MAX FINAL8 matchup draw

[miscmisc]

Every fighter (other than Souwer and Masato) picked a ball with a number (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) on it. Stevelmans got #3, Drago got #4, Kyshenko got #5, Sato got #6, Kido got #7, and Buakaw got #8. Souwer and then Masato took the spots they wanted first, and the other fighters followed in the order of the numbers they got.

Then we got this:

1. Masato vs. Drago
2. Sato vs. Buakaw
3. Souwer vs. Stevelmans
4. Kido vs. Kyshenko

[Jofeljoh!]

Wow, so Stevelmans actually chose Souwer and Drago actually picked Masato?

That's badass.

[( o Y o )]

interesting, but I don't like Masato's special treatment......he is not the defending champ or anything

[miscmisc]

Wow, so Stevelmans actually chose Souwer and Drago actually picked Masato?

That's badass.

Yeah, they did, apparently. Stevelmans had to think for a while to do that, but Drago went straight to the spot next to Masato, according to the report. Apparently Sato wanted Masato, but now that match has to wait.

[Jofeljoh!]

Drago has balls, but Masato is obviously the bad matchup for him.

Smart technicians, with fast movement, high workrate, good movers in the ring, those are the fighters who frustrate him. Also Masato obviously is not gonna be knocked out in this lifetime, certainly not in a single fight. Drago isn't much of a point fighter so he'll lose this fight, I'm 99% sure. (and this coming from a huge Drago fan and-not-so-Masato-fan ;) ).

Still a match up on my list I've wanted to see for a while now.

[Kamatari]

Sato vs. Buakaw again is truly unfortunate.

[Lord Gaul]

Good fights, I think that Drago/Masato fight is going to be damn interesting. I bet Buakaw will be all business for the third meeting with Sato.

[Kobayashi]

So Masato will beat Drago and then fight Buakaw and Souwer on the same night? Please tell me I'm wrong, because that's fucked.

[Kobayashi]

interesting, but I don't like Masato's special treatment......he is not the defending champ or anything

I don't see any special treatment. Masato and Souwer are the two finalists so they got put on opposite brackets to make for the ultimate final. He still got the worse side of the draw, I'd say.

[Kamatari]

So Masato will beat Drago and then fight Buakaw and Souwer on the same night? Please tell me I'm wrong, because that's fucked.
You're wrong - because the finals will be a 4-man tournament.

[Kobayashi]

You're wrong - because the finals will be a 4-man tournament.

That's what I said. He'll beat Drago, then go on and fight Buakaw and Souwer on the same night (the 4-man tournament).

No one can beat both of those guys on one night... tough fucking draw.

Virgil, Drago, Buakaw, Souwer--that is nasty.

[Kamatari]

That's what I said. He'll beat Drago, then go on and fight Buakaw and Souwer on the same night (the 4-man tournament).

No one can beat both of those guys on one night... tough fucking draw.

Virgil, Drago, Buakaw, Souwer--that is nasty.
Ah well, I might have been caught off guard by another Masato centric post.

What if Buakaw has to face him AND Andy the same night?

[Kamatari]

They could always go with Buakaw vs. Souwer first. :)

[Global Honored]

So, after next round, they could restructure final 4? Hmmmm...
What if SOUWER had to face BPP or Masato then the other one in the same night? SO UNFAIR!!!

[Lord Gaul]

Once its down to four, there is no easy fight or path for that matter.

[machsaku]

i get the feeling we'll see BPP vs Sower in the final 4 and the winner will take on Masato for the strap.

[Jofeljoh!]

That's what I said. He'll beat Drago, then go on and fight Buakaw and Souwer on the same night (the 4-man tournament).

No one can beat both of those guys on one night... tough fucking draw.

Virgil, Drago, Buakaw, Souwer--that is nasty.

Ah well, I might have been caught off guard by another Masato centric post.

What if Buakaw has to face him AND Andy the same night?

So, after next round, they could restructure final 4? Hmmmm...
What if SOUWER had to face BPP or Masato then the other one in the same night? SO UNFAIR!!!



LMAO! This says it all I think ;)

offtopic: Gaul check your PM's buddy ;)

[Kobayashi]

So, after next round, they could restructure final 4? Hmmmm...
What if SOUWER had to face BPP or Masato then the other one in the same night? SO UNFAIR!!!

That would actually be fair because Masato has already done it.

There'd be no problems with Masato facing Drago and Buakaw on the same night... shame they're not putting the final fight on a single night.

[Kobayashi]

Once its down to four, there is no easy fight or path for that matter.

There's no denying that, but there's a HUGE difference between fighting Buakaw, then Souwer than there is fighting Kyshenko, then Masato.

[Kobayashi]

They could always go with Buakaw vs. Souwer first. :)

Can they?

[Kamatari]

Can they?
You don't even have to worry about it. Stevelmans is going to beat him. I'm also picking Sato over Buakaw - third time is the charm! Oh and Kido over Kyshenko too.

Though realistically even if Stevelmans was edging the fight I doubt they'd give him the decision after three if someone like Shinobu didn't get it either. Not to mention a name like Zambidis.

[Kobayashi]

No shit... he's had a wee bit of help over the past few years.

I'm confident in Masato beating either Buakaw or Souwer in a single fight (or anyone else for that matter), but two decent low-kickers in one night is too much for him--let alone two of the very finest low-kickers. So I am worried about it...

[El Presidente]

Hopefully Virgil vs Drago or ZAmbo in a superfight.

[Kobayashi]

Yes please to Zambidis VS Kalakoda.

[aubtin]

I like the look of all these match ups. Sato came so close in their last fight it'd be rude not to give him another crack at Buakaw.

[yauji]

>>> Kyshenko got #5, Sato got #6, Kido got #7, and Buakaw got #8


Can anybody tell me , is the picking game continue as :

# 5 Kyshenko choose #7 Kido as opponent ?

# 6 Sato choose # 8 Buakaw as oponent ?


or there is another picking game for the last 4 fighters ?

[RHK]

Sato vs Buakaw again huh?

[( o Y o )]

I don't see any special treatment. Masato and Souwer are the two finalists so they got put on opposite brackets to make for the ultimate final. He still got the worse side of the draw, I'd say.

a runner up has never recieved any special treatment in all of FEG/K-1 history


and I assume from what is in the first post, that he chose the other side. I assume he could have chosen to fight Souwer, or the #3 or #4 position

[Sudoraba]

Officially 4 man this year eh?

I'm officially not in favor of this setup.

The K-1 set up has always from the start been about the Grand Prix. Everything has always been about crowning that one champion who defeated three of the greatest standup fighters in one night. In the past It all goes back to such things as "All Roads Lead to the Dome" that sort of thing sadly is a thing of the past now at least for MAX.

Even if the actual tournament draw features less than top class opponents, defeating three people in three fights in one night was still a major accomplishment. The whole point WAS that an 8 man tournament breaks you down, that's why being the last man standing is such a big deal.

Especially in today's K-1 filled with three round minifights where a five round fight no longer exists, a tournament night where there are only three main card fights is pretty underwhelming. Usually there have been cases where these types of cards are saved by the quality of the super fights but when the most important fighters are in the tournament anyway the super fights already pale in importance greatly.

K-1 has always been about the Grand Prix not answering the question of who's the best fighter under optimal conditions. That was never as important especially in K-1 where unlike say MMA where contender fights are fought mostly on the bargining table, A class matchups never take a long time to materialize solely because through all the qualifications and eliminations and tournaments that an anticipated fight between fan favorites was always just a matter of chance. This is why in heavyweight K-1's early days top fighters routinely traded wins with each other since they were only a lottery away from being matched up.

If you were to make a comparison to the Pride GP format remember that Pride GP fights, hell even K-1 HEROs GP Fights were still much longer than K-1 MAX rounds. By eliminating the attrition part of the tournament it greatly devalues the accomplishment in my opinion and a pre2008 GP win will always seem more impressive to me as a result.

I suppose you could blame this on Masato and how a four man tournament greatly favors him when considering the last GP. But that's too easy, although it is somewhat transparent considering that this change is affecting MAX before it goes to the heavies where changes like this usually go the other way. Still even further back I'd blame it on Sapp and how his brand of K-1 brought about the whole "character based promotion" angle that is happenning now. I suppose it makes sense though since with the heavyweights not being as exciting under the under iron fist rule of the Hightower, they'd choose to turn to the source of their most bankable star.

[Lord Gaul]

^^I agree with everything you just said, but I still blame Masato for this.

I am over it now though and excited about the fights. The attrition part was big for me too, but I am still excited about big time compitition, and the oppertunity to see some new guys in super fights.

[miscmisc]

>>> Kyshenko got #5, Sato got #6, Kido got #7, and Buakaw got #8


Can anybody tell me , is the picking game continue as :

# 5 Kyshenko choose #7 Kido as opponent ?

# 6 Sato choose # 8 Buakaw as oponent ?


or there is another picking game for the last 4 fighters ?

Souwer took his spot, Masato took his, Stevelmans took the Souwer one, Drago took the Masato one (so Souwer vs. Stevelmans and Masato vs. Drago was set at that point), Kyshenko took a vacant spot (naturally), Sato decided to avoid Kyshenko and took another vacant spott, Kido chose Kyshenko over Sato, and Buakaw had no other choice than to stand next to Sato.

That's how it went.

[Tommy_Arashikage]

It's interesting that they've shrank the tournament for the LW's, as they've only had one fighter in the history of their tournament not continue due to injury. Meanwhile the heavies have had plenty, especially in the recent years. If not for tradition, I would rather see this idea implemented in the heavy ranks as opposed to the 155'ers.

[Mago]

Officially 4 man this year eh?

I'm officially not in favor of this setup.

The K-1 set up has always from the start been about the Grand Prix. Everything has always been about crowning that one champion who defeated three of the greatest standup fighters in one night. In the past It all goes back to such things as "All Roads Lead to the Dome" that sort of thing sadly is a thing of the past now at least for MAX.

Even if the actual tournament draw features less than top class opponents, defeating three people in three fights in one night was still a major accomplishment. The whole point WAS that an 8 man tournament breaks you down, that's why being the last man standing is such a big deal.

Especially in today's K-1 filled with three round minifights where a five round fight no longer exists, a tournament night where there are only three main card fights is pretty underwhelming. Usually there have been cases where these types of cards are saved by the quality of the super fights but when the most important fighters are in the tournament anyway the super fights already pale in importance greatly.

K-1 has always been about the Grand Prix not answering the question of who's the best fighter under optimal conditions. That was never as important especially in K-1 where unlike say MMA where contender fights are fought mostly on the bargining table, A class matchups never take a long time to materialize solely because through all the qualifications and eliminations and tournaments that an anticipated fight between fan favorites was always just a matter of chance. This is why in heavyweight K-1's early days top fighters routinely traded wins with each other since they were only a lottery away from being matched up.

If you were to make a comparison to the Pride GP format remember that Pride GP fights, hell even K-1 HEROs GP Fights were still much longer than K-1 MAX rounds. By eliminating the attrition part of the tournament it greatly devalues the accomplishment in my opinion and a pre2008 GP win will always seem more impressive to me as a result.

I suppose you could blame this on Masato and how a four man tournament greatly favors him when considering the last GP. But that's too easy, although it is somewhat transparent considering that this change is affecting MAX before it goes to the heavies where changes like this usually go the other way. Still even further back I'd blame it on Sapp and how his brand of K-1 brought about the whole "character based promotion" angle that is happenning now. I suppose it makes sense though since with the heavyweights not being as exciting under the under iron fist rule of the Hightower, they'd choose to turn to the source of their most bankable star.

I would also add that I think, in the beginning, when K1 was but a concept, with no fighters stabilished in any way, their goal was to respect and focuse on the product, their system - provide something unique in two major ways: the generic rule set allowing every stand up guy to compete and blah blah blah, PLUS a very unique way of determining the champ which was the full 8 men GP, an idea probably with deep Karate roots, the notion of endurance, of overcoming not only fighters, but your own body, by beating the aforementioned 3 top fighters in a single occasion.

Not only it's interesting because of the various mini-plots that simultaneously happen in each GP (the winners' different routes, like in 96, when Hug was wasted from head to toe after the semis and Bernardo was pretty fresh, but even so Hug came up on top, an unbelieavable GP win, or generic things like fighter A stamina is gone, but fighter B legs are finished, so who's going to exploit what, etc...), but also because, and this is something so interesting you said in your post, we can potentially have 8 deserving champions mixed in one single event - the "title holder - deserving contender" system where someone decides who gets the shot at the champ and it's pretty much on ecnomical bases, in the GP we can have all of the sport's top contenders in the same night, and each has te same chance of winning the title, their ability as the only factor possible to say who gets out of there the champion (after a certain point, the org has nothing to do with it).

Romantic notions apart, we all know the GP is freaking brutal and a lot of times, hands down unfair for the fighter who trained the whole year and broke somthing for example, or many other things that can happen and do not count as part of the "ideal test between the best of the best" (like injuris, sickness, bad judging, etc). As a reasonable person I can understand they breaking the gp to smaller bits, so all of this physical aspects can have a lesser role in determining the winner, it's probably good for the sport (read: Masato's chances of winning it again are higher now, just as it was a little higher when they got rid of the clinching and tried to nulify Buakaw), but it's a major contradiction to K1's original vision, as one HAS to argue if the physical constraints that seem to frustate a lot of fans's hopes and dreams, aren't the core of what the gp represents, who is the most resilient fighter, not, like Sudoraba said so well, the one who is the best in optimal conditions - that's what the year circuit is\should\could be all about, creating interesting match ups, because the GP should be about somethign else...

[that_dude]

nice match-ups.

Masato, Souwer, Buakaw and Kido into the next round.

and i pick Kido because the japanese could use another hometown ace.

[RHK]

i hope Sato can upset Buakaw

[origamidoug]

Nothing to do with the tourney, but over at the K-1Fans.com forum "Mr. K-1" posted Yodsanklai's fight schedule...and there's a superfight at the MAX card listed. Any info on this?

http://www.k-1fans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=615002&highlight=#615002

[Lord Gaul]

I watched the draw on megavideo and from what I seen all the guys had to pick balls. Souwer was first and Masato was second. Masato acted as if he was going over to Souwer, but then walked over to the first slot as Souwer had taken the fifth. Sevelmans walked right over to Souwer while Drago walked right over to Masato. Buakaw looked super disapointed when Masato was taken. Artur and Kido matched up in the last fight leaving Sato and Buakaw together.

It was pretty entertianing considering I already new what was going to happen.

[WOLVES AT THE DOOR]

Im all for the new set-up. The tournament is too hard on the fighters and the winner of the 8man isn't all ways the best fighter that night anyways. This gives the fans a shot to see fresh fighters do there thing.

[El Presidente]

Hopefully Virgil vs Drago or ZAmbo in a superfight.

I said 'Drago'? What on earth was I smoking when I posted this???

Virgil vs Murat would be interesting as well.

[heckyl]

im really liking Stevelmans. i hope he can get to the final 4. dude knows how to fight.