K-1 muay thai World GP Europe Final Preview

AMSTERDAM, April 25, 2008 -- The springtime weather vacillates in Amsterdam, and today a powerful storm arrived from the East. It's the new generation of fighters from Belarus, Hungary and Romania, here to challenge Western Europe's domination of the K-1 World Grand Prix.

The competitiveness of Central and Eastern European fighters was confirmed at the K-1 Europe Elimination in Budapest this February. In tomorrow's K-1 World GP '08 Europe Final at the Amsterdam Arena, the arrivistes aim to prove they can beat the best.

The K-1 World GP '08 Europe Final is a classic eight-man elimination tournament, all bouts contested under K-1 Rules (3Min. x 3R w/1RExt.). A quartet of first-tier fights advance four men to the semis, and the winners there go head-to head in the final.

Yesterday and today, participating fighters shared their thoughts with local and international media at the Claus Event Center in Hoofddorp.


The first tournament matchup features Doug Viney of New Zealand, a 31 year-old boxer who came out of the reserve fight to emerge as the improbable winner of last year's K-1 WGP Repechage Tournament in Las Vegas. Viney beat Zabit Samedov in the final. The Belorussian has vowed revenge.

"I trained hard and I feel great," said Samedov. "I still think I did enough to beat Doug the Vegas fight," said Samedov, "and I'm happy to be meeting him in my first fight tomorrow, now I have the chance to prove myself against him!"

Replied Viney, "I don't care what he thinks, at the end of the day, it's the judges who decide who won a fight. And I'm glad he wants to set the record straight, that's what I plan to do, with a KO."


Next up, French finesse fighter Freddy Kemayo will step in against Romanian farmer's son turned rugby player turned K-1 fighter Catalin Morosanu. After his victory in Budapest, Morosanu said he planned to improve his strength by "going back to Romania and eating two pigs." His trainer, however, had other ideas.

"He said I had to lose weight to improve my stamina, so he wouldn't let me eat the pigs," said Morosanu. "Instead, I went to Thailand to train, and I ate bugs, little fried insects, lots of them. I lost three kilograms [7 lbs], and now my stamina is better and I have more strength in my legs. I will crush Kemayo like a bug, and then, after I win this tournament, I promise I will go back to Romania and eat two pigs!"

Informed of Morosanu's plans, Kemayo laughed. "I don't know about all that, but I know I'm not a pig, I fight back! I can't underestimate anyone, and I know that Morosanu is like a pit bull -- he will only come forward. But I feel I've matured since my last fight, I can see things different now and I am prepared to the maximum for this tournament."


The third quarterfinal will see emerging Dutch fighter Errol Zimmerman of the highly-respected local Golden Glory gym taking on Hungarian hero Attila Karacs, who hopes to build on his impressive victory in Budapest.

"Zimmerman is a very good fighter," said Karacs, "but I have more experience now and I believe I'm better and stronger and faster. My strategy for fighting him is simple -- I want a KO."

Karacs, one of the fighters leading the challenge from Central and Eastern Europe, said the region is ready to make its mark in K-1.

"In Holland they have a long history of muay thai and kickboxing, while we have more of a boxing tradition. But we have been improving our training and styles quickly, and I think our new generation is now going to challenge the Dutch."


The last of the tournament matchups has the dangerous Swiss K-1 star Bjorn Bregy meeting veteran Jan "The Giant" Nortje of South Africa. Bregy, who won the K-1 Europe '06 GP and came in second last year, was clear about his intentions tomorrow: "I want to take the European Championship back."

Nortje was still en route to Amsterdam at the time of the press conference.


In the Europe GP tournament reserve bout, James McSweeny of the United Kingdom will meet Brian Douwes of Holland


The man who gets through three fights to win this tournament advances to the World GP '08 Final Elimination, where this year's final 16, including the world's top fightsport title-holder, three-time and defending K-1 WGP Grand Champion Semmy Schilt of the Netherlands, will go head-to-head.

There are a couple of K-1 Superfights and a whole lot more on the card in Amsterdam.


Highly-anticipated is a showdown between a couple of Dutch K-1 stars -- two-time WGP Grand Champion Remy Bonjasky and the always-tough Melvin Manhoef. While posing for the photographers, so intense was the "don't blink first" staredown between these two that K-1 Europe's Simon Rutz was forced to step in to separate them.

On a rare literary side note, Bonjasky this week also celebrates the release of a book. "Remy Bonjasky -- God in Japan" is an authorized biography by Mabel van den Dungen. While the Japanese press pondered the title's deific suggestion, Manhoef obliged by posing for photographs in prayer.

"Melvin is powerful and explosive, and the fight has attracted a lot of attention in Holland," said Bonjasky before divining, "lots of people are speculating on who will win. But I think I know!"

"I know that neither of us are there to fight for a decision," added Bonjasky. "He's going to come out aggressively and I intend to meet him just as aggressively, so I think it will be a KO, and I don't think it will last three rounds."

The stocky Manhoef, who is 15cm/6" shorter than his opponent, told reporters he had trained to overcome the height disadvantage: "We worked on specific things, but I won't tell you today, instead I will show you tomorrow."


In another Superfight, it will be a couple of muay thai fighters -- 22 year old Tyrone Spong of Suriname, and K-1 veteran Azem Maksutaj of Switzerland.


The K-1 event is complemented by the Dutch fight promotion "It's Showtime," bringing the total number of bouts on the day to no less than twenty. "It's Showtime" will feature a number of K-1 fighters, including Buakaw Por Pramuk, Drago, Paul Slowinski and others.

The K-1 World Grand Prix '08 Europe Final kicks off at 4:30 pm. on Saturday April 26 at the Amsterdam Arena.

K-1 is a part of muay thai or thai boxing .

Bregy and Karacs

Swiss karate stylist Bjorn Bregy beat Poula Mataele in the Main Event, and Hungarian Kempo fighter Attila Karacs brought the crowd to their feet with his penultimate bout victory over Petr Vondracek tonight at the K-1 Europe Grand Prix '08 Final Elimination in Budapest.
Last year, K-1 expanded westward from its Japanese home and found great success in Korea. Tonight, the world's most prestigious fightsport made a foray eastward from its traditional European base in Holland. Held before a capacity crowd at Budapest Sports Arena, this was the first-ever World GP event in Central Europe. The one-match tournament qualified six fighters for this year's Europe GP Final, set for Amsterdam in April.
In the first tournament elimination matchup it was last year's WGP Las Vegas finalist Zabit Samedov of Belarus taking on Brazilian muay thai fighter Vitor Miranda. A fast and technical first round, both men throwing good hard kicks and combinations, closing aggressively with the fists. In the second, Miranda was first forward, leading with the jab and pumping in the body blows. Samedov threw some good hard stuff and scored the strike of the round with a high kick, but Miranda's blocking was otherwise good, as were his counters. Samedov set the pace in the third, in early with body blows and uppercuts, making partial contact with a spinning back punch. Miranda wanted to mix it up late, but Samedov wisely stayed back, and picked up the win by majority decision.
The next fight featured boxer and muay thai fighter Erhan Deniz of Turkey and Rumanian Catalin Morosanu, a former rugby player with a face only a mother could love. Morosanu says his K-1 hero is Bob Sapp.
Deniz trains in Holland with Andre Mannaart, and the renowned coach spent the first round in the corner, screaming non-stop for the low kick. That was because Morosanu had come out like a loaded gun, hurling in the haymakers, one after another, looking a lot like Bob Sapp intent on overpowering his opponent. Deniz could not control the distance, although his blocking and a tough chin stood him in good stead. The Turk started the second with low kicks, but did not sustain this strategy, and when the distance closed ate a Morosanu hook. Deniz got some punches through here, as Morosanu quickly started to run out of gas -- again, looking a lot like Bob Sapp. By the end of the round, both fighters were so tired they could hardly stand.
The fatigue factor followed the fighters into the third, as some of Morosanu's anemic low kick attempts barely made it high enough to brush his opponent's ankle. Locked in an exhausted mid-ring embrace, the pair looked like a couple of sailors holding each other up after a shore leave binge. When the referee moved into separate them, they very nearly collapsed.
At the final bell, the judges could not pick a winner, and so the pair -- almost humorously -- were sent back at it for a tiebreaker round. Here Deniz again could not manage throwing the low kicks his manager wanted, while Morosanu briefly slipped out of his funk, managing a bit of a rally midway through. This allowed him to squeak out the win.
"I don't have so much technique," said Morosanu afterward, "so I wanted to beat him hard. I got tired, but I couldn't give up, I'll fight till I die, and if I die in the ring that's ok! His low kicks didn't hurt me, I played rugby so my legs are strong. But I want to make my punches stronger, so now I'm going to go back to Rumania and eat two pigs!"
In the next fight it was muay thai fighter Sergei Gur of Belarus and French kickboxer Freddy Kemayo. This was a revenge match -- Gur got the knee up to KO Kemayo when these two met last time. Kemayo weathered an early challenge, avoiding the well-balanced Gur's tight hook and low kick combinations before starting to hurt the Belorussian with low kicks. In the second Kemayo put the low kicks onto Gur's thighs to score three unanswered downs and take the win by TKO.
Dutch kickboxer Errol Zimmerman stepped in against Damir Tovarovic of Croatia.
Zimmerman trains with Stefan Leko at the Golden Glory Gym, while Damir cut his teeth in the sport sparring with Mirko CroCop. A strong start, Damir connecting with a body blow, Zimmerman stinging himself when his back kick smacked Damir's ankle. Lots of strikes but little apparent damage here. In the second, Zimmerman got a knee up Damir turned away from the follow-up, prompting a standing count. Zimmerman came to life now, quickly scoring downs with a low kick in the right hook. A fine outing for the 21 year-old Zimmerman, whose cool-headedness and textbook technique bespeaks his work with one of the world's top gyms.
Next up, Attila Karacs of Hungary took on K-1 veteran Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic. Karacs' opening ceremony introduction and ring entrance both were greeted enthusiastically by the partisan crowd.
Good positioning and movement from both fighters to start, a cautious Karacs tossing in the low kicks, Vondracek closing with body blows. The second saw Karac, spurred by a chant of "Attila!" from the crowd, begin to use the fists, threading a left through to bloody Vondracek's nose and score a down. Circling now, the strategically superior Karacs dodged a Vondracek right before picking up another down with a couple of quick lefts and a right. Vondracek pushed in the third, making contact with an overhand right, but once again the cool Karacs picked his spot perfectly, firing in a right hook to score the decisive down and pick up the victory and bring the crowd to their feet in delirium. A fine technical and tactical effort from the Hungarian.
"I appreciate my fans giving me such support tonight," said a smiling Karacs in his post fight interview, "but when the bell sounded in the match started, all that audience noise stopped, and I just focused on my opponent and what my corner was telling me. Vondracek is powerful and dangerous, but I won because of my cool head. Then, when the bell sounded to end the fight, I suddenly became aware again of the crowd, as there cheer hit me like a steam locomotive!"
The last of the tournament elimination bouts featured K-1 veteran and karate stylist Bjorn Bregy of Switzerland, and kickboxer Poula Mataele of New Zealand, who started his K-1 training with compatriot Ray Sefo before moving to Holland last year. Bregy won the European Grand Prix in 2006, and was runner-up last year. Bregy had trimmed down some with the intention of coming out fast here, and that is exactly what he did. The Swiss fighter moved forward from the start with the fists, making good with a left and a high kick before bringing up the knee. A determined Mataele got back into it, a left and a middle kick sending Bregy recoiling, a series of body blows leaving him on the ropes. But Bregy countered well, cocking Mataele's head back with a couple of straight punches late in the round. In the second Mataele showed less lateral movement, which proved costly as he could not match the power behind Bregy's punches. After weathering a barrage of blows, Mataele slumped back against the ropes, and the referee stepped in to call a count. The Kiwi managed to stand, but was in no state to fight, and so the contest was called in Bregy's favor.
"I feel satisfied," said Bregy. "I hadn't fought for a long time, so I needed one round to wake up. Poula is a good young fighter, but it's still early for him. When he hit me, he wasn't enough to hurt me, but it woke me up! I'm looking forward to Amsterdam, and I think of the fighters that won here tonight, Attila might be the toughest, he looks very good!"
In the first of two "Prestige Fights" on the card, it was kyokushin karate fighter Tibor Nagy of Hungary against kickboxer Dzenan Poturak of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nagy had the crowd on his side, but their vocal encouragement couldn't stop Poturak's surgical right hook, which caught him hard on the jaw and put him down cold. An impressive KO win for Poturak, coming just 38 seconds into the fight.
The second Prestige Fight saw Daniel Torok of Hungary take on 37 year-old Antonin Dusek of the Czech Republic. Torok dominated the first two rounds, throwing low kicks, knees and punches, although not a lot got through Dusek's high and close guard. The fatigued pair resorted to clinching in the listless third, which slowed the contest considerably. Torok had however mounted enough attacks to take the comfortable unanimous decision.
Since K-1's inception in 1993, apart from a solitary trip New Zealand, the WGP Championship has remained in Europe, usually Holland. The first-ever K-1 champion, Branco Citatic, hailed from Croatia. Is there any chance this year's K-1 Champion could also come from Central Europe? K-1 European Coordinator Igor Jushko was optimistic: "Central Europeans have been working very hard trying to catch up with the Dutch, which I think they've accomplished. Sooner or later -- I think maybe sooner than later -- we will have a new champion coming from Central Europe."
With their tournament victories this evening, Hungarian Karacs, Romanian Morosanu and Belorussian Samedov will be representing the region at April's Europe GP Final. It was clear in Budapest tonight that the Western European fighters who have dominated K-1 over the last decade and a half are heroes for the emerging Central European fighters and fans. A robust reception was awarded a trio of ringside guests -- Dutchmen Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts and Remy Bonjasky. Between them, these guys have won no less than nine K-1 World GP Championships.
There was also a mixed martial arts HERO'S Rules bout on tonight's card, in which hometown favorite Sandor Bardosi required scarcely a minute to submit Paulius Poska of Lithuania.
In undercard bouts:
Tihamer Brunner of Hungary dispatched Ghita Lonita of Rumania by second-round TKO; Zsolt Nagy of Hungary scored a majority decision over Cimpoieru Valentin of Rumania; and Hungarian Team Peter Varga fighter Attila Dropan out-slugged compatriot Adam Veres to take a win by split decision.The K-1 world Grand Prix Europe Final Elimination attracted a capacity crowd to the Budapest Sports Arena I was broadcast live across Europe. For a delay broadcast information, contact local providers. For official results and comprehensive coverage of this and all K-1 events.

the K-1 Final Elimination at SEOUL

SEOUL, September 29, 2007 -- The Europeans fared well as always, big Hong-Man Choi squeaked out a controversial win, and Japan's new wunderkind scored an upset tonight at the K-1 World Grand Prix Final Elimination in Seoul.Fightsport's most coveted crown, the K-1 WGP Championship is bestowed each year on a single warrior after a worldwide series of qualifying tournaments. On this early autumn evening, the top 16 stepped in for eight fights at the Seoul Olympic Complex, with the eight winners earning a spot at the WGP Final in December.

The Final Elimination is one of the GP season's highlights -- nowhere on the calendar is the talent pool deeper. Each fighter is fresh, has prepared for a specific opponent, and knows he must unleash his all in the do-or-die event. A very vocal crowd further pumped up the intensity for a tournament that was nothing short of terrific.

The first matchup featured Defending K-1 Heavyweight Champion, bad boy Badr Hari of Morocco, facing the surprise winner of August's Battle at the Bellagio tournament in Las Vegas, Doug Viney of New Zealand.Viney took the early initiative, stepping in and scoring with the straight left, firing the low kicks, hooks and body blows. Hari took his shots from outside, connecting solidly to rattle Viney's jaw, but the Kiwi's superior positioning usually kept him one step ahead. Hari however got the combinations going nicely in the second to force the fight. The lanky Moroccan then perfectly picked a chance, countering a Viney low kick with a devastating right cross to deposit his opponent on the canvas. Viney could not beat the count, and Hari was on his way to the December Final.

Everything that I do is calculated," said Hari afterward. "He was very well prepared for my jab, after the first round I could see that. So after that I threw my jab, and set him up for the other punch."
The second bout was a clash of size and power versus raw determination, as the two-time and Defending WGP and Super Heavyweight Champion Semmy Schilt of Holland took on this year's Europe GP tournament winner Paul Slowinski of Australia.Slowinski joked at the pre-event press conference that he had a "big job" ahead of him here, and that was no exaggeration. At 212cm/6'11" Schilt is one of the largest fighters in K-1, and has the technique and speed to boot. One has to go back more than a year to find a loss on Schilt's record.Schilt closed to work the knees to start, but Slowinski showed good evasions, and challenged the Champ with some solid straight punches. For a time, that is. Scarcely midway through the first, as Slowinski was backed against the ropes, he briefly relaxed his guard and Schilt brought the left knee up hard, catching him on the right of the jaw and crumpling him to the canvas. Slowinski got to his feet, barely in time, but the referee didn't like the look of his bloodied face, and waved his arms to stop the fight, giving Schilt the KO win.

Schilt says his goal is to win the GP Final three times in a row. "I think tonight I've come a little bit closer to that goal," he said after the bout.A couple of quick and technical fighters went at it in the third bout, as two-time WGP Champion Remy Bonjasky of Holland met Stefan "Blitz" Leko of Germany.Leko brutalized Bonjasky's gonads when these two met at last year's Final, kicking him below the belt twice times in their quarterfinal matchup, prompting a long break and a postponement. Bonjasky went on record saying he suspected the second blow was intentional. And so, this had the makings of a "revenge" match.

Leko had the low kicks and combinations working from the bell, while an aggressive Bonjasky went with his signature flashy flying knees and high kicks. At one point, when a Bonjasky kick hit Leko's midsection, the German fighter played the crowd with some "I'm alright, what's the big deal?" theatrics.Maybe he shouldn't have mocked Bonjasky like that, because now "The Flying Gentleman" redoubled his efforts, and in a moment had flown in with a right knee to the jaw. A howling strike, which downed Leko. A convincing KO romp for Bonjasky, who after a trying string of personal tragedies looks to be back in absolutely top fighting form."My mother passed away recently," said Bonjasky, "and winning this fight was like giving a trophy to her, so I'm really glad."In the next bout it was another German, power-punching Chalid "Die Faust",taking on the Brazilian with the out-of-this-world kicks , , Glaube Feitosa.
Die Faust came out swinging, but it was Feitosa who had the better first, controlling the distance with front kicks, countering with a left knee to score an early down and answering his opponent's haymakers with a left straight punch to score a second down late in the round. This one went the distance and the crowd loved it -- there were gasps of astonishment when Feitosa serpentined his kyokushin kicks; and roars of approval when the plucky Die Faust weathered repeated the blows but continued to come back on the attack.Both fighters got through in the second and third with uppercuts, straight punches and kicks. Die Faust ate a hard knee and stumbled some in the third, but showed a good chin as Feitosa could not finish him, and the bout ended with no further downs. Really a great, fast and spirited contest, Feitosa's hand raised by the referee but the boisterous standing ovation clearly going to both fighters.
In his post-fight interview, Feitosa spoke about his preparations for the December Final: "I train to get stronger, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I will -- it takes a lot of work to improve. Rather than focusing on one thing, I know that I need work on everything."
Next up, French K-1 veteran Jerome Le Banner took on late substitute Young Soo Park of Korea.
The scheduled qualification bout between LeBanner and Ruslan Karaev, was turned into a Superfight when Karaev could not make it to the event.Park started aggressively, firing in three fast low kicks to elicit cheers of encouragement from the crowd. But LeBanner was not buying into the Cinderella scenario, and marched forward with the fists. Now it was the Frenchman putting on the pressure, and it didn't take long before Park looked out of his league. A LeBanner right hook proved the decisive blow, sending the Korean down hard, where he stayed, sorely unable to beat the count.Remarking this year's Final falls on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, LeBanner joked with reporters afterward, "I want the fight in December to be a big Pearl Harbor. Banzai!"The sixth fight featured Japanese kickboxing sensation Junichi Sawayashiki, who stunned the K-1 world by defeating LeBanner this March, and turned 23 only last week.

Sawayashiki's opponent was compatriot Yasuke Fujimoto, the Asian GP '07 Champion.Fujimoto started with low kicks, and put a couple of straight punches through to bloody Sawayashiki's nose, prompting a couple of doctor checks. Sawayashiki looked skittish, not committing to attacks even as he absorbed more blows from Fujimoto.In the second Sawayashiki swung wildly but was rarely on target, until he got a knee and punch combination through to drop Fujimoto. Now it was Fujimoto, bleeding from above his right eye, who got the doctor check. Full-on fisticuffs followed resumption, and at the clapper Sawayashiki brought up a right high kick to score a second down.Fujimoto was terribly wobbly in the third, his legs buckling at even the suggestion of a strike. After calling a number of slips, finally the referee ruled a down, then a second, then a third, and Sawayashiki had the win.Testimony to the youngster's spirit, he fought on to victory despite having had his nose broken in the first round.Three-time WGP Champ Peter "The Dutch Lumberjack" Aerts has, incredibly, appeared in every WGP Final since K-1's inception in 1993.

To stretch his streak to 15, he'd have to get past another seasoned veteran, Kiwi slugger Ray Sefo.It was all Aerts in the first. Although Sefo managed a nice right straight punch that cocked Aerts' head back, he looked less than 100% here. The Lumberjack got the fists and textbook combinations in at will, and repeatedly chopped Sefo down with low kicks, these finally scoring a down late in the round. At the bell Sefo uncharacteristically walked away from his opponent. If there was any doubt Sefo was in distress it was confirmed when he did not answer the bell.The ringside camera zoomed in on the doubled-over Sefo, revealing tears streaming down his face. When Aerts wrapped his arms around his long-time friend, the crowd knew this was no time for jeers, and offered the pair a warm round of applause."It was not a problem," said Aerts afterward. "Ray said he was a little bit sick, but the fight was not too much of a problem. I wanted to hurt his legs and that worked out."The Main Event saw local hero, the gargantuan Hong-Man Choi, in a revenge match against the only fellow to beat him this year, hard-hitting Samoan-American Mighty Mo.With the crowd chanting his name, Choi looked down on his rotund opponent for a long while before making a move.

Mo tried a kick to no avail, and came in with haymakers that made only partial contact. Finally Choi got the knee in, then a front kick, then swatted at Mo with a left. But Mo stood his ground, despite more swatting and hammer punches from Choi.In the second Mo barreled in with the fists and this seemed to unnerve Choi, who answered with feeble jabs. A Choi low blow toward Mo's groin brought controversy -- the referee did not call a time out, but instead issued a standing count. The two then briefly mixed it up, Mo putting Choi in the corner and connecting with a couple of overhands, while absorbing a knee.The third saw Choi, his left glove glued to the side of his head in perpetual guard, smacking down the occasional hammer punch, stretching in front kicks and scoring with a good hard middle kick midway through; Mo at darting in from distance to throw the overhands, tagging the Korean with a right and a left.The judges gave it to Choi, but the decision hardly received the reaction one would associate with a convincing win."I feel I was robbed. I should have won," said a disappointed Mo after the fight. "He must have picked up a new technique -- the kick below the belt! I really think that there should be a third fight. There was a lot of favoritism here, next time I want to fight somewhere else."Informed of Mo's protestation, Choi said, "I don't have any problems with the decision -- I wanted to beat him by KO but beating him by decision is good. I was very nervous yesterday, I kept remembering Mighty Mo from that time, so I only slept for three hours and I was tired. If he wants a rematch, anytime!"

Tonight's eight winners will participate in a draw here in Seoul tomorrow, September 30, to determine the matchups for the December WGP Final.The K-1 World Grand Prix '07 Final Elimination attracted a crowd of 16,652 to the Olympic Complex in Seoul.

i like muay thai and k-1.

Sweet 'n Souwer K-1 World Max Final in Tokyo

Japan, October 3, 2007
Shoot boxer Andy Souwer turned aside three challengers to win the K-1 World Max '07 Final tonight at the historic Nippon Budokan. It was the 26 year-old Dutch fighter's second World Max Championship, he also claimed the coveted Belt in 2005.

The popularity of the K-1 World Max 70kg/154lbs weight class rivals that of the World GP. Where the heavyweights have the power, the lighter fighters appeal with speed and stamina, consistently producing thrilling contests. This year's World Max eight finalists represented six different countries.
The first quarterfinal was a keenly anticipated matchup between all-round kickboxer and media darling Masato of Japan, who won the Max Belt in 2003; and Thai fighter Buakaw Por Pramuk, whose positively lethal legs and fast fists made him the two-time and Defending Max Champion.

Both fighters got the low kicks going early, and the first round had plenty of action -- Buakaw scoring with body blows and a high kick, Masato getting an uppercut in before surprising his opponent with an innocent-looking right straight punch to score a down.

The second saw Buakaw good with the hard low kicks, Masato leading with the left straight and deftly picking his spots on the counters, connecting with another uppercut. Masato used the ring to effect, moving to his left, forcing Buakaw to approach with less than perfect positioning. In the third Buakaw needed a down to get back into the fight, but was uncharacteristically tentative with his attacks. Masato meanwhile continued his mastery, focused and fast with the straight punches, closing for another uppercut while absorbing his opponent's low kicks. A fine performance from Masato for the well-earned unanimous decision.

The second matchup featured power puncher Mike Zambidis of Greece, a compact bundle of strength and determination; and Ukrainian Artur Kyshenko, a muay thai fighter who also likes the fists.

A slow first, Kyshenko with occasional high kicks, Zambidis blocking well and countering with low kicks and body blows -- neither fighter connecting decisively, a slight edge to Kyshenko evidenced on two judges' cards. Better action in the second, Zambidis darting inside with punches but Kyshenko employing his 5cm/2" height advantage to arrest the Greek with long low kicks.

In the third, Kyshenko went with the fists, pumping in body blows, while Zambidis launched a couple of flying knees that came up short. Spirited action to end the fight, which one judge gave to Kyshenko and two saw as a draw, triggering a tiebreaker round.

A more aggressive Kyshenko in the deciding extra round, in with proficient kicks and combinations; Zambidis meanwhile circling with a hit-and-run strategy, missing again with his flying knees but getting body blows through. A difficult one to call, the decision going to Kyshenko.

Dutch boxer Albert Kraus' speed, smarts and punches won him the inaugural World Max Championship in 2002. In tonight's third tournament quarterfinal, the 27 year-old Max veteran met the two-time and Defending Japan Max Champ, kickboxer Yoshihiro Sato.

Sato started fast, intent on using his reach and 10cm/4" height `advantage to run Kraus down. But the Dutch fighter was equally aggressive, moving past the straight punches and knees with body blows and uppercuts. Sato sent a number of high kicks up throughout this one, but Kraus' evasions and blocking were sound.

In second, a Sato knee looked to have Kraus in trouble, but the Dutch fighter answered with a dandy straight punch and left hook to regain his momentum. The third was thrilling, both fighters repeatedly clashing. Sato again used his long legs to fire the low kicks, and leaped forward with the knees. But a determined Kraus was smart in all aspects of his game -- his movement and positioning were perfect, and he tallied big time late in the round with a punch combination that snapped Sato's head back and, were it not for the ropes, might have put him down.

One of the best fights on the night, the unanimous decision going to Kraus.

Andy Souwer of Holland set off on the road to glory against muay thai stylist Drago, an Armenian known for both aggression and creativity.

The pair kept their guards high and close and traded hard low kicks and straight punches in the opening moments, Souwer sailing a high kick just over Drago's head. The second saw Drago taking some chances, leading with the jab and closing with body blows, Souwer coming back with the knees and kicks. And then, in an instant, it was over. Drago leaned in with a left straight just as Souwer was bringing a right hook around. The fighters' arms brushed past one another, and Drago's missed and Souwer's connected, knocking the Armenian out cold.

The first semifinal pitted Masato against Kyshenko in a back-and-forth battle. Masato started fast with the low kicks and straight punches to put his opponent on the defensive. Kyshenko rallied promisingly with some big haymakers and high kicks, but was shut down well by Masato's stinging low kicks. Even as Masato appeared to be in control, the limping Kyshenko came back with three hard right straight punches, and now it was Masato in trouble. Kyshenko was chasing his opponent when the bell sounded to end the first, and took the round on two cards.

In the second Kyshenko resumed the punches, Masato the low kicks. The distance had closed, with both fighters center ring and exchanging punches, when Masato rammed in a left hook in to drop Kyshenko, who was unable to beat the count. Masato to the final.

It was Kraus and Souwer in the all-Dutch second semi. Souwer had very little rest time between his quarterfinal and this fight, but nonetheless brought some strong attacks, setting the distance with front kicks, pumping the knee up and putting the low and middle kicks through in the first, picking up the pace in the second to score with combinations, body blows and high kicks. Kraus got inside, only to be stymied by a high and close Souwer guard. A Kraus left hook in the second kept it close, but Souwer had the better stuff overall, connecting with a nice right in the fast-paced third and taking the decision on two cards, with one judge calling a draw. Souwer, with the narrowest of majority decisions, now had a date with Masato in the final.

The dream final brought the crowd on their feet, the encouragement deafening as their favorite son made his way to the ring. Masato took the initiative from the bell, charging at Souwer with straight punches and body blows, getting full contact with a hard left punch. Souwer weathered the attacks, closed up in defense. Souwer's attacks were less than overwhelming, he missed with a high kick, and saw his low kicks answered fearlessly with more straight punches.
But in the second Souwer turned it up a notch or two, throwing low kicks and flying in with the knees; while Masato pressed forward again to deliver the one-two straight punches,
unleashing the uppercut that had done him well in his earlier fights. Souwer persisted with the low kicks, and by midway through these were seriously slowing Masato.

The turning point came late in the round, Souwer smashing in a right straight punch, catching his off-balance opponent with a number of hard low kicks. At the clapper Souwer was chasing the retreating Japanese fighter, and when the bell sounded Masato slowly slumped over the ropes, hurt and exhausted.

The ringside camera stayed on Masato between rounds, and the question now was whether he could answer the bell for the third. The time ticked off, the announcer called 'seconds out,' but Masato's cornermen remained huddled round their seated fighter, who had pain tattooed on his face. A quiet, mournful shake of the head and the hint of a smile from Masato. It was over.

Souwer leapt in the air, then dropped to the canvas and bowed to Masato, lifting the Japanese fighter to his feet as the crowd rose to theirs to offer both warriors a standing ovation.

In his post-fight interview, Masato told reporters that injuries to his hand and legs from his bout against Buakaw had badly limited him in his subsequent fights.

Commenting afterward on his strategy for the final, Souwer said, "My trainer Andre Mannaart and I knew Masato wanted to rush me with punches, so we had this plan to use kicks. My ribs and my ankle were hurt in my fight with Kraus, and my right hand was also causing me pain, but I had to give my all against Masato, who is one of the best!"

With the victory, Souwer reclaims the Belt he surrendered to Buakaw last year, and also picks up a cool 20 million in prize money.

"My second son was born just last week," said Souwer, "I will put this money in the bank for him and his brother."

In the Reserve Fight it was Takayuki Kohiruimaki of Japan vs Virgil Kalakoda of South Africa.

Kohiruimaki wanted the distance to throw his kicks, but Kalakoda kept moving inside with the fists. Kohiruimaki had said in the pre-event press conference that he would "find the right position" to defend against Kalakoda's punches. Unfortunately for the fans, the position he choose was the clinch, prohibited under K-1 rules. This got Kohiruimaki numerous warnings and a yellow card. Kalakoda had the much better strikes, several
straight punches and a right hook in the second then a left straight in the third for a down. After the count, Kalakoda pounded in tight hooks for another down and the win.

In a Superfight, seidokaikan fighter Kazuya Yasuhiro of Japan took on kickboxer Su Hwan Lee of South Korea.

Fast and furious this one, the fists seeing action, Yasuhiro getting a right through in the first, Lee scoring a down with a left. Lee took the fight to his opponent in the second, scoring another down with a left hook, snapping in the low kicks and ducking a desperate spinning back punch to stay out of harm's way. Yasuhiro has great heart, and kept coming at the Korean, but couldn't muster the down he needed to get back into the fight, which went to Lee by unanimous decision.

A special junior 60kg Superfight saw 15 year-old Japanese kickboxer Hiroya take on 18 year-old Kwon Eolzzang of South Korea.

An estimable contest, the youngsters showing impressive technique and speed. Both put the good low kicks in early, Hiroya scoring with combinations and a nice right overhand, and planting a couple more hard punches in the second. Eolzzang got his stuff going at times, but Hiroya used superior footwork, positioning and speed to put more muscle on the money, earning a comfortable unanimous decision.

In undercard action, Japanese fighter Gori beat compatriot Ryogi by unanimous decision; and Murat Direkci of Turkey scored a second round KO victory over Satoruvashicoba of Japan.

The K-1 World Max '07 Final attracted a sellout crowd of 14,231 to the Nippon Budokan and was broadcast live across Japan on the TBS network. For delay broadcast information in other areas contact local providers.