Kaoklai, Bernardo or JLB in the GP?????

[( o Y o )]

http://forum.kakutougi.info/showthread.php?p=5159#post5159

That thread is strictly not K-1, but effects it so I thought I`d link it up.

[Raziel]

I whined for months about Hoost getting a second chance in 2002 after his loss at the hands of Sapp so I'm not going to approve LeBanner getting a free ticket to the Dome. This is just complete bullshit. And Bernardo? What has he done lately to deserve a spot in the finals? Why not Filho who defeated the reigning champion earlier this year?

[Titan]

I agree with you. It's a tad "directed" to get the favorites into the finals. Together with the newcomer Mighty Mo. There's so much politics in the HWGP game still. However, the other divisions seem to have taken care of business. On the topic of K-1 HWGP, I was recently asked by K-1's press who was my "sentimental favorite and why", and I think my following response fits right into this picture:

"Michael McDonald. He's been screwed over several times year after year. This year, nobody can say it's fair that Mighty Mo that lost the tournament McDonald won gets to qualify towards the finals in the Las Vegas B-level event against easier opposition. Mighty Mo won a lesser event and gets to fight Gary Goodridge. McDonald won the tougher and more prestigeous event and gets to might Peter Aerts. It should be the other way around. In essence, you have everything to gain from losing the "difficult" LVGP so you move into the B-level and get an easier route to the finals. That's not right. Nobody can name 1 fighter that has ever had a more difficult road on their way to the GP finals than Michael McDonald. All the fighters in there now has been there year after year on more or less merit so I have no sentimental favorite in there. Perhaps part of the problem is having sentimental favorites, thus it looking pretty much the same over and over."

[El Presidente]

If Bernardo beats Kaoklai beyond any chance of competing in the finals - then I think the only replacement that should take his place should be Bernardo himself. I dont see why Bernardo should make an opening for JLB.

Mike has done comparitively more than JLB this year - beating Petar Majstorovic for the WKA Title in Basel.

Filho... is an unfortunate blank space in this topic. He beat the reigning Champ fair and square and didnt get an invite to Osaka - while Goodrige and Feitosa got an invite
instead who beat lesser opposition in the year.

If Mike beats Kaoklai he should take his place in the GP if the Thai is in no condition to compete. Simple as that. Not too happy with the politics... Kaoklai earned his spot in the GP and fought like hell to get there. It would be a shame to see him lose out this way. Im a big fan of Mike... but I always back the underdog / little guy.

So Im torn on this one...

[Raziel]

Mike Bernardo has nothing to do in the K-1 GP. His "win" over Majstorovic was extremely controversial, he was booed by the entire Basel crowd after a more than unconvincing fight.

[( o Y o )]

Mike Bernardo has nothing to do in the K-1 GP.

Perhaps correct, BUT he has done far more than JLB.

He at least entered a qualifying tournament, willing to do it the hard way. He lost due to a headbutt and a double attack in the clinch....both illegal moves anyway.

JLB beat one guy that had a days notice for the fight and had zero kickboxing experience. We can all assume had Mike been given such a gift he`d have KO`d the guy too. JLB then gave a boxer his first win in K-1.

Both have less of a claim to the spot than Filho, whom I think has less of a claim than Abidi whose fight against Musashi was closer than the other fights that night givebn a "draw"

All of the above whim have les to bitch about re entry to the GP than McD, for previously said reasons

[Raziel]

McDonald has been given chances to establish himself by defeating big names and never managed to do it. I don't think he really deserves a spot in the finals. And the guy who got badly screwed is definitly Peter Graham.

[( o Y o )]

McD has won the LV tourny 3 times and arguably beat Remy in last years that put Remy in the GP. That should qualify him but they put him against Semmy ( who just beat Hoost and then beat Remy ) and then changed the holding knee rule dirrectly AFTER this fight. Mo, who wins and easier tourny and who lost in the one McD won, gets to fight a fighter that McDs opponent just hospitalized when they met. Not exactly an equal playing feild.

Graham is the king of screwed.

[chak-wyk]

we waiting for the new sensation BADR Hari

[Wobewt]

we waiting for the new sensation BADR Hari

Yeah, those words was said for Carter Williams this year, too.
But, where he is now?

We'll see for Badr, I hope he'll get some strong opponent. He's very good fighter, I would like to see him fight in K1 more often.

[kentaro]

Kaoklai because he qualified by winning the K-1 Seoul GP and defeating Ignashov.

[MZN]

"Michael McDonald. He's been screwed over several times year after year. This year, nobody can say it's fair that Mighty Mo that lost the tournament McDonald won gets to qualify towards the finals in the Las Vegas B-level event against easier opposition. Mighty Mo won a lesser event and gets to fight Gary Goodridge. McDonald won the tougher and more prestigeous event and gets to might Peter Aerts. It should be the other way around. In essence, you have everything to gain from losing the "difficult" LVGP so you move into the B-level and get an easier route to the finals. That's not right. Nobody can name 1 fighter that has ever had a more difficult road on their way to the GP finals than Michael McDonald. All the fighters in there now has been there year after year on more or less merit so I have no sentimental favorite in there. Perhaps part of the problem is having sentimental favorites, thus it looking pretty much the same over and over."

I agree on the fact that McD deserves more chances than he got but I don't agree that Mighty Mo had an easier qualification. The event boasted Jorgen Kruth, Alex Ustinov (who won two european events), Carter Williams (!), Brecht Wallis (k-1 Scandinavia) and Sergei Gur who is not a pushover either.
That said it was a pitty that Mo did not meet the best of them. But considering that McD had to fight Dewey Cooper and Kelly Leo (not up to par for k-1 imho) and japanese fighters who weren't at their best.

I say the level was pretty mutch even for both....

[( o Y o )]

IThat said it was a pitty that Mo did not meet the best of them. But considering that McD had to fight Dewey Cooper and Kelly Leo (not up to par for k-1 imho) and japanese fighters who weren't at their best.



Kelly was a replacement no? As was Mo`s second fight.

McD did fight dewey in the end, but let not forget who dewey had just beaten to qualify ;-)

[Titan]

Like (o Y o) says, even remembering who Dewey just beat and who Mo just beat, I still think the continued road to the GP is easier versus Goodridge than Aerts.

[MZN]

Eh :) the admins are on to me :D.

And eh Kelly Leo won a unanimous decision over eh Tomihira if I'm right.

[( o Y o )]

And eh Kelly Leo won a unanimous decision over eh Tomihira if I'm right.

LOL...what a BS JD that was. Tomi won each round, slips and loses....hell, even the US crowed boo`d if I remember correctly.

[Titan]

LOL...what a BS JD that was. Tomi won each round, slips and loses....hell, even the US crowed boo`d if I remember correctly.
Worst decision of the night. Sometimes, you just wonder what's going on there.

[-=[DM]=-]

Worst decision of the night. Sometimes, you just wonder what's going on there.

mm I remember that fight. Horrible descision, Tomi did all the work in that fight and it seemed like the judges took advantage of his slip to give leo the win. Bias judging.

[mega_man]

Politics and money. It`s a shame these to get associated anf f**k the sport .