Who do you think is the biggest draw in K-1?

[Lord Gaul]

As I was watching the Europe GP and Showtime event here in Holland, I couldn't help but notice who got the biggest obvation. There were a few local favorites, who got decent obvations. Then Drago got a good obvation. But when Buakaw entered the ring he blew the roof of the building. I mean people stood up at his apearence. He even got a lot of love at the press confrence. I believe I posted somewhere that Yodsenklai was right to go after him, because he is indeed really popular all over the world.

The other huge obvation came when Peter Aerts called out Schilt. I don't want to get into that fight just yet, but I did want to ask who do people feel are the biggest draws in K-1?

By this I mean two things, one who do you think people most want to see world wide in K-1? Second, if someone asked about K-1 what fighter would you recomend?

The answer of course can be different. For me Buakaw is world wide the guy that I think most people want to see. But I would say Drago brings it for 9 minutes so he would probably be the guy I would sell the sport with.

For the heavy's it is tough to say. I guess i would go with Aerts, and I would sell the sport with him too. I wanted to say Lebanner to sell the sport, but because of the big payday and injury history of late he doesn't fight enough for me. Though style wise he is about as exciting as it gets.

[depechemode]

I agree that Buakaw is the one world wide that most of the people want to see and he is also for me on top
( off topic : but I want to see the entrance of Drago live,it looks so exciting, tell us little bit more lord about Dragos entrance )

for the heavy's I can say Aerts and JLB.
even the fight card looks better with this 2 fighters.

and let me add one more thing beside the biggest draw :
the biggest hope is sure Iggy

[sparkles]

delete

[sparkles]

Well the more popular the fighter is, the more people watch the event, the more he will be paid.
For the heavies I'd say Le Banner followed by Sefo and third Aerts. That is how it used to be. I can imagine maybe Aerts and Sefo switched places given the recent performances of Sefo and the good showings of Aerts.

[that_dude]

Masato in Japan draws spaceships filled with women to the arenas.

[tonypol]

JLB ,Aerts,Sefo for the heavies,Masato, Buakaw for Max.

[migs]

Personally: Aerts or Sefo.

Everyone else: JLB?

Max: Buakaw I think for myself and others (or Masato)

All time K-1: probably Hug or Aerts

[( o Y o )]

Tough one to call. Particularly world-wide. I mean in Holland I have no doubt at all Aerts would be THE man, whereas in Australia Hunt would maybe still get more props than an Aerts or a Hoost.

K-1 take care of their proven ticket sellers, and for awhile that has been JLB and Sefo. Aerts fell waaaay off for awhile, but the last year or two has seen him climbing up there too.

For MAX I think as much as people like to ignore him, almost anyone would go to watch an event Masato was on. I have been to a lot of shows in Japan....some huge shows with major main events....sold out Tokyo dome, sold out Satama arena, sold out Osaka Dome......but I have never heard a crowd like last year when Masato and Buakaw went at it. That was something special.

[K-1 Extremist]

I think Badr Hari is a big seller, and if he isn't now he will be with one or two more big-name wins.

[Lawrence Tierney]

I agree with boobs that it really varies according to which country's audience you are looking at. K-1 is still primarily a Japanese sport, that is where the vast majority of its' revenues come from. I think that Masato is way bigger than Buakaw in Japan, probably not anywhere else. Just from watching Japanese TV broadcasts, JLB is probably the biggest draw in the heavyweights. Ill never forget a few years ago, during the eliminations, Hoost was fighting someone, and in between rounds, instead of showing highlights of the fight, the camera showed a female announcer standing outside of JLB's closed locker room talking about JLB.
Do they still have Bob Sapp souvenir shops in Japan?

[Michael Schiavello]

Yes agree to Boobs that it depends what country you are in.

If we're talking Japan, then these are it:

Heavies

1. LeBanner
2. Aerts / Sefo
3. Hari

K-1 Max

1. Masato
2. everyone else is VERY far behind but Buakaw would be second

In Holland:
1. Peter Aerts by far

In Korea
1. Choi (of course)
2. LeBanner / Aerts
3. Sefo



Just my thoughts, I gauge the applause (audience pop), amount of media attention, merchandising and overall public attention.

"The Voice" Michael Schiavello

[( o Y o )]

If we're talking Japan, then these are it:

Heavies

1. LeBanner
2. Aerts / Sefo
3. Hari

K-1 Max

1. Masato
2. everyone else is VERY far behind but Buakaw would be second

In Holland:
1. Peter Aerts by far

In Korea
1. Choi (of course)
2. LeBanner / Aerts
3. Sefo

That's pretty much what I would have guessed for Korea and Holland.

What do you think about in the US mate? Both Vegas and Hawaii?

[Michael Schiavello]

Too hard to say... but Mighty Mo in Hawaii is popular... all the Polynesians turn out to support him... in Vegas the card is never consistent so hard to say who is Mr Popular K-1 wise there.

"The Voice" Michael Schiavello

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

What no love for Bob "I put asses in seats, so I can foul and cry whenever the hell I like." Sapp?

[Lord Gaul]

I agree that Buakaw is the one world wide that most of the people want to see and he is also for me on top
( off topic : but I want to see the entrance of Drago live,it looks so exciting, tell us little bit more lord about Dragos entrance )

for the heavy's I can say Aerts and JLB.
even the fight card looks better with this 2 fighters.

and let me add one more thing beside the biggest draw :
the biggest hope is sure Iggy
Drago's entrance is a show by itself. His music fits him perfect and he is so amped that he is punching his chest and jumping in place while he waits for the main part of the song to come in. I mean you couldn't stay in your seat if you wanted too. Here is a small dose of it.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=pvgTQNOsObU

[Jofeljoh!]

These ones have a bit of a better angle: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=7DYqilc_LO0&feature=related

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=voKAPNpzsGw&feature=related

his entrance is entertaining for sure

[depechemode]

Drago's entrance is a show by itself. His music fits him perfect and he is so amped that he is punching his chest and jumping in place while he waits for the main part of the song to come in. I mean you couldn't stay in your seat if you wanted too. Here is a small dose of it.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=pvgTQNOsObU

indeed the best entrance of all fighters,
all moves suits him very well

[( o Y o )]

indeed the best entrance of all fighters,


But in MAX recently the walk to the stage has been so short recently he hasn't really performed it right.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

All time:
1- Bob Sapp
2- Andy Hug
3- Peter Aerts
4- Jerome LeBanner
5- Mirko Filipovic
6- Mike Bernardo
7- Ray Sefo
8- Ernesto Hoost
9- Sam Greco
10- Masaaki Satake

[( o Y o )]

All time:
1- Bob Sapp
2- Andy Hug
3- Peter Aerts
4- Jerome LeBanner
5- Mirko Filipovic
6- Mike Bernardo
7- Ray Sefo
8- Ernesto Hoost
9- Sam Greco
10- Masaaki Satake

are you talking ALL of kakutougi in Japan, or just K-1?

If only K-1 I think #5 is WAY high.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

are you talking ALL of kakutougi in Japan, or just K-1?

If only K-1 I think #5 is WAY high.

LOL. Actually I just pulled some names out of my rear and added a few to to draw disagreement. I was going to put Kakuda but settled for Satake. I'm a bastard!!

But Mirko is very debatable, no? His last match vs Sapp was a doozie regarding fan draw and replays.

[Lord Gaul]

Sapp is a good number one when you look in history. No one has brought the ratings he did in the first years of his K-1 arrival. Over time reality set in, but he does have his mark in K-1 history, like it or not.

[depechemode]

But in MAX recently the walk to the stage has been so short recently he hasn't really performed it right.

yeah thats right but he still performs well