K-1 Final 16 in Nanjing October 29th

Kreshnik is nowhere near WGP level. Bajrami is decent, he beat Jaideep in July even though I don't think Jaideep is that good

Id rather see Montanha Silva instead of Kreshnik.

What happened to Balrak? Is he in prison or did he just decide to retire? Id like to have seen him included instead of these guys.

Balrak's in prison

im still waiting for everything to finalize........Because this whole event can be canceled at any moment.

Where the fuck is Saki fuck this shit if he isn't in it.

Doku wrote:Where the fuck is Saki fuck this shit if he isn't in it.

No Saki no life

Doku wrote:Where the fuck is Saki fuck this shit if he isn't in it.

too busy leaving Kickboxing

Will There Be a 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix? by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 30, 2011 11:32 AM EDT in K-1 News


.
Will Badr Hari have one last shot at the K-1 Grand Prix crown? Photo by Daniel Herbertson.


View full size photo »
Following the once great K-1 in 2011 has been a maddening experience. The company has long had issues delivering on their promises, but between the rumored shows, bankruptcy, and sale, 2011 has been an especially befuddling year. Now, the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix has entered this same state of confusion. Where do things stand exactly with the event?

Let's see what we can figure out:


•All year, rumors of a 2011 K-1 Grand Prix were decidedly on-agan, off-again. Over the summer, the rights to K-1 were reported as being sold to an unrelated Japanese company, with some possible unnamed investors from the world of international kickboxing. After that sale, rumors continued to circulate, with fighters mentioning being approached to take part in a GP later this year.
•Earlier this month, K-1 officially announced the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix, set to begin with the Final 16 on October 29 in China. Eleven of the 16 participants were officially announced:

Badr Hari (77-11) - 2008 & 2009 K-1 GP runner-up
Hesdy Gerges (39-9-1) - Current It's Showtime Heavyweight champion
Tyrone Spong (67-6-1-1) - 2010 Final 8
Ruslan Karaev (13-9) - 2008 K-1 Taipei champion; 2005 K-1 Las Vegas champion
Daniel Ghita (39-7) - 2010 Final 8; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP champion
Ben Edwards (32-7-2) - 2010 K-1 Oceania GP champion
Melvin Manhoef (37-9) - 2009 Final 16
Dzevad Poturak (47-16-1-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut
Sergei Lascenko (27-9) - 2011 SuperKombat GP champion; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP runner-up
Rico Verhoeven (35-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut
Anderson "Braddock" Silva (29-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut


•Notable in this announcement was the news that It's Showtime would be co-promoting the show. It's Showtime has had a rocky relationship with K-1 in 2011, as they have very publicly spoken about their fighters not being paid, and had a falling out earlier in the year when K-1 pulled out of a planned co-promoted show in Amsterdam, forcing It's Showtime to cancel their yearly super show.
•Shortly after the announcement, 3 more names were rumored additions to the field. Ben Edwards stated that he would be fighting Errol Zimmerman in the Final 16, and both Rustemi Kreshnik and Xhavit Bajrami were also allegedly added, leaving just two remaining spots open.
•Last week, It's Showtime announced the retirement of Badr Hari, and in the midst of that announcement threw the entire Grand Prix into doubt, stating:

If K-1 will host a World Grand Prix this year, Badr will also participate to that. The Grand Prix Final is scheduled for December 10 in China. If this World Grand Prix will take place, depends if K-1 will be able to pay its debts to IT'S SHOWTIME and others. If not, the fight on January 28 will be Badr's only remaining fight as a kickboxer.

While it seemed K-1 and It's Showtime had worked out their financial issues, obviously that is not the case. To be clear, if It's Showtime pulls their fighters, the K-1 Grand Prix can not happen as it is currently planned. And as of right now, it seems It's Showtime thinks that is a definite possibility.

K-1 is trying desperately to hold on, and so are we as fans. Yes this line-up is greatly diminished from last year's, but it was still the Grand Prix, and I was still greatly looking forward to it. But at some point, we may need to accept the reality. K-1 may pull something together, may even crown a 2011 GP champion, but the truth is, it's over. And it has been ever since Alistair Overeem put Peter Aerts down one year ago. The only question left is, when will they pull the plug?

This is underwhelming without Semmy, Saki and Overeem (I know there zero posibility now for Overeem to participate). Hell, I even expected Bonjasky to possibly participate in one last WGP before he retires.

I'd be pumped if bonjasky fought.

and yes it is underwhelming but still. it's dope.

According to liverkick.com, the GP is a go

http://www.liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=902:k-1-world-grand-prix-in-nanjing-looking-to-be-a-qgoq&catid=36:k-1

Chinese TV ad : http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzA3NjMxODcy.html

SURELY THEY'LL ANNOUNCE THE MATCHUPS THIS WEEK......

StillWill wrote:THis is Badrs year to take, I hope he meets Gerges.

That's what's up! I've been waiting for that fight for a while now. I thought it'd materialize on the January card but maybe the guys at It's Showtime paid attention to the Liverkick poll? I really wanted Badr to win the GP and reclaim the throne at It's Showtime. Somehow I doubt that Gerges really wants that fight, though.

By the way, I fucking LOVE your videos. Best for any combat sport, bar none.

You are too kind friend

Ive been waiting for that fight for a while, but Saki will bring more attemtion

I know Ben Edwards said he was figjting Jaideep

watch it not be on hdnet

They didn't air the K-1 MAX show and have no plans to, so who knows.

Andrew Simon said they were 'open' to working with K-1 again and I actually asked Mark Cuban (lol, why the hell not?) and he sez Kickboxing needs to step it up before it'll be taken seriously over here, but HDnet will keep airing it.

I wonder of all the events broadcast on HDnet, which show gets the most ratings?

Hey everyone.

First post on this site.

Anyone know if a full list of fighters for the final 16 is out there?
There is a few big names missing from the list I can see but it is not complete.

Was really hoping to see Peter Aerts have one more go, seen as he made it to the Final last year and beat Semmy in the process. Don't think he has many more years to go and would be nice to see the lumberjack running down to the ring again.

^ yea aerts beating semmy last year was quite the moment. somehow it got overshadowed , overlooked , not talked about as much as it should have been. it was a strange year anyway , with hari not being in it , and even bonjasky retiring. it was the beggining of the end already.

Bonjasky was a good fighter but I think his time was more or less over.
Don't think he was ever all that popular because of his defensive and counter attacking style. Kinda the same way a lot of people don't like Machida in MMA. Probably if Semmy hadn't come along Bonjasky could have won the GP quite a few more times.

Hopefully Hari can keep it together now.
He is a great fighter but he has lost the plot a couple of times now and it was costing him. Hopefully he has matured a little in his time off. Was looking forward to him fighting Ghita last month, hopefully they will meet in Final 16 or the Final. Had heard a rumour a while back that that fight had been pulled in favour of them both appearing in the Final 16 but I didn't want to get my hopes up. Been waiting to hear news of GP for 2011 all year.

Jarvinator wrote:Bonjasky was a good fighter but I think his time was more or less over.
Don't think he was ever all that popular because of his defensive and counter attacking style. Kinda the same way a lot of people don't like Machida in MMA. Probably if Semmy hadn't come along Bonjasky could have won the GP quite a few more times.

Remy suffered a detached retina and had to retire after the 09 wgp because of it.

Jarvinator wrote:Was really hoping to see Peter Aerts have one more go, seen as he made it to the Final last year and beat Semmy in the process. Don't think he has many more years to go and would be nice to see the lumberjack running down to the ring again.

I heard Aerts says he is too old for GPs, and wishes to fight single fights only.

Jarvinator wrote:Hey everyone.

First post on this site.

just remember Japan had the worst Tsunami in history recently not to mention the Reactor 4 thing....give Japan a couple of years before they bounce back..

WAR BADR

StillWill wrote:I heard Aerts says he is too old for GPs, and wishes to fight single fights only.

I doubt I will see him go for another GP, but a man can hope.
Never get tired of seeing him fight.
I reckon he could still pull it off.

I'm sure they could get a super fight together for him at the Final even if he doesn't want to take part.

Its been a bit disappointing this year with the lack of action from some of the bigger stars.
Guess a lot of the smaller promotions can't really afford guys like Aerts, Semmy etc.

Buddha_Cat wrote:I wonder of all the events broadcast on HDnet, which show gets the most ratings?

The claim they don't 'do' ratings or have them monitored, which I find to be BS as there would be no way to do an advertising model. Then again, most of their ads are just ads for their own programming...

HDnet looks like a channel you only watch if you know whats on not a major name just one for guys and fight fans and does like ZERO advertising outside and nobody knows what it is..


i hope Aerts has like a super fight during the Final 8 right before the GP Final..

that would be perfect if he dont wanna take part in the actual GP

So far what's rumored :

Gerges vs. Zimmerman
Edwards vs. Jai Deep
Ghita vs. Bajrami

Anything else?