Semmy Schilt not getting the deserved respect?

[BEEF]

I was just curious what you guys think in terms of Semmy's popularity etc. From my limited perspective here in the US, it seems though his popularity is mediocre at best despite him plowing through upper level K1 competition so far(I think his loss to Aerts was marginal). In the past year Semmy has:

-Won the K1 Europe in Paris
-Won the K1 WGP
- fought in EVERY k1 event that featured HW's since September 2005!!!
- fought 13 fights with 12 wins(7 KO's) in the past 13 months!!!
- Defeated 2 of 3 prior K1WGP winners in the past year.

I am sure more could be added to this list. I am not a huge Schilt fan, but today when I finally got to watch my copy of K1 Amsterdamn it dawned on me how active and successful Semmy has been, and it doesn't seem like he has achieved the recognition he deserves. Is it because people think he is "big" so his accomplishments are not as impressive?

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

The K-1 has tried changing the rules twice to limit his success and he either adapted faster than the "stars" (one knee rule) or the rule itself was unmanageable by the K-1 "no holding".

Right now the K-1 is considering a JD reversal for LeBanner and Schilt has as much of a case for one himself (vs. Aerts).

You are right about the lack of respect. To be honest, some is deserved. He changed karate style three times from Kyokushin to Ashihara to Seidokaikan. He made a few friends in the process but a hell of a lot more enemies. He sold his 2002 GP berth. That left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of people.

Now he is champion and is fighting once every 4 weeks or so for less money than the "stars". When his contract is up, he'll make a phone call to Pride and say, "How are things going with the 2001 K-1 Champ?"

[Matasorapit]

Good topic and nice question. I was also riding the "Semmy is just lucky bandwagon" for many years. My perception was totally crushed at last years France GP and the following World GP. Seeing the guy in Auckland NZ this year was also outstanding and I have a great level of admiration for the man today. He is intence to watch and what I find most interesting is this...
(When many fighers, former fighters and fans watch a fight we call shots like "use the right hand he's open" or "if that was me I would have jumped up, spun around 6 times and landed a kick straight out of the Streetfighter video game". Most of us do it, look for openings and shots to take. Fact with Semmy is that I cannot think of anything when I watch him fight, everythough I get is quickly contradicted with his defence, arsenal and raw size. He may well be the a perfect package.

[Razor Bump]

I think Semmy is the man and though his demise is on the horizon.... he is clearly the best striker in the world at this time. They will soon ask him to tie to hands behind his back in order to fight.

Clear disrespect as I have stated so many times before. Why they do not embrace the giant is beyond me.

[Sudoraba]

Semmy is the man.

K-1 changed the rules particularly to stop him and then look what happens... He goes on and wins his elimination spot in the Paris GP where knees and holding are forbidden. Even being robbed against Aerts matters less in the long run if he keeps on winning. Hell I think he'll still be in top shape for the GP even if they've been trying to wear him down through the attrition of fighting every month.

As for those who think his robotic style is unexciting I disagree. You people have to realize how rare it is to see a man in that side move in a coordinated manner. Then you may appreciate the sight a little more.

[Sudoraba]

Hopefully they match Schilt with Sapp again. That way we can see Sapp leave the building, take a plane over the ocean, and unhook his telephone line.

[( o Y o )]

It is all about image and marketing. K-1 are going to give him as little as possible, and Semmy really doesn`t give him anything to work with either (when given the chance in interviews etc). Sem is oing to have to learn to play the game, and in so doing K-1 will put a bit more behind him.

[Martin]

Central, minor correction Schilt has changed karate style 2 times. He was never in kyokushin. He started out in "ashihara international", with dave Jonkers as instructor, and changed from Ashihara to Seidokaikan.
Ashihara international cooperates closely with Jon Bluming´s "Kyokushin budo kai" in the martial art umbrella organisation "international budo kai" (where Bluming and Jonkers are co-founders), but they are separate styles. Bluming has talked about Semmy as "his" student on occation, but he has never been Semmys instructor.

Also Dave Jonkers is still Semmys instructor, coach and cornerman even after the switch to seidokaikan, this despite him also being the head of ashihara international in europe. So I dont think he earned that many enemies in ashihara international when switching toseidokaikan.


As for why some people dont like him. They look at his size and think "freak". They watch his techniques and think "awkward". They dont look how he uses them, and what he acomplish with them.
Also, he is from karate and not thaiboxing. You would be suprised how many are prepared to write him off as a fluke simply because of that.

[( o Y o )]

Also, he is from karate and not thaiboxing. You would be suprised how many are prepared to write him off as a fluke simply because of that.

My personal post was made from the perspective of why he is not popular in japan so much. This point, while I can understand it would in other countries, would not be held against him here ;-)

[HolyRamenEmpire]

From what I read here, I speculate Schilt made the formalistic change from Ashihara to Seidokaikan just to meet the demand/expectation of K1? If any, I wonder how many non-Seidokaikan/non-kyokushinkai karate fighters are featured in K1?

Semmy's advantage and disadvantage is his physic and his motion. He'd still get more popularity if he could KO more often. That'd spice up his robotic progression of fights. We'd not expect to see any fancy actions but we'd have our heart beating for the KO.

Right now, I just expect him to win by JD, with no accelaration in attack tempo.

Central, minor correction Schilt has changed karate style 2 times. He was never in kyokushin. He started out in "ashihara international", with dave Jonkers as instructor, and changed from Ashihara to Seidokaikan.
Ashihara international cooperates closely with Jon Bluming«s "Kyokushin budo kai" in the martial art umbrella organisation "international budo kai" (where Bluming and Jonkers are co-founders), but they are separate styles. Bluming has talked about Semmy as "his" student on occation, but he has never been Semmys instructor.

Also Dave Jonkers is still Semmys instructor, coach and cornerman even after the switch to seidokaikan, this despite him also being the head of ashihara international in europe. So I dont think he earned that many enemies in ashihara international when switching toseidokaikan.


As for why some people dont like him. They look at his size and think "freak". They watch his techniques and think "awkward". They dont look how he uses them, and what he acomplish with them.
Also, he is from karate and not thaiboxing. You would be suprised how many are prepared to write him off as a fluke simply because of that.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

Central, minor correction Schilt has changed karate style 2 times. He was never in kyokushin. He started out in "ashihara international", with dave Jonkers as instructor, and changed from Ashihara to Seidokaikan.
Ashihara international cooperates closely with Jon Bluming´s "Kyokushin budo kai" in the martial art umbrella organisation "international budo kai" (where Bluming and Jonkers are co-founders), but they are separate styles. Bluming has talked about Semmy as "his" student on occation, but he has never been Semmys instructor.

Also Dave Jonkers is still Semmys instructor, coach and cornerman even after the switch to seidokaikan, this despite him also being the head of ashihara international in europe. So I dont think he earned that many enemies in ashihara international when switching toseidokaikan.


As for why some people dont like him. They look at his size and think "freak". They watch his techniques and think "awkward". They dont look how he uses them, and what he acomplish with them.
Also, he is from karate and not thaiboxing. You would be suprised how many are prepared to write him off as a fluke simply because of that.

Thanks Martin. I've heard otherwise but you seem to have produced more details, so I'll take everything you say as the truth.

[Grant Ellis]

Some people just have to earn respect the hard way.

You can be a champion, you can beat everyone, you can dominate your sport, but always there will be some people who don't like you.

Boxing legend Marvin Hagler fought 40 or 50 fights before the public and inside experts alike considered him a "pretty good" fighter.

Give him a few more years of dominance and he will probably have an enormous bandwagon.

[Anjew]

Well, I never believed much in Sem until the 2005 final when I finally realised that his KO loss to Iggy was rather an accident and he really has tools to dominate the top of K1 for quite a time... Respect, no doubt.

[Grant Ellis]

It is all about image and marketing. K-1 are going to give him as little as possible, and Semmy really doesn`t give him anything to work with either (when given the chance in interviews etc). Sem is oing to have to learn to play the game, and in so doing K-1 will put a bit more behind him.


Kind of reminds me of MMA fighter Matt Hughes.

Matt Hughes has been a dominate welterweight forever, and was champion in 2001.

Five years at the top and just now the American public is learning his name.

Matt was a rather quiet individual for a long time.

He was criticized on his first PKW interview as having "absolutely zero personality."

You're right, it's all what the fighter can give the promoters to market.

[Shinbone]

I think it has a lot to do with his robotic style as well as his Drago ( from Rocky look)

It surprises me that Iggy is being so hyped up even when his current level isn't that great.

If we're taking a look at both fighters appearences, then Iggy looks more a farmer to me than Schilt. Iggy has that sleepy image, his hair looks awful, doesn't speak English,is inconsistent and yet everybody likes him, why?

On the other hand Schilt, is always in good condition, always consistent, always pressuring the fight, had some great KO's and most of the fans dislike him.

I'm being told that he (Schilt) answers only with "yes"and "no" during interviews. Well, I think Aerts is doing not much better in English either.

We have a Dutch saying: Every bird sings how it has been born. ( rough translation)

You can't change someone's character, let the actions speaks for itself in the ring.
I hope you guys see my point, we have to accept that everybody is unique in its owm way, people should not try to change people.

[Dado]

I was never a big fan but Im definately starting to respect him now. I like the fact he doesent have big mouth and he is really one of the gentlemen in K-1 like Aerts is.

He fights very well and he pulls of some very good combinations. His sheer workrate is admirable for a middleweight let alone someone of his size. He is definately to be respected and I have grown to like him more now as he is taking fights every month!

[technocrat]

King of Pancrase, decent fights in the UFC, fights in PrideFC against world class fighters like Fedor, Nog and Kharitanov and now K-1 champion. How can you not respect this guy?

[ArtOfWar]

Somehow I fail to give respect to Semmy. Its not his fault at all, but I think he has been winning all these years primarily because of his reach and height advantage. There is no rule against it but it gives him an unfair advantage. I'd like to see him against people who can match or neutralize this; LeBanner, Sefo (when not ill), Iggy etc and then, if he successfully beats them, I'll bow down.

Just a personal preference although I think he's a fine person really.

[BEEF]

I was never a big fan but Im definately starting to respect him now. I like the fact he doesent have big mouth and he is really one of the gentlemen in K-1 like Aerts is.

He fights very well and he pulls of some very good combinations. His sheer workrate is admirable for a middleweight let alone someone of his size. He is definately to be respected and I have grown to like him more now as he is taking fights every month!


Exactly my thoughts...

[BEEF]

Somehow I fail to give respect to Semmy. Its not his fault at all, but I think he has been winning all these years primarily because of his reach and height advantage. There is no rule against it but it gives him an unfair advantage. I'd like to see him against people who can match or neutralize this; LeBanner, Sefo (when not ill), Iggy etc and then, if he successfully beats them, I'll bow down.

Just a personal preference although I think he's a fine person really.

I used to think the same. Semmy, however, is nothing like the other behemoths of K1. He has decent technique, great stamina(better than many guys smaller than him), and he pushes the fight (unlike fighters like Musashi). He definitely has a major advantage due to his size, but at least, unlike some other people, he actually uses it.

[Tommy_Arashikage]

I respect Semmy for taking on the schedule K-1 has given him post-GP. Hoost, Aerts, Musashi, and Lloyd Van Dams is certainly no pushover either. Props to Semmy for taking them all on, and going 3-1 in the process.

[migs]

As mentioned, his interviews are lackluster to say the least. Maybe he is just quiet but he comes across like he has a head injury....fans don't look for that.

Also, at Pride 16 I met a few fighters and Semmy was the least inviting of all. I wasn't bugging him or trying to get his photo or anything...I suddenly founf myself walking right by him and said "Hey Semmy Schilt" and he put his head down and passed on by. About 30 feet away from me some Japanese dudes started going bananas calling his name like he was John Lennon and he didn't go for that iether...he just rushed by and looked away.

From what I have seen, he is not a marketable personality.


Huge respect for his skills but K-1 wants more I am sure...as do lots of fans.

[Razor Bump]

I'm suprised they have not pushed more with his Drago look.... Especially when he came to Vegas. I'm clue less why they dont grab him and make a machine (marketing). It's so easy. Once he get's knocked out he will not be the same so I hope they figure it out soon.

A fighter should just have to worry about fighting. Let the promotion break things down for him and his manager. However if he is not willing to give more of himself to the public..... then it's his own fault and he will miss out on mega bucks.

[MZN]

In Dutch interviews he's actually more verbose than Remy who mostly doesn't know what to awnser. Sem just keeps rambling on about nothing other than the truth.

Thing is that he could be timid to express himself in English. It may sound weird because he's confident enough to step into the ring with some very fearsome fighters but trying to express yourself well in another language could be completely different. I see it happen all the time.

Hoost for example daren't try bungee jumping but stepping into the ring however is no problem. I'd choose bungee jumping over a three rounder with JlB anyday...

[Dado]

In Dutch interviews he's actually more verbose than Remy who mostly doesn't know what to awnser. Sem just keeps rambling on about nothing other than the truth.

Thing is that he could be timid to express himself in English. It may sound weird because he's confident enough to step into the ring with some very fearsome fighters but trying to express yourself well in another language could be completely different. I see it happen all the time.

Hoost for example daren't try bungee jumping but stepping into the ring however is no problem. I'd choose bungee jumping over a three rounder with JlB anyday...

I agree with you. I saw his Dutch interviews and he is actually rather talkative. Perhaps he doesent have the vocabulary to express himself in English.

And I also think Razor Bump makes a good point that the promoter should market the fighter and not make him worry about the image and just to fight. Unfortunately K-1 isnt like that which pisses me off to no ends.

And I would rather fight JLB than bungee jump!

[LethalSassonic]

Schilt is underappreciated, but a champion has to be marketable so it's partially Schilt's fault, he needs more flair, he is the top fighter now for sure, but it takes more than that to be endeared and protected by the organization.

[migs]

In Dutch interviews he's actually more verbose than Remy who mostly doesn't know what to awnser. Sem just keeps rambling on about nothing other than the truth.

Thing is that he could be timid to express himself in English. It may sound weird because he's confident enough to step into the ring with some very fearsome fighters but trying to express yourself well in another language could be completely different. I see it happen all the time.

Hoost for example daren't try bungee jumping but stepping into the ring however is no problem. I'd choose bungee jumping over a three rounder with JlB anyday...

That's interesting about Semmy being talkative. I would never have guessed it...that's cool though.

[Lord Gaul]

You know reading these post makes me want to come out and take Semmy's side and act as if I was on the band wagon all along. True is I am not a fan of his style and he has such a physical advantage that I almost always back the upset guy. I have picked him to lose every fight, but the Musashi fight since he won the title and its not that I don't like him its just that I don't like his style and would rather see some one defeat him. I think he is very accomplished and I respect him alot as a fighter. He sort of reminds of how people looked at Matt Skelton, but surprisingly I like Skelton. I almost see Schilt as the opposite of Koaklai and I don't like his style either.

[Bullseye]

Sorry Im not a fan, and probably never will be. The only reason he gets away with stuff is because he is so big same as Sapp except with more skill (which isnt hard). If Semmy was the same size as the rest of the division he'd get destroyed, as would all the rest of the freaks. Id rather have K-1 heavies have a weight limit of 120 kilos, then you could have a freak division where Sapp, Choi, Silva, and Shilt can all provide us with laughs. Ive never been a fan of an open weight division, doesnt make sense to me.

[technocrat]

Sorry Im not a fan, and probably never will be. The only reason he gets away with stuff is because he is so big same as Sapp except with more skill (which isnt hard). If Semmy was the same size as the rest of the division he'd get destroyed, as would all the rest of the freaks. Id rather have K-1 heavies have a weight limit of 120 kilos, then you could have a freak division where Sapp, Choi, Silva, and Shilt can all provide us with laughs. Ive never been a fan of an open weight division, doesnt make sense to me.
A bit harsh to say Schilt belongs in a freak division just because of his height and weight.
Schilt has a bigger martial arts backfround than most K-1 fighters. His style might not be pretty, but that's normal for someone his size.

[heckyl]

um, why would he get destroyed? elaborate there please because i dont agree with your assessment of schilt at all. sounds like we got a hater in the house is all. same as Sapp but with more skill. wow.

[AKA]

Sorry Im not a fan, and probably never will be. The only reason he gets away with stuff is because he is so big same as Sapp except with more skill (which isnt hard). If Semmy was the same size as the rest of the division he'd get destroyed, as would all the rest of the freaks. Id rather have K-1 heavies have a weight limit of 120 kilos, then you could have a freak division where Sapp, Choi, Silva, and Shilt can all provide us with laughs. Ive never been a fan of an open weight division, doesnt make sense to me.
Wowwwwwwwww!
If he was smaller, his skills will simply be very different, he will be less powerful but faster for example.
Its kinda an insult to Sem and a true fighter like him to call him a FREAK!
I think he proved more than once and not only in 1 sport (he has also a huge MMA experience) that he was a top athlete.

About Choi and Sapp, they did improve a lot, and honestly I think that Choi has some potential....OK he is a giant but still a human, he deserves the right to fight like all the other fighters with his strengh (size, power) and weakness (slow, not skilful). Btw, like u I dont appreciate the FREAKS, I think that Sapp and Akebono are/were an insult to fans, but in JPN people appreciate that. With an occidental point of view: off course it seems to be stupid, pointless. But with a japanese point of view its very different: they adore that kind of show, they have a martial spirit different than ours etc... and we have TO RESPECT that.

My main point is that u are wrong to consider Sem as a freak, simply because he is not one! Its not really a question of opinion. IMHO its a fact: Sem is a top K1/MMA fighter.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

I think Mark Hunt is a freak. No one should be allowed to fight with a chin like that. If Mirko gets a clean high kick scored, that should be the end of the fight. Sorry but that is the way I feel!

[Shinbone]

If Schilt is a freak then we could say that Ray Sefo is a freak as well. Because taunting and clowning in the ring has nothing to do with kickboxing/sport, does it?

[El Presidente]

If Schilt is a freak then we could say that Ray Sefo is a freak as well. Because taunting and clowning in the ring has nothing to do with kickboxing/sport, does it?

Enough.

Bullseye is entitled to his opinion. Dont start crucifying him AND Ray Sefo over it.

[Shinbone]

Sorry for being a bit rude, but I was a little upset, calling someone a freak is actually an insult. Off course Bullseye is entitled to his opinion,and I don't want to crucify him or Ray, but the word freak is not a kind expression for someone who has achieved and has done a lot for the sport for many years.

[Razor Bump]

Lol with Maks Head stll laughing....

Sapp is an athlete and he beat the best K-1 athlete Hoost. Choi is not bad either. Semmy is tough with a good game plan. Nice Teep vicious knees and he him my man Freddy Kamayo with a nice round house! They are all athletes and the fact that he can destroy them should not dq Semmy or Sapp or Choi from anyone's graces.

Except that Mark Hunt.... if Silva socks you should give up.

[migs]

Schilt is the most skilled of the huge fighters but I think a lot of fans feel like myself. It is just difficult to cheer for them because they have a distinct advantage and don't need the skills that the smaller fighters need to succeed. For a guy like Leko with smallish bone structure to succeed, he needs ridiculous talent and heart...whereas a guy like Schilt can succeed with just relatively decent skills.

Schilt is certainly more skilled than Sapp or even Choi but his size it does make it slightly less impressive when he crushes people...if Musashi or Sefo were on the tear that Schilt is on, I would be mindblown and K-1 popularity would be spiking.

[El Presidente]

Just imagine Andy Hug was 7ft... and Semmy was 5'10ft

[sparkles]

Didn't read everything here but let me tell you this;

Semmy is a great guy, you can see he comes from karate and he shows the respect in the ring like a real karateka. So as a person I really like his attitude and you can't say anything negative about this.

As a fighter however, I absolutely don't like him. It's like he's made from wood. He moves very robotic and he doesn't have a sweet style like you would expect from a K-1 champion. He fights ugly.

He's fighting a lot these days and that's only to his advantage. He will be in top shape in the finals and will probably get the crown again ...

[Mago]

I think Mark Hunt is a freak. No one should be allowed to fight with a chin like that. If Mirko gets a clean high kick scored, that should be the end of the fight. Sorry but that is the way I feel!

Hahaha, thats very funny!!! :D :D :D I distinctly thought the same thing when I saw the 2003 fight, that was sick, he just got up and kept pressuring... and then again in MMA... I miss Hunt, but I'm happy he's confortable in Pride.

[Cracked_Knuckle]

I think Semm has the honor of being the most disliked K-1 champion ever. There should be a poll set up for an extra catagory on the CKO page.

I would happy vote that I don't like him. Yeah, I respect his destruction of fighters in earning the title, and he scored some nice bonus points stopping Hoost....but god-fucking-damn he is boring as watching paint dry IMHO.

His robotic style does nothing to stir my loins, and the his fights this year have all been hug-fests. The guy seems to know exactly how to force his oponts into clinching as he just walks straight through punching range and ineffectively punches down when belly to belly with whoever he is fighting. Not much fucking choice there for anyone but to clinch, and he is not above wrapping his left arm over the shoulder to further encorage it.

Was not a fan of his and never cheered for him since he set the wheels in motion ta make Sapp a star and Hoost a four time champon. In his fights this year, I aint seen anything that would turn me into a fan either.

You know, Kaoklai is a skilled fighter too, but I am not fan of his for similar reasons. What they show in the ring. And I don't really take offense to either of them being called a freak when yu compare them to the rest of the real fighters (which they both are) in the same weight division.

[LethalSassonic]

Schilt may not be especially "liked" because of all the reasons mentioned, lack of flair, robotic, giant, evil looking etc...but there is no real reason to "dislike" him, he is a kind person, has no ego, and he fights fair. So while he may not be everyone's favorite, there is no reason to hate the guy. By the way, I have no problem admitting Schilt is simply the best Stand-up fighter right now, period.

[( o Y o )]

By the way, I have no problem admitting Schilt is simply the best Stand-up fighter right now, period.

You think? Certainly not pound for pound; and his defense really does rely an awful lot on his opponent not being able to reach him at times.

He is good, no doubt....I think Aerts is a way more balanced fighter though....as are a few other fighters there.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

To make an exciting fight, it is up to match makers. Sem's job is to win and he does it pretty damn well. Sapp needed Kakuda and tomato cans to get the wins. Sem has beaten 2 GP champs and taken the CKO #1 rank in the past 7 months.

Big Kudos for his work rate. He has fought more times than even Gary Goodridge.

[LethalSassonic]

You think? Certainly not pound for pound; and his defense really does rely an awful lot on his opponent not being able to reach him at times.

He is good, no doubt....I think Aerts is a way more balanced fighter though....as are a few other fighters there.
Pound-for-Pound is a whole different discussion. I'm just saying if you put anyone else in the opposite corner as Schilt, then Schilt is the favorite to win under K-1 rules. Nobody should be favored one-on-one in kickboxing versus Schilt.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

Pound for pound is pretty irrelevant in 3-round open-weight fights. Semmy won the GP at 126kg and now fights at 130kg.

I'd pick Jerome to beat Semmy. If he couldn't KO him, he could at least reverse the decision. Most popular versus least popular.

[LethalSassonic]

Pound for pound is pretty irrelevant in 3-round open-weight fights. Semmy won the GP at 126kg and now fights at 130kg.

I'd pick Jerome to beat Semmy. If he couldn't KO him, he could at least reverse the decision. Most popular versus least popular.
lol! That's a great post!

[( o Y o )]

I am starting to believe who will beat who depends more on which ref is in the ring with them than the prep the fighters do.

[Razor Bump]

I have to agree with you OYO.... to much favoritisim..... this sh.... is just like boxing except it's so blatant in kickboxing now you dont know if a fighter has a chance unless he get's a knockout.

[LethalSassonic]

I am starting to believe who will beat who depends more on which ref is in the ring with them than the prep the fighters do.
And also who the judges are and what City the K-1 event is in....

[( o Y o )]

^ true, but I think most fighters are somewhat prepared for hometown advantages....what some may not be prepared for is a ref inforcing rules completely differently from fight to fight on the same card depending apon which he hopes will win.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

^ true, but I think most fighters are somewhat prepared for hometown advantages....what some may not be prepared for is a ref inforcing rules completely differently from fight to fight on the same card depending apon which he hopes will win.

Onari couldn't have been more blatant in NZ. Peter got a 10-8 round against Semmy. That is the same score as a knockdown. AAARG!!

[migs]

^ true, but I think most fighters are somewhat prepared for hometown advantages....what some may not be prepared for is a ref inforcing rules completely differently from fight to fight on the same card depending apon which he hopes will win.

Well put.

I guess sometimes the fans aren't prepared iether...I have gone months away from K-1 cause I felt scorned by their "fairness" and didn't want to support them.

[LethalSassonic]

^ true, but I think most fighters are somewhat prepared for hometown advantages....
I'm not sure about that. JLB against Remy would have gone for broke and somehow knocked Remy down maybe if he knew, and Sefo maybe the same vs Musashi, Ruslan also thought he won vs Musashi, BUT FEITOSA CLEARLY KNEW HE HAD TO KTFO OF MUSASHI!

[Matasorapit]

Yay, another "why is K1 so screwed up topic".

I think that the fight with Peter was a little funny and how Choi won after being kicked to the mat (not a slip-but I am unsure of K1's rules...then again K1 is also unsure of their rules), he had a tea party for a cut and a chat with his corner to catch up on the latest news while Semmy was made to stand and watch....

It was interesting seeing Schilt and Choi, they looked like normal sized fighters for the first time, I think Choi did well but not well enough. That saying of pick on someone your own size is applicable here.

Good luck to Semmy, at first I was a doubter but now I am a full pledge supporter.

[( o Y o )]

That saying of pick on someone your own size is applicable here.

Good luck to Semmy, at first I was a doubter but now I am a full pledge supporter.

confusing....

[Cracked_Knuckle]

well, his performance in Korea did nothing but lessen my respect for him in ther ring.

And anyone bitching that Choi was too big for him need to slap yourself in the head. Every fucker that fights Semmy is faced with the same problem. Besides, Remy had no troubles with Choi and Sem pwnt him twice!

[Farrier]

I think Semm has the honor of being the most disliked K-1 champion ever. There should be a poll set up for an extra catagory on the CKO page.

I would happy vote that I don't like him. .

Wishful thinking from youre side?
You only see what your eyes want to see.
In korea people stalked Semmy into restaurants and i am talking about 100 or more.
Sem doesn`t recieve his payment on behalve of guy`s like you sitting behind keyboard`s and downloading fights,so what`s interesting in setting up/and the results/outcomes of polls from the "real experts" .you tell me

[Cracked_Knuckle]

Wishful thinking from youre side?
You only see what your eyes want to see.

Yeah, nice one. If it was wishful thinking I"da wrote "I hope" not "I think".


In korea people stalked Semmy into restaurants and i am talking about 100 or more.

Is there a point? I'd almost bet both nuts if Sapp was there he'd ge getting 10 to 1 people following him around compared to Sem, but Sapp aint got no respect as a fighter either.

Sem doesn`t recieve his payment on behalve of guy`s like you sitting behind keyboard`s and downloading fights,so what`s interesting in setting up/and the results/outcomes of polls from the "real experts" .you tell me

Sem does get paid on his popularity. I do own some official DVDs and have even bought a tshirt or two. How much official things do you own that makes you feel your opinion of better than mine?

Take a look at the results on here from all the votes after each event he was fought in by the japanese fans. That shit counts as to how much he gets paid, and he is doing rather fucking poorly. As the current champ he didn't even make the top five fighters of the Korean event which was full of noones.