So Cal Pro Am DVD 2 Disc On May 24, 2003, 16 top grapplers (plus 3 alternates) from around the United States, came together to compete in a closed doo...
Another K-1 veteran and fan favorite, kickboxer Jerome LeBanner took on 24 year-old Japanese fighter Junichi Sawayashiki. LeBanner was looking for some payback -- Sawayashiki upset the Frenchman in March, 2007.
In their last bout, Sawayashiki had circled to stay out of harm's way, but this time LeBanner wisely caught off the ring, and tagged his opponent with the right. The Frenchman was in control throughout, connecting at will with straight punches, firing the occasional high kick and closing with body blows. Twice in the first round Sawayashiki looked rattled. In the second LeBanner again positioned to stymie Sawayashiki's perimeter strategy. Again LeBanner scored frequently, and got a down with the fists at the clapper. Sawayashiki did not adjust in the third, and now the cumulative effect of LeBanner's blows had him dazed and confused. With the Japanese managing only feeble attempts at counters, LeBanner came out with a unanimous decision.
Said LeBanner afterward, "I'm not happy with my fight today, my opponent was circling and didn't fight at all, even when I dropped my hands to provoke him!"
The last of the Final 16 Tournament matchups pitted this year's Asia GP Champion Ruslan Karaev of Russia against fan selection Chalid "Die Faust" of Germany. A huge cheer when Karaev was introduced, and a dynamic start by the Russian -- closing aggressively with punches and kicks. Die Faust took a few, but closed up and rode it out. After a Karaev back kick, it was Die Faust's turn, scoring a down with a left to the body. More close fighting through the end of the first and start of the second, Die Faust picking his spots well to bloody his opponent's nose and take a nice lead on the cards.
It was a Karaev right uppercut, backed up by a left straight, that scored the Russian his first down. Die Faust barely beat the count, and struggled after resumption to marshal some offence. But the German fell again as Karaev was persistent with the knees and punches. The valiant Die Faust made it to his feet, only to become Karaev's punching bag, and in a moment the ref called it. A thrilling battle, Karaev fighting at his best to get the KO win.
"I dedicate this to my mother, who passed away a month ago," said Karaev. "I didn’t have time so much to prepare for this fight. However, I know that Chalid has good punches and that I had to be careful about that, I got caught once and that was enough. But I was motivated to in the fight, I was going for a KO!"
The opening bout featured a couple of South Korean fighters, Yong Soo Park and Randy Kim. Both connected solidly with punches in the first. In the second, after a Kim low kick, the referee come in to issue a standing count on Park for turning away from the fight. Park, whose leg had been tangled in the ropes, appeared either stunned or befuddled, but in any case did not adapt a fighting pose before the referee elected to call it, giving Kim the KO win.
In undercard action, Belorussian kickboxer Zabit Samedov used an impressive arsenal of punch and kick attacks to outscore Brazilian kyokushin fighter Fabiano Da Silva of Brazil and take a unanimous decision; while Keijiro Maeda of Japan KO'd South Korean Min Ho Song in the third round of their contest.
In a change from the practice of previous K-1 WGPs, tonight the Final 8 matchups were determined in the ring immediately after the Final 8 had been determined. A random draw assigned the selection order, then the fighters one by one made their way to a stage representing the Final 8 tournament bracket. Up first, Karaev put himself into the third fight. Bonjasky was next, and opted for the fourth fight. Zimmerman than went to the second bout.
Saki, selecting fourth, was the first to commit to an opponent, matching himself up with Karaev. Selecting next, Teixeira decided he liked his chances against Zimmerman in the second bout. Aerts eschewed a matchup with Bonjasky, going instead to the still-empty first bout -- traditionally regarded as the most desirable fight, as it affords the greatest recovery-time before the semifinals. LeBanner, with the option of Aerts or Bonjasky, put himself in against the latter. Hari therefore ended up with Aerts first on his dance card for the December 4 World GP Final. The matchups are posted on the K-1 Official Website.
The K-1 World GP 2008 in Seoul -Final 16 attracted 15, 769 to the Seoul Olympic Complex. The event was broadcast live across Korea by CJ Media and in Japan on the Fuji TV Network. For scheduling information in other regions contact local broadcasters. For complete coverage of this and all K-1 events visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp).
