was unable to finish, and the shaken Shibata had to be happy to hear the bell.

Some fisticuffs to start the second, then a protracted period of clinching in the corner. The referee called for action three times before Heo brought the right uppercuts. The Korean connected solidly several times, added a tight right hook, and Shibata slumped to the canvas. Victory for Heo.

A 90kg/198lbs matchup saw Carlos Newton of Canada mix it up with Shungo Oyama of Japan.

Another fists-first fight, Newton stepping in first but Oyama getting the first advantage, sending the Canadian reeling with a right. Newton went for a takedown, which Oyama shook off, and once again the pair went with the punches. Oyama chased and scored nicely, opening a cut over Newton's right eye to prompt a check by the ringside doctor. After resumption, the bout went to the mat, but neither fighter had chances there, and the first ended with little more in the way of action.

The second saw a focused Oyama ever advancing, testing with low kicks and the jab, working again with the knee and prompting another doctor check on Newton's eye. Tirelessly, Oyama kept the pressure up through the remainder of the round, picking his spots well, while Newton just didn't seem to know how to get to the southpaw.

In the third Newton threw graceless haymakers that missed big before eating a couple of straight punches, failing in a takedown and then ending up on the mat and on the wrong end of a series of punches to the side of the head. A fatigued Newton tapped out and Oyama had the win.

The next fight featured Brazilian jiu-jitsu sensation Marcelo Garcia and Korean judoka Dae Won Kim.

From the get-go Garcia went straight for his opponent's leg. Kim avoided the takedown twice. The third time, however, Kim found himself on his back. A bit of twisting and turning brought Garcia round to rear mount, followed by a lot of twisting and turning as Garcia struggled to work the choke. But Kim denied the Portuguese purchase, and to the crowd's delight reversed at the bell to end the first.

Kim tried a new game plan in the second, charging forward at full throttle with the fists, sending his opponent into a desperate retreat. Garcia wanted the takedown, but his lunge for the leg was met by a hard knee. As torrent of blood erupted from Garcia's forehead, a roar erupted from the partisan crowd, delirious with Kim's TKO win.

The crowd also very much enjoyed the effort by celebrated ssirium wrestler Tae Hyun Lee of Korea, who needed next to no time to beat Yoshihisa Yamamoto of Japan.

The aggressive Lee plowed into Yamamoto early, punching his opponent to the mat, tossing in a good kick then getting on top to pound in the punches. With Yamamoto making no move to defend himself, the ref called it, bringing the cheers up once again.

Local favorite Min Soo Kim of Korea, a decorated judo stylist, stepped in against Japanese pro-wrestler Minowaman.

Kim brought a 25kg/53lbs weight advantage to this open-weight-class bout, and used the beef to bulldoze Minowaman into the corner, whereupon he pumped in a dozen blows. Minowaman showed a good chin, got out of harm's way, and came back with some fast punches of his own. Kim was soon on the attack, but was overzealous with a knee to his prone opponent -- the foul earning him a yellow card. Minowaman got a recovery period, and to his credit stepped forward with attacks after resumption. Kim took everything that came his way before starting in with his own punching attack, overwhelmed Minowaman and bringing the referee in with his arms waving. Another win for the home side.

Veteran Seidokaikan fighter Taiei Kin of Japan went up against Croatian mixed martial arts specialist Zelg "Benkei" Galesic. These two like to stand and strike, and Galesic made good with his first licks -- a right straight and a left high kick both catching Kin hard on the face. These strikes were all the Croatian would need, as they opened a nasty cut over Kin's right eye. Time was called, the doctor had a look, and that was it. Kin could not continue so Galesic had the win.

In undercard action it was Magomed Sultanakhmadov of Russia over Eun Soo Lee of Korea, and Japanese fighter Ryo beating compatriot Masanori Tokoka -- both wins coming by TKO due to referee stop.

The HERO'S Korea 2007 attracted a full house of 5,289 to the Jang Chung Gymnasium. The event was broadcast live across Korea by CJ Media, and in Japan on the TBS Network. For scheduling information in other regions contact local broadcasters. For complete coverage of this and all HERO'S and K-1 events visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp).