Held on October 2, 2010 the K – 1 World Grand Prix featured ten fights to determine the challengers for the K1 World GP Finals to be held in December. The final 16 fighters for the K1 Grand Prix gathered the winners of K1 elimination tournaments held across the world combining legendary kick boxers and young guns to produce an exciting night of fights.
K – 1 World GP 2010 Final 16
Headliner Alistair Overeem made quick work of Australian Ben Edwards with a quick first round knockout. Edwards began quickly, unleashing a variety of combinations, but lacked the power to dent Overeem who patiently stalked his opponent. A quick right hook sent Edwards to the floor, and while he beat the count Overeem continued to back him up until dropping him with an overhand right against the ropes. Edwards gut through the count of the second knockdown before Alistair Overeem dropped him again to earn a spot among the final eight fighters for December’s tournament.
With multiple K1 Championships, Semmy Schilt produced a workman like effort over the game Hesdy Gerges taking a decision after three rounds. Timid at first, Gerges managed to back Schilt up in the third but lacked the ability to finesse a win from the gigantic Schilt who continues his enormous success in K1. Fighting on short notice, Mighty Mo took a victory over the young Romanian Raul Catinas. Catinas began by utilizing outside leg kicks but failed to follow through on his strategy by being drawn into a brawl with the power puncher Mo. Cantinas, heaving in the second round, ate body shots before both fighters entered tired into a third round slug fest which gave Mighty Mo a decision win.
K1 veteran and champion, Peter Aerts looked in his best physical and fighting shape in years while Ewerton Teixeira produced a great performance before coming up short. Teixeira used quicker hands and low kicks in a fast paced fight that Aerts managed to take to a draw. In the extra round Aerts was able to push the pace and take away the decision win. Veteran Jerome Le Banner was stymied by Kyotaro who earned a spot among the final eight fighters. Kyotaro spent the first round circling Le Banner, running around the ring picking his shots before Jerome Le Banner managed to take the fight into a brawl in the second round. Kyotaro survived Le Banner’s power and took over the third round punishing his tiring opponent. Upon the announcement of a draw and an extra round, Banner walks from the ring giving Kyotaro a deserved win.
Daniel Ghita outfought Errol Zimmerman despite meeting Zimmerman’s combinations with potshots to the leg through the first round. The second round saw Ghita launch a blitz of punches with three quick hits to the chin sending Zimmerman to the ground for a KO victory. One of the smaller fighters of the tournament, an intense Gokhan Saki from Turkey punished Frenchman Freddy Kemayo. Saki led a fast pace with quick combinations leading to a right hook that stunned Kemayo and quickly led him to the canvas. An uppercut, right cross combination put Kemayo down again, and although he beat the count, Saki swarmed him with a punching flurry leading the referee to call off the fight in the first.
Power puncher Ray Sefo met Tyrone Spong in a fight of experience versus youth. Trading combinations throughout the first round, the Ernesto Hoost trained Spong began to control the range in the second round with a frequency of kicks to the leg, front kicks, and jumping knees. Tyrone Spong continued to unload strikes on the durable Sefo throughout the third round to take a decision victory.
With a tournament format to be fought at the finals in December, alternate fights become a way to substitute into the Grand Prix. MMA veteran and Sambo stylist Sergei Kharitonov showed good form in outclassing Takumi Sato. Karitonov used his heavy hands to mix hooks and uppercuts to handily knockout Sato in the first round. Dzevad Poturak frustrated Chalid “Die Faust” with low kicks and punches before Chalid’s corner threw in the towel due to an injured leg.
The K – 1 Tournament Finals 2010
Eight Fighters moved on from the K1 World GP in Seoul, Korea to the finals in Japan to be held in December.
- Alistair Overeem (Holland)
- Semmy Schilt (Holland)
- Mighty Mo (USA)
- Peter Aerts (Holland)
- Kyotaro (Japan)
- Daniel Ghita (Romania)
- Gokhan Saki (Turkey)
- Tyrone Spong (Suriname/Holland)
Brian Jungwiwattanaporn - Living an eclectic life, Brian has found online writing a great way to share and explore his interests. Having recently complete a ...
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