Ozkan vs Zambidis: Predictions


Date: November 30
Venue: Vodafone Arena, Melbourne
Weight: 76kg
Duration: 12 x 2
Rules: Kickboxing (no knees, no elbows)

Predictions please?

-Half full stadium
-Very weak undercard
-A "name" fighter/any fighter on the poster pulling and Solak not informing anyone
-Fireworks/Dancers to distract punters from the weak card
-Some sort of controversy/melodrama in the main event

:)

Sorry, couldn't help myself!

Ozkan by unanimous points.

If Rockin Rico Chong Nee can get to Gurkan - Zambidis will, I think Gurkan's a great fighter but he hasn't done well against special fighters and Zam is a special fighter. Alhtough weight should be on Gurkan's side.

Hope all the fans behave!

I dissagree that weight will be on Gurkan's side Mike.

I thought he looked way too thin just under 76 for the fight with Rico. I kid you not, I had to look at his face twice to make sure it was Ozkan when I first bumbed into him in Sydney. I was actually reminded of K-1 Oceania when Peck walked in the ring. It was like, what the fark happened to his shoulders.

When we first heard of this fight, it was said that Mike didn't care how heavy Gurkan came in at. Personally, I think in future Gurkan should try and avoid anything under 78. I know he's fought at 76 most of his career, but I don't think I've seen him this light in the 4+ years I've been following.

I still think he'll win, but I thought he wasn't hitting like he normally does last fight. It seemed to take him a couple of rounds for his punch accuracy to get to normal.

JMO

Good Point About the weight Pual - Gurkan has got heavier and heavier as he has got older so coming down again may be difficult - but he does have enough time to do it properly and maintian his power - if the weight is 76 and he does it right he should fight at 78, and I can't see zam being anywhere near that heavy - but honestly zam is a much better fighter than rico so I have a feeling Gurkan won't be able to pull it off.

But you never know Gurkan has a habit of pulling off surprise wins ala Stan, Adam Watt, Kiatsongrit and a few others

ozkan by ko he will be to big for zambo

hmmm, greek vs turk in melbourne on a tarik show??
if zambidis is lucky enough to get to the end of the fight
and he does the unthinkable by outpointing ozkan
he still wont be able to win because of that funny new
rule that the judges are allowed to pick a winner without
actually watching that particular fight!

Man I think you guys over rate Gurkan - again, Rico is Zambo's weight nautrally and although a tricky oponent and a good power hitter - he's not in Zambidis league ... and he got to Gurkan . difference off course is in styles - Zambidis is an explosive foward moving stalker where as Rico is a bloody good counter fighter ... Gee I never thought I'd be backing Zam to win.

Mike, the main event commentators, and a few of the guys at aussie boxing forum reckon that Rico's last fight in Australia was against a guy holding an Amateur world boxing title. Some russian guy I believe who gets big wraps (sorry, I've forgotton his name at the moment). Anyway, apparently RIco dropped the guy in the second round, but was very unlucky because the judges ruled it a slip. So the russian guy won a very narrow points dec. The same forum guys reckon that Rico was unlucky. I wonder what would have happened if RIco fought in Auckland. But anyway, I think because none of us know too much about RIco, that we might be underestimating him. He's such a tough man. That was the first time I have seen Ozkan nail someone flush so many times. Most people also reckon that Rico's a tough guy to hit, being a southpaw that switch hits.

My personal oppinion is that outcome of this fight is wholly dependent on how good Mikes jaw is. I think they are both going to get hit plenty. I thought Ozkan showed great fitness the other night and also showed pretty good patience. The usual stuff about Ozkan exhausting himself and becoming a non danger after 3 no longer has any validity.
He has a fight with Chaungpek on the 3rd of October, so I just hope that his legs don't get damaged too badly. I think he said last time he fought the guy in 95, that he took a lot of leg damage. So maybe this fight isn't such a good idea only 7 weeks away from No Respect.

This fight is going to be huge guys. I'm seeing ads on commercial television, and they have been popping up from a couple of months ago. Solak has not missed an opportunity to talk it up on just about every fox show, including the boxing programmes. So I honestly don't expect a much smaller crowd than last time.

is it Kick-Boxing with Low Kicks?
and what rules V Changpeuk ? before the Nov: Show?

KIckboxing with low kicks sandy in both fights.

No knees or elbows.
In Australia it's very very rare that we'll have a Kickboxing fight without lowkicks.
I've only heard of it once in 5 years.

Cheers
BUT if Both Fighters are Thai-Boxers ! ? why Kick-Boxing Rules ?
and V ChangPeuk ? hes Muay-thai !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?
Confused !
ta
sandyman

Sandy,

Both guys are primarily Kickboxers.
Mike Zambidis only had his first ever knee fight a couple of years ago.
Same with Ozkan. A kickboxer that's had some knee fights because of K-1.

I don't think Mike or Gurkan have had elbow fights.

Changpuek is off course a MT fighter, but he also fights a lot of kickboxing and K-1 bouts. I don't know how old he is now, but I heard he's had about 400 fights.

ar Cheers
And as usual its a lot of Rumours
Changpeuk must be about 40 or older and has had about 200 NOT 400
and hes pretty well ! well past his sell by Date
hes had too many Hard fights
Just hanging in there and doint it for the last few £££ $$$ in his life for a meal etc: He really shouldve hung his gloves up about 2 / 3 years ago at least ! Shame for him Really ! Coz in his Prime a real Force to be reckoned with ! Well famous around the Very early 1990's

It probably does sound strange to someone not from Australia.

We basically have a thriving Muay Thai communtiy up north in Queensland.
And at the same time a thriving Kickboxing (with lowkicks) community in Victoria and N.S.W.

We often borrow each others fighters to make a great fight. But, more often than not, it's the great and super tough Queenslands who kindly make their way down for the benefit of the Victorians. It's pretty rare we see star fighters from Vic and N.S.W making the trip up to fight under the Queenslanders rules.

It's pretty divided by the sounds of it compared to say England or New Zealand. But you guys do the same sometimes Yeah.

Like the K-1 community may invite your boy Smiler, or Pete Crooke etc to fight on a mainland or Japan K-1 show.

Hey Paul, Rico has always been really talented - and packed a decent punch. He trained with Kevin Barry alonside Masalino Masoe, Robbie Peden (from time to time) and Sean Sullivan among a few others - but since then has changed trainers (not sure who). He has always struggled to deliver against big time opponents. He has fought in Auckland many times and to be honest disappointed often - although winning / because of his power more often than not. For example almost lost to Norm Graham among others - Maybe he is finally pulling finger and getting fit - but the fact remains he doesn't seem to able able to pull out the big fights - against the Gurkans, the Russian for eg - he put on a good show and couldn't quite make the step up to the next level - love to see him do it but never quite enoiugh. Compared to a Zambidis he is not in the same class - Zam has taken the step up and succeeded in the big fights - which is my point as related to Gurkan ...

Sandy both fighters have always prefered Kickboxing rules rather than Thai Rules - neither has a history of enjoying the knees.

That fight against Chanpuek will be very dangerous for Gurkan - he can really kick that guy - I hope gurkan gets him ut of there early for the sake of his fight with Zam.

Good point about Zam's chin - yoy are right that will be the ultimate test. And it will be interesting to see how he fights backing up rather than moving forward which he does so well at 70 Kilos.

Sounds like it is going to be a huge fight - hope the crowd behaves with two sets of passionate fans.

Frank Sitpholeks pattay Thailand

Mike,

You should try and make it over. I think it's going to be one of the bigger outside japan shows that we'll see this year. Though, K-1 Vegas sounded pretty big.

I can understand people backing Zam. He's got the goods.

Result:- Gurkan not as quick but too strong and too powerful.Initiates an inside fight almost from the middle of the first round.He gets caught with a Zambidis Counter and we have a flash knockdown.This does not deter him he gets up almost instantly and continues fighting in the trenches occasionally covering up.The first time he lands on Zam he drops and dazes him.The second flush hit stuns Zambidis and Ozkan reels into him with a ten punch combo that kos the Zammer for at least 5 mins cold. This is due to the fact that Gurks chin is far more sturdy than Zams(Just watch the Parr fight and how Zams eyes almost roll back into his head when hit with a short right.Wayne is no big puncher he is a volume fighter) despite Gurks not having a great chin either.Thus Gurks is too big and too strong even at 76KG. BUT SO WHAT!!!!!
Is this how badly the sport of kickboxing has degenerated that these two are the best event we can put on.How sad as there not even close to being the same weight!!Gurkan has well and truly failed at every serious test that has been put his way including Vermes,Taei Kin,Jacobs,and the English fighter whose name escapes me at this time who was ranked in the top ten by the Wbo at the time and beaten soundly by Jasson Suttie not long after.His previous attempts at boxing have been FARCICAL!!I,ll never forget when he sparred former Kostya Tszyu opponent Hector Lopez at the Newtown PCYC in the mid 90s and outweighed Lopez by at least 15 KG!!!. Ozkan came out bombing in the first trying to land the big ko.Failing dismally despite this guy standing toe to toe with him Ozkan froze when Lopez fought back not only rocking Ozkan but PUNISHING him with body rips and uppercuts.At one point Ozkan tried to Leg Check a body rip and then walked out and said he had enough.Lopez had screamed out ' Now its my turn mother f...er, where are you going'.This is the REAL Ozkan not this ficticious hero that the magazines and other spin doctors and side kicks have created.Juicing up and taking on 3-4 3rd tier heavyweights and losing only to come back and beat Stan(Near 40 years) who was having life and death struggles with no name japanese karate fighters since the late 90s AND had not fought in 2 years is even more ridiculous!!!
His recent claim of not being able to find an opponent on the Mundine undercard is absolute SHIT.How about Victor Oganov 23-0(23 KOS) who kod Paul Smallman 1 month prior to his bout which would have been a logical conclusion sice smallman has lost his last 7 bouts. Or Paul Miller or Danny Rowsell both would have been happy to relieve Ozkan of his senses on the night.Its so easy to offer peanuts and then claim you cant find a decent fighter and that he is always so willing to take anyone on but in reality picks only over the hill fighters or palookas.Ozkan knows ALL TO WELL than when REAL adversity KNOCKS on the door he either quits or is nowhere to be found!
The other kid Zam should find himself a decent boxing trainer and try and make a decent fighter out of himself.He can make some waves if he is taught how to box and goes down to welterweight where he really belongs.
This sport is rapidly turning ito a circus sideshow!!

It's a big news fight Dean, while your worrying over where the sport is going, the rest of us will enjoy a great fight.

It's a big news fight Dean, while your worrying over where the sport is going, the rest of us will enjoy a great fight.

You know, people either love or hate Gurkan but I give him the biggest credit because he is the ONLY Australian fighter who has ever fought ANYONE and EVERYONE from any weight, any rules. He has never ever said no to or ducked an opponent and I know for a fact that many of the other fighters which people like to nuthug have ducked their fair share of opponents.

Ozkan HAS fought the best and lost to some and beaten some... sheez, look at Tennis players... one week Hewitt loses to Agassi, the next week he beats Ferreira... the next month he beats Agassi... the next month he loses to Philipoussis... SO WHAT! My respect comes for fighters, like Ozkan and Zambidis who fight anyone, any time, and don't throw it in after losses are give up during bad streaks in their careers... they fight through it, change their training methods, adapt, update, and soldier on.

Ozkan has fought some excellent fighters... off the top of my head:

* CHANGPUEK - KO'd him in one round in the days before Changpuek had taken one thousand punches too many

* PAUL BRIGGS - KO'd him in two rounds in the days when Briggs was at the top of the kickboxing heap

* STAN LONGINIDIS: Yes Stan was past his use by date but he is still Stan, he is still a legend and a heavyweight who had four months fully to prepare for the Ozkan fight. Instead of ducking a fight with a legend, Ozkan pounced on it... and just as Lennox Lewis beat up on a Tyson past his prime; and just as Tito Ortiz owned a Ken Shamrock past his prime; so Ozkan owned Longinidis that night... the fact that he outkicked one of history's best leg kickers made it all the more emphatic

* ADAM WATT: The reigning K-1 Oceania champion also having a good year till he lost to Ozkan... yes it was full contact rules but Ozkan hardly kicks above the waist anyway and Watt often likes to go high... either way, both men accepted and Ozkan won out

* MARK MAY: One of the true powerhouse fighters of the mid-1990s... he beat Ozkan in Sydney and Ozkan beat him in Melbourne... two all time great power fights

* JARROD CURTIS, DALE WESTERMAN and SAM SOLIMAN - all in the one night to win the middleweight 8-man tourney in 1995 at the Glasshouse

* ARTHUR TSAKONAS: Another excellent fighter and solid all rounder

* JASON SUTTIE: A five time world champion, though admittedly Suttie took this fight on short notice, it was an awesome war

* JAYSON VERMOA: Another excellent fighter with all round skill

* DANIEL TAI: He had KO'd Nick Kara and was on a high till he met Ozkan

And there have been the losses:

* IAN JACOBS: Pound for pound Australia's greatest ever... but Ozkan did become the first man to ever drop the great Ian Jacobs when he knocked him down in the first round. Jacobs went on to win by five round decision... he pissed blood for a week after the fight and still says it was his hardest fight ever and that an Ozkan rematch is the only fight he would come out of retirement for

* WARREN ELSON: Ozkan totally underestimated a hungry young Elson and paid for it. This was during a terrible phase in Ozkan's career in which he was all over the place... credit to Elson, he took his chance and beat Ozkan.

* TAIEI KIN: Ozkan's Japan debut... I never saw the fight but it went the distance at a time when Kin was unstoppable

* DENDENAI: Ozkan suffered a neck spasm during the fight (ask Dr Peter Lewis) but this fight showed that Ozkan aint much of a Thai rules fighter... no problem there, at least he stepped up against an awesome Thai fighter and had a go (all the other Aussies got done too on that nite)

* TREVOR AMRBOSE: A world rated boxer, a world champion kickboxer, who taught Ozkan a lesson in timing and ring savvy, no shame in that loss.

* TIBOR VERMES: Silly fight... silly tactics. I'll admit THIS was a lowpoint for kickboxing back in 1998

Why do we BAG people like Ozkan? Why do we bag fighters if they lose a few fights, if they aren't all ask sublimely skilled as Muhammed Ali's or Rob Kamans or Ernesto Hoosts? Why can't we SUPPORT our fighters? THIS IS THE PROBLEM with the sport... tall poppy syndrome... it has always dogged Australian sport and kickboxing is no exception.

This is just my opinion... Ozkan has had his fair share of losses all against excellent opponents and his fair share of wins against excellent opponents all of which deserve credit. Like I said, he has never ever ducked anyone nor has he fought duds... in fact that last time Ozkan fought someone nowhere near his class was waaaay back in 1997 when he KO'd WA's Mark McAllen in one round -- and that was a comeback fight for Ozkan who had been out of action since the Jacobs loss.

anyway, just my two cents worth with GST.

As for Gurkan and Zambidis - I CAN'T WAIT and on the nite I'm sure we'll see thousands of people in the stands and thousands watching on television nationwide who can't wait either and who are excited that two of the best kickboxers fighting in and out of Oz at the moment will GET IT ON for our enjoyment... they won't quip about rules, or weight, or purses, or politics... they will just fight a 12 rounder to see who is the better of the two on THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.

May the best man win.

Hey Mike,

Well said man - has Dixon confirmed you for the Commentary on the TNNZ show yet?

Hey Mike

Hoping to chat to Dixon soon... be good to be back on the mic with the Mikes! (and the Wakka-man!)

Sure Ozkan fights anybody, and he's a tough guy, but what will this fight prove?
is it just a money fight? or is it revenge for stan? i would rather see Ozkan fight Joeri Mes kickboxing rules at 78kg or Nathan Corbett full thai rules at 82kg, now they would be good fights, how about getting those happening Tarik!

And Taiei Kin soundly beat Gurkan in Japan Michael!

Like I said, never saw it :)

What is this fight for? Zambidis requested it after Stan's loss to Gurkan, that's how it came out. He was one of the only men to challenge Ozkan in a long, long time.

I say bring it on... I'll be there and it should be a ripper.

Does a fight need to prove anything Guys?

I mean, can't it just be a great spectacle?
The kickboxing community keeps telling me that titles mean nothing.
So what's left then.
You may as well then aim at the guy's on top of the media heap.
Surely it makes things more exciting than someone we barely know off.

Also, what's wrong with Money fights?

Hey Mike,
fair play to you and I fully respect your comments about Gurkan. He has fought everyone and he has a huge heart. Zam will be a tough fight, and it will come down to who wants it most. Neither fighter is really that technical, and for those of us who prefer pure Muay Thai get more of a kick out of seeing a fight like Parr v Dawson. This however is a different game and people so inclined should stop bagging fighters. Lets be realistic, Kickboxing is a somewhat different sport to Muay Thai and as far as Kickboxing goes the only match up I think would be on this level would be to see an Ian Jacobs in there with either of these guys. May the best man win...