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Report from K-1World GP June 23rd in Amsterdam Arena
I arrive to the amsterdam arena early to pick up my press credentials. The stadium is set up with about a third of the huge stadium beeing used for the tonight. I have access to the pressroom and the press stands. Unfortunately I dont have the camera that you would need to take pictures of good quality since I am far away from ringside. Thus the photos that you see are provided by European Fighting Network.
While waiting for the card to start I take the time to say hello to all the press people I got to known during the three days Ive been here reporting.
Pre fights
Roy Dijkshoorn vs. Brian Douwens
A prefight in Kickboxing takes place before the show starts. It is under 5 x 2 minutes rounds between two dutch fighters. Roy Dijkshoorn is much taller than his opponent Brian Douwens. The fight ends with a devestating knock out win by Douwens. The tall fighter Dijkshoorn was out for a while but managed to exit the ring on his own. So far only a few thousands people are in attendance.
Before the countdown to the show starts on the big screens a video package of Melvin Manhoef airs in the arena. Surpringly also footage from his fights with Cage Rage and other organisations are incerted. The man looked awesome knocking people out in that video. Next the screens are showing the pressconference from yeasterday that I reported from here on the site earlier.
A great video package with the background song One Moment In Time is shown. Between four giant television screens there are large banners of four great dutch fighters: Remy Bonjavski who I wont see fight here live unfortunately, Ernesto Hoost who will be in the corner of Paul Slowinski tonight and I believe also do commentary for Dutch television. The other two fighters that will appear tonight will be fighting in the ring: Peter Aerts and Allistar Overeem. In total these four fighters from this small country has 13 titles that is very impressive!
Vincent Latoel vs. Sahin "Kaas" Yakut
A ring announcer comes out dancing with a couple of hot chicks, seriously! He introduces the first fight on the official card Vincent Latoel vs. Sahin "Kaas" Yakut.. It will be a contest under MMA rules 2 x 5 minutes rounds. Latoel took Yakut down many times and was a better ground fighter. The Dutch crowd booed the takedowns prefering a stand up fight. This is indeed a Kickboxing country!
Mourad Bouzidi vs. Gökhan Saki
Second fight on the card was the reserve match for the elimination tournament between Mourad Bouzidi of Team Aerts and Gökhan Saki of Team Golden Glory. In this fight Team Golden Glory was the strongest as Saki won the fight on points.
Pajonsuk vs. Tarik El Idrissi
Next is Pajonsuk of Thailand vs. Tarik El Idrissi of Marocco under kickboxing K-1 rules. El Idrissi appeared to be the stronger and more offensive fighter early into the fight. However as Pajonsuk throws him down on the mat he (El Idrissi) injures his foot or ankle and his corner is forced to give up the fight in the first round. He got carried out of the ring by his corner to applauds of the crowd.
Alistar Overeem vs. Michael Knaap
Next is a MMA fight 2 rounds 5 minutes between two exiting fighters. Overeem tries to connect with flying knees and hits Knaap hard with a punsh and kick combination. Knaap is busted open from a cut. Overeem scores a takedown and gets side control. From this pont he was in total control and he finished the fight with a submission win.
Murat Direcki vs. Joerie Mes
In a contest under kickboxing K-1 rules Murat Direcki of Turkey defeated Joerie Mes of Holland after a referee stoppage from a cut below one of Mes eyes. The crowd did not like the early stoppage.
Gilbert Yvel vs. Gouram Hakin
Its one more fight before intermission and it will be under MMA rules between the bad boy form Holland Gilbert Yvel and Gouram Hakin. This was an awesome fight! so far the best of the night by far. In the first round Hakin takes Yvel down to the ground. Yvel connects with strikes after they trade punches to the roar of the crowd in a great stand up war. Now Yvel takes Hakin down they stand up again and just before the bell Yvel knocksout Gouram. This fight got a standing ovation from the crowd. Both fighters got a great response after the fight.
K-1 Fights
This is the second part of the card, now the announcer from Eurosport Mr Wustenburg makes his entrance and after a laser show and loud explosions (no firework though as the arena is under roof today) the televised part of the card starts.
Superfight: Ruslan Karaev vs. Melvin Manhoef
Karaev gets a great ovation entering the ring but when the hometown fighter Manhoef comes out the arena goes crazy. In a shocking moment Manhoef proceeds to knockout Karaev in under a minute of fighting.
The roof is ready to lift in the arena now! people are celebrating like Holland won the World Cup! All the while Karaev is not moving and it looks like a scary situation, it was a devestating punch from Manhoef. However Karaev looks fine after a few minutes.
Quarter finals
Quarter final 1: Björn Bregy vs. Brecht Wallis
Next is the first quarter final in the tournament. Its a rematch between two big guys. Björn Bregy of Switzerland and Brecht Wallis of Belgium. Last time these guys fought in K-1 Bregy won a close fight after a controversial referee stoppage. Bregy advances after a slow and boring fight, Bregy is not liked by the Dutch crowd but he fights intelligently and deserved the decision win.
Quarter final 2: Magomed Magomedov vs. Maksym Neledva
The second quarter final is a match up between Magomed Magomedov of Russia and Maksym Neledva of Ukraine. This was a good technical fight with Neledva showing great boxing skills. However Magomedov was the better kickboxer. Magomedov gets the decision win he was the more agressive fighter, but he did not come close to finnish the fight. The fighters did not look too tired after three rounds of a tough fight.
Quarter final 3: Paul Slowinski vs. Kiroi Ameda
The third quarter final saw Paul Slowinski, the Polish borned fighter now representing Australia defeat Kiroi Ameda of Japan by TKO from hard leg kicks in the first round.
Quarter final 4: Zabit Samedov vs. James Philips
The last quarter final was in my opinion the best of the four. The decision could have gone either way or to a fourth deciding round. Zabit Samedov of Belarus was announced as the winner over James Philips of Germany.
It is now a huge advantage for Slowinski since all other fighters that advanced to the semi finals had to fight three rounds, while he finished his fight in the first round.
Special attraction Match: Hiroiya vs. Roy Tran
A special attraction match between two under 18 years old kickboxers is the next. These will be two names we will see more of in the future! Hiroiya is a 15 years old fighter from Japan who defeated the Dutch fighter Roy Tran. They fought under special 3 x 2 minute rounds. They are not complete fighters yet and at times looked nervous. But they showed great talent and especially Hiroya has an amazing agility and speed. The crowd appreciated the effort from the two smaller fighters.
Semi finals
Semi final 1: Björn Bregy vs. Magomed Magomedov
The first semi final saw Bregy advance to the finals after a hard fought win by TKO over Magomedow. The new K-1 rule of stopping the match after a fighter scores two knockdowns in the same round was ernforced. After the match the crowd gave Mogomedow (the loser of the fight) a standing ovation as he played for the sympaty he was not agreeing with the stoppage. Poor Bregy beeing booed all night all the while making a great performance.
Semi final 2: Paul Slowinski vs. Zabit Samedov
Paul Slowinski also advances to the final after defeating Samedov by a TKO in the first round. Interestingly it was Samedov who first took Slowinski down for a count, but Slowinski came back stronger and his leg kicks proved to be the winning ingredience. His training with Ernesto Hoost is proving to be valuable. Slowinski is now living and training in Holland under Hoost who was in his corner tonight.
Super fight: Nicholas Vermont vs. Sawayashiki
Next fight is Nicholas Vermont of France who will try to avenge his friend and fellow frensh fighter LeBanners loss to the japanesee fighter Sawayashik. This is a kickboxing K-1 rules match up. The japanesee fighter was the stronger fighter on this night and after three counts!? in the second round the referee finally stopped this contest.
Super fight: Bob Sapp vs. Peter Aerts
Bob Sapp now enters the ring to his entrance music he is loudly booed while the legend Peter Aerts "the Dutch Lumberjack" gets by far the best reaction of the night. People stands up all through his entrance as he enters to the tunes of Hurricane by Bob Dylan. This was another Bob Sapp scandal as he rushed like a bull towards Aerts seconds into the fight.
After Aerts connected with a knee Sapp layed down on his belly to end the fight after 30 seconds. He was obviously not here to fight. The crowd was confused. At first they cheered Aerts but then they turned their frustration towards Sapp and threw garbage at the ring. Hitting some of the photographers and officials trying to hit Sapp with the throws. Aerts ended up calming the situation down from speaking on the house mick. He basically said that it takes two to make a fight and that he was the only guy in the ring that wanted to fight tonight. The word around ringside was that Sapp appeared to have an injury in one of his legs but he did look fine bull rushing Aerts early in the fight.
Finale
Final: Björn Bregy vs. Paul Slowinsky
Next is the finals in the European GP with the winner advancing to the World GP finals. Slowinski vs. Bregy. They trade punches and kicks in a close first round. Slowinski then connects with punches to and after Bregy looses his balance and takes another count in the second round the referee awards the match to Slowinski. The winner of the tournament is Paul Slowinski he will be fighting in Korea later this year in the World GP finals.
Super fight: Semmy Shildt vs. Mighty Mo
The Main Event is left. So far its been an awesome night of fighting. The crowd has filled up the arena now and approximately 25 000 people are going bananas when the Champion Semmy Shildt enteres the ring.
Before the bell K-1 CEO of FEG Tanikawa offically announces the fight that is for the Super Heavyweight K-1 World Championship. Then the american national anthem is played for Mighty Mo and the crowd booes loud, while singing during the Dutch anthem for Shildt.
In round one Schilt does a lot of damage from his kicks but Mo is clode to strike with a punch.
Round two is dominated by Schilt but the crowd who is looking for a knockout is becoming restless. The referee asks the fighters to fight more, good call by the referee! Shildt connects with a round kick, Mo swings wild but misses, the round ended up beeing great especially the last minute.
Round three the last round of the fight saw two tired super heavyweight trading kicks and punches, with Semmy very much in control using his reach advance.
Shildt is awarded the decision and confetti is lowered from the cealing and all is great in Holland! The official scoreboard that I got a copy of saw Judge Tonny award the fight to Schilt 30-27. Judge Onari 30-26 to Schilt and judge Toyonaga 30-28 to Schilt. This rounds up an unforgettable evening of great fighting action.
Closing
I would like to say thanks to the staff from fansofk1.com, Simon Rutz and the European Fighting Network promotion, K-1 and the nice people of Amsterdam for there hospitality and for you fans for giving me this opportunity to report.
Great article Henrik. We did right in choosing you
to be our K-1 Amsteram reporter!
Thanks for all comments, it was a great show I had
a blast. Dennis and Kim feel free to edit the
article or put up pictures from the event.
great report Henrik and nice pictures you got you
are the best.
Author
Henrik Rautila
"It´s not about what you earn its all about what you save"Written articles: 2
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