K-1 recomposing??

[K1power]

I think slowly but surely K-1 is getting as good as they used to be or even better. With the promotion of the upcoming ROTR event under the newly formed "K-1 Fighting Network" I see K-1 getting very big. I'm not even mentioning tomorrows GREAT looking K-1/NJKF card. Some freaks are acceptable considering the majority of good fighters and bouts that we'll get to see. People are mention Pride having only quality fighters and stuff but K-1 has waaay more fighters than any organisation I can think of. Pride has quality fighters but only a small selection. K-1 has all kinds of fighters. Some are arguably below average but they can still profile themselves into better fighters as they get more experience plus we never get to see the same fighters all the time. Of Course K-1 has fighters that aren't popular with certain people, but others might like them anyway. Besides that there are many quality and elite fighters in K-1. You can argue all you want but I don't see any organisation catching up to K-1 because despite some past (and maybe upcoming) flaws in K-1's management they're always coming up with new idea's to keep K-1 exciting. For example I prefer stand-up way over MMA, but I must say that I pretty much enjoyed the K-1 Romanex fights. You must consider that Romanex is still just in its initial phase and still brought some high quality bouts. That in itself is pretty impressive, because we can't say the same thing about Pride (in the beginning of Pride there were a lot of fake matches and freaks to draw attention). I'm not even counting UFC because I think it only has cans fighting in it and I think that the better K-1 fighters would kill the best UFC has to offer even under MMA rules.

[K1power]

Having said that I'm really looking forward to the results of the upcoming TITAN show. :D

[MZN]

For example I prefer stand-up way over MMA, but I must say that I pretty much enjoyed the K-1 Romanex fights. You must consider that Romanex is still just in its initial phase and still brought some high quality bouts. That in itself is pretty impressive, because we can't say the same thing about Pride (in the beginning of Pride there were a lot of fake matches and freaks to draw attention). I'm not even counting UFC because I think it only has cans fighting in it and I think that the better K-1 fighters would kill the best UFC has to offer even under MMA rules.

Prefering standup over MMA is a purely personal thing. But when watching MMA you have to apreciate the groundwork. Someone said once: "without the grapling MMA is just bad kickboxing".

The big problem for ufc is or are dollars. They cannot afford keeping their champions cuz Pancrase, k-1 and Pride can buy them pretty easily. That said I think ufc does not treat their champions like they should. This all combined with loads and loads of injured ufc has a problem right now although I think there are enough fighters out there who could show their skills in ufc, enough smaller events to pick from.

When sticking to the main subject of this thread :): I think k-1 is making a turn for the better indeed. The final eight is composed of a card with pretty much a high standard. That combined with the k-1/njkf card and the rotr thingie, they are heading in the right direction. I am also a bit weary of that rotr event, people like Wes Sims and Cabbage were not preforming very well in ufc. And Tom "the green beret" Howard is not much of a fighter imho....

[K1power]

I am also a bit weary of that rotr event, people like Wes Sims and Cabbage were not preforming very well in ufc. And Tom "the green beret" Howard is not much of a fighter imho.... I know what you're aiming at, but I'm talking fighters Like BJ Penn, Royler & Rodrigo ( I don't like the Gracies, but hey), Yoshihiro Nakao. BTW it will be a good test to see how Carter will do against a not so great fighter. If he handles the situation well they can match him up with bigger names respectively.

[K1power]

BTW In my original statement I forgot to mention K-1 MAX. This is one BIG reason for K-1 to gain even more popularity, as there is not even room for freaks due to weight restrictions and there is a very big high talent pool in this weight class.

[MZN]

I agree on post 4 and 5, but I have to clean my ginea pig's cage first :)

[Titan]

It's an overall initiative, I think. Some critique on K-1 given in 2003 can be found in this broschure:

http://kakutougi.info/content/view/19/36/

K-1 MMA is a great initiative. I'm happy for the "UFC fighters" that get to go there and earn better money for their hard work. Money talks and it'll heat up the competition. I think the MMA will get good sales. TITANs is a just wonderful thing. Some great talent stacked on the card. While the K-1 GP sometimes seem to be directed by sentimental values, like having the great fighters in the final at any costs (i.e. Tanigawa's latest note that JLB may/will take a spot in the finals if Kaoklai gets injured), TITANs is a lot of talent.

In short, I think K-1 is heading the right direction. The MMA is getting bigger and better. I thought the first Romanex, for example, was quite action-filled. Quite a contrast to the Pride-show that went at the same time which consisted of more technical bouts. I think they're now initially going for action and we'll see where they go from there. K-1 MAX got its clean-up after the Buakaw vs Masato finals where the referees were reprimended for their poor decisions. K-1 MMA, MAX, and the TITANs events seem solid. K-1 HWGP is still a little too influenced by sentimental values. A "little" too produced and directed, it feels like. It can only change for the better!

[Mago]

Totally agree with you guys. I get the feeling that one thing that really contributes to K1's success is it's myth image in the kickboxing world, a image that was built in it's golden era but lasts to this day. You can often find comments from new guys stating just how pleased and honoured they are to be finnally a part of the K1 universe, and how unknown fighters are motivated by the idea of performing spectacularly and "getting K1's attention" ; even for a distant fan like me it is probably right to say that there's a feeling that K1 is something else (not putting down any other traditional event though, like Thailand's of course and more), and that only the very best are likely to succeed once competing on it. I think it works to give K1 this magic "aura", that makes fighters give their best everytime, and create this sense of respect and commitment that any person can notice. That's why I was so concerned about the direction K1 was leading itself with all that freakshow mania: I think it's K1 history and reputation which is a big draw for outsiders fighters, and if the org can keep this course in the future, there will never lack promising talents trying to prove themselves in there. ;)

[Raziel]

That "back to the core" thing is very respectable, but there's still the problem of the lack of talents. There's no way K-1 has today the same potential than in the beginning. K-1's worlwide success had a lot to do with a golden generation of exceptionnal fighters, the likes of Cikatic, Hoost, Aerts, Hug, Greco, Bernardo, LeBanner and so on. Who are the young fighters today who can be their successors? I only see Carter Williams and Badr Hari. Not much.