Apologies for the lack of build-up to this, I completely forgot it was on. With UFC 100 and the Darchinyan fight (mainly UFC 100) this just got overlooked. I’ve just finished all of the fights and October’s Final Four is set and we’re guaranteed a newbie in the Final. Former champions Buakaw Por. Pramuk and Andy Souwer will do battle in one semi final with the winner to face the winner of Giorgio Petrosyan and Yuya Yamamoto, who upset DRAGO by unanimous decision in a war to book an unlikely spot in the Final. DRAGO battered Yamamoto for the 2nd half of the first round and again early in the 2nd round before the gusty Japanese warrior turned it back on him in what was a back and forth 2nd round. After surviving DRAGO’s early barrage in the 3rd it was all Yuya as he punished DRAGO to steal the decision.
Giorgio Petrosyan ‘upset’ Albert Kraus in the next fight by unanimous decision after taking the former K-1 MAX champion to school. Petrosyan repeatedly made Kraus’ attacks look amateurish and countered him for the full three rounds. While the fight wasn’t the most exciting, it definately cemented Petrosyan as one of the top fighters in MAX right now. The MAX favourite Artur Kyshenko shockingly went out against Andy Souwer, whom he defeated in last years semi finals. Souwer outlasted last years runner-up, outworking him in the extra round to book his 4th consecutive spot in the Final four. The fight started off tactically before the two went to war in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. With barely anything seperating them, Kyshenko just couldn’t handle the pace in the final round and the experienced Souwer turned up the pace to win the decision.
Souwer will do battle with old rival Buakaw in the semi finals after Buakaw outpointed Nieky Holzken in the last quarter final. Buakaw punished the Dutch fighters midsection with knees and kicks while taking little damage in return, putting in one of his best performances of recent times. Holzken was simply outmatched in terms of speed and skill and the decision was undoubtedly Buakaw’s. The semi final with Souwer is the 3rd time the two have met in K-1 with Souwer scoring a split decision in the 2005 final over five brutal rounds and Buakaw avenging the loss the following year, again in the Final, by 2nd round knockout.
Many K-1 MAX fans will be hoping that it is either Buakaw or Souwer who wins this year as the winner is likely to fight MASATO at Dynamite! on new years eve. MASATO battered former PRIDE star and current DREAM Lightweight contender Tatsuya Kawajiri, stopping the dangerous Japanese striker in two one sided rounds. Kawajiri was shown that there is a difference between an elite MMA striker and an elite K-1 striker as he repeatedly tried to brawl with MASATO only to land nothing of real significance while taking heavy counters in return. Kawajiri’s corner mercifully stopped the bout in the 2nd round.
Also on the card Kid Yamamoto was sensationally knocked out by unheralded Jae Hee Cheon in the first round. After rocking Jae in the opening moments, Kid grew aggressive and was countered heavily with a uppercut-left hook combination that knocked him out. It was the 2nd loss in a row for Kid, who bowed out of the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix to two fight rookie Joe Warren in his last outing. Yoshihiro Sato was also victorious, defeating Joerie Mes by split decision after an extra round.
