North America; and on Eurosport and TPS Star in Europe. There will also be broadcasts on a delayed basis in dozens of other countries, check with your local network for details.