Surprisingly, Magnum Sakai V Takashi Ono is way down on the undercard. This is the fight that catches my eye the most- they fought last year with Sakai winning on points.

Filho's "Ichigeki" official line-up. Kyokushin vs. K-1, May 30th, Nippon Buodkan, Tokyo. K-1 rules (3 rounds) and Kyokushin rules fights. Unsure if the line-up had been put up yet on here.

1)Kyokushin > Kentarou Tanaka vs. Hans Nyman
2)K-1 > Lechi Kurbanov vs. Big Fam (? on who that is)
3)Kyokushin > Ewarton Teixeira vs. Peter Maistrovic
4)K-1 > Makato Akaishi vs. Mavrick
5)K-1 > Alexander Pichkunov vs. Seth "Silverback" Petruzelli
6)K-1 > Glaube Feitosa vs. TOA
7)K-1 > Fransisco Filho vs. Remy Bonjasky

DAMN! Filho VS Bonjansky! What a fight!

anyone have any idea who is;

kurbanov
big fam
mavrick
pichkunov???

im a little disappointed that they have some of these "beast" type fighters
in this.

Yeah me too. Mavrick , Big Fam, Toa and Petruzelli don't belong there. Kurbanov and Pichkunov are two top Kyokushin fighters. I hope they beat the crap on those guys. Hey Roger!! Who's Hans Nyman and is E.Teixeira vs P. Mastorovic a Kyokushin bout or is it under K-1 rules ? Francisco Filho vs Remy Bonjasky will be however, one hell of a fight!!

The Teixeira fight was listed as Karate. Nyman, who I believe name might be spelled Nijman, is an old fighter from the Japanese mma promotion RINGS.

The Fighters, just for the heck of it.

x)Kentarou Tanaka- ?

x)Hans Nijman- Holland, ex-RINGS fighter, 4-3 mmma, 6'0 246, 45 years old, free-style wrestling background, fought on two It's Showtime shows. Was ko'd by Barrington Patterson in 2001, and lost by sumbmission (armbar) to Cheik Kengo in 2003.

x)Lechi Kurbanov- Russia, Kyokushin Karate stand-out.

x)Big Fam- ?, lol- and there is no telling.

x)Ewerton Teixeira- Brazilian Kyokushin star.

x)Peter Majstorovic- #13-ranked ISKA Super-cruiserweight, K-1 Spain 2003 runner-up.

x)Makoto Akaishi- fought in March this year at Kyokushin Brazil Grand Prix 2004, lost by 3-0 decision to a Brazilian.

x)Mavrick- born in Germany, lives in U.S, believe trains at Sharkt Tank in California, stunt-man, ? on if any martial arts background.

x)Alexander Pichkunov- Russia, European Karate Champion.

x)Seth Petruzelli- actually has been a student of Karte since 1986 to the present. Known more as mma fighter.

x)Glaube Feitosa- Kyokushin Brazil, 4th place in 7th Kyokushin Championship in '99, 2-7-1 2 kos in K-1.

x)TOA- K-1 "Freak", Sumo wrestler.

x)Fransisco Filho- 7th Kyokushin World Tournament champion, 14-6-2 9 kos in K-1, "Hundred Men Kumite completed" ('95)

x)Remy Bonjasky- 2003 K-1 World Champion

wow, nice research roger. despite a few "poor mans bob sapp" types, there
will be some nice matches.

Roger:

You should send your post to
http://www.man-magazine.nl/MAN2.1/?shownews=1910

and other places annoncing hte Ichigeki
to help give people more background information
:-)

Hey Roger!! Have you seen those Kyokushin guys fighting under K-1 rules ? How do you think they'll handle these fights? Hope they win.


Osu

Have yet to see a Ichigeki show. Hopefully might be able to get this how on tape though. Haven't really seen the Kyokushin fighters in action, have no real place here in the U.S. to get recent Kyokushin tournament shows.

I couldn't find anything on Tanaka. Nijman actually does come from a Karate background also. Last fight I saw was an mma fight I believe agaist this psuedo pro wrestler / fighter. I believe Nijman won with a head kick or by tko from punches / kicks. He is capable as a striker. Again- didn't find anything on Tanaka.
Kurbanov finished 5th in the Kyokushin 8th World Open in Oct. 2003, won by Hitoshi Kiyama. I still have no clue who this Big Fam is, and there is no telling with a K-1 connection to this.

Teixeira finished 3rd in the 8th World Open. Mastrorovic appears to be a fairly good kickboxer. But Teixeira probably has the advantage here in a Karate match. Looks like a potentially good fight on paper.

Akaishi vs. Maverick. Lol- a friend of mine thinks Maverick is by far the least skilled of the "sports entertainment" fighters K-1 has used for the past year or so. I didn't see his first fight.

Pichkunov is a former European Karate champion. Petruzelli seems to have competed a lot in Karate. Seth claims a 60-15 record in Karate. In his resume he includes USNKF National Karate champ '93, and 1st place in World Championships Team Kumite in '97. He is 5-2 in mmma, 4 of the wins came by tko(strikes, cut, towel thrown in once). He supposely did a real number on UFC-legend Dan Severn in his last fight. Petruzelli lists a spin kick as one of his best techniques.

Feitosa finished 4th at the 8th World Open, but has only one 2 of the 10 fights on his K-1 record. TOA, in the one fight I saw believe under K-1 rules, showed some skill at least.

Filho vs. Bonjasky. Could be a good fight, if Bonjasky presses Filho into staying active. It as been awhile since I have seen Filho fight.

Big Fam. There is a face shot of him up on K-1's site for the Ichigeki card. He is from Tai-Kai Kickboxing / Jiu-Jitsu (USA). www.tai-kai.com but no info about him on that site. Have yet to see any height / weight of fight record on him. Looking at the site, the two main instructors are Mike Bidwell who is black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu, TKD, and Chinese Kenpo, and Scott Schultz who is a black belt in Kung Fu, Ninjutsu, Japanese jiu-jitsu.

Alexander Pichkunov defeated Nicholas Pettas at the 7th World Open in 1999 by Ippon/ko. Alexander is former Russian Open champion from 2001, and became 2nd in year 2000. And then Alexander became 4th at 2nd World Weight Open in year 2001.

Ewerton Teixeira has won the Americans Cup in Kyokushin in 2001, 2002 and 2003; he won the World Team Cup in 2002 and became 3rd at the 8th World Open. Ewerton Teixeira is propperly the strongest Kyokushin fighter in the world today!!

Lechi Kurbanov became 5th at the 8th World Open in Kyokushin 2003, he is former European champion, he has a silver medal from the Russian Open last year, and then he has won the All Japan Open 2002. Kurbanov also got silver in Americas Cup 2002.

Glaube Feitosa got 8th at the 6th World Open in 1995, he got 4th at 7th World Open in 1999, and 4th at the 8th World Open in 2003. Glaube has won the Americans Cup in 1997 & in 1999, he has won the Brazilian Open in 96 and 97, and got silver at the 1st World Weight Tournament in 1997, where he lost to Filho in the final.

So it is the absolute best Kyokushin fighters in the world, taking part in the Ichegeki event.

I have never heard of Big Fam, but unless he is made of heat-treated steel, he will be hurt and will loose big time to Lechi Kurbanov.

Glaube Feitosa

Ewerton Teixeira

Lechi Kurbanov

Alexander Pichkunov

Kentarou Tanaka

Filho;

7th World Tournament 1999 - 1st
6th World Tournament 1995 - 3rd (Lost to Kazumi)
5th World Tournament 1991 - Last 16 (Lost to Yamaki)
1st World Weight Tournament 1997 - 1st
7th South American Tournament 1994 - 1st
6th South American Tournament 1992 - 1st
5th South American Tournament 1989 - 1st
Brazilian Open Champion - 90, 92, 93, 95
Uruguayan Open Champion - 91

100 Man Kumite twice in 1995. (Filho amazingly completed this test in Brazil, and then only a month later carried out the test successfully in Japan, in the fastest time ever, without any looses!.)

K-1 Yokohama Champion 2000, K-1 2nd at the World Grand Prix in 2001. Has beaten Andy Hug, Sam Greco, Hoost, Aerts, Ignashov, Skelton, Leko, Abidi and Lyod Van Dams.

Hey Oliver! What are your predictions for this event ? Have you seen these Kyokushin guys fighting under K-1 rules ? So far i've only seen Filho and Feitosa in K-1. Have no idea how the others are goin to hanle the situation. By the way what's up with Ryuta Noji ? He should be present in this event. I think he did ok against Andrew Peck in K-1.

One more thing. i heard Kazumi is gonna fight or was going to (or he already did) in Pancrace. You know anything about this ?



Osu no Seishin

Sonik- Noji is due to fight on a show on June 6th (not K-1).

Osu Sonik,

Alexander Pichkunov did also fight at the 2003 Ichegeki event under K-1 rules, and he got a draw against Great Kusatsu. Alexander has great kicks, but his boxing skills are not that good.

Ewerton Teixeira and Lechi Kurbanov will be fighting under Kyokushin rules, and not K-1 rules. Fortunate, because they are a dream to watch under karate knock down rules!

You are right; Noji did fight Andrew Peck in K-1. Noji was also fighting at the 2003 Ichegeki event last year, where he was in the ring against Jorgen Kruth from Sweden. I don’t think we will see Noji at the Ichegeki again, after he has left the Kyokushin organization. The same goes for Hajime Kazumi, as he has also left Kyokushin - and therefore not will be invited to the event.




(Picture of Hajime Kazumi, one of the strongest fighter ever in the history of Kyokushin).

I have not heard anything about Kazumi been fighting in Pancrace?

Oliver nice info! If this one is broadcasted by EuroSport we might have an opportunity to be two Axers commentating for the Danish viewers ;-)

Larsenator

Thomas my respected friend, that could be fun and very exciting. I am on, just call my name...And I am on my way to the studio!

Bring it on!

As far as i know Kazumi has been training his himself and his students in Kickboxing and Grapling. I would like to see him in K-1 vs Francisco Filho. Now that would rock!!
By the way i hard Kenji Yamaki also left the IKO-1 and has created his own fighting style - Yamaki-ryu Karate.



Osu

Sonik, thanks for the new about Kenji Yamaki.

Another big champion and star has left Kyokushin... What a shame!!

Andy Hug, Michael Thompsen, Ademir da Costa, Sam Greco, Hiroki Kurosawa, Noji, Nicholas Pettas, Hajime Kazumi, Yasuhiro Shichinohe, and now Kenji Yamaki, just to name a few of the biggest names that has left the sport.

http://www.k-yamaki.com/

Link to Kenji Yamaki new karate style.

Here are my bets for the event;

Kentarou Tanaka Vs. Hans Nyman = Tanaka wins on IPPON/KO

Lechi Kurbanov Vs. Big Fam = Kurbanov wins on IPPON/KO

Ewarton Teixeira Vs. Peter Maistrovic = Teixeria on points

Makato Akaishi Vs. Mavrick = Akaishi on points

Alexander Pichkunov Vs. Seth "Silverback" Petruzelli = Seth on TKO 2nd round

Glaube Feitosa Vs. TOA = Glaube KO "Brazilian kick" 2nd round

Fransisco Filho Vs. Remy Bonjasky = Draw

Didn't know Noji had left the IKO-1. Do you know why ? This Kyokushin is losing some of it's best fighters....

It would be great to see Filho winning by knockout. I think he needs that victory to get back in the game. I think the man needs more motivation!!


Osu

I don’t know why Noji left Kyokushin, but he left for the same reason and about at the same time as Nicholas Pettas.

I guess he wanted to focus on kickboxing, and Kancho Matsui didn’t like the concept. Just as Kancho Matsui didn’t liked the idea, that Pettas was going to make film and TV. So Noji had two choices, to stay in the Kyokushin organization, and obeying all Matsui’s commands, or to leave. Just like so many others, Noji choose to leave.

I don’t know why Noji left Kyokushin, but I think he left for the same reason and about at the same time as Nicholas Pettas.

I guess he wanted to focus on kickboxing, and Kancho Matsui didn’t like the concept. Just as Kancho Matsui didn’t liked the idea, that Pettas was going to make film and TV. So Noji had two choices, to stay in the Kyokushin organization, and obeying all Matsui’s commands, or to leave. Just like so many others, Noji choose to leave.

Takahiro Miyano, Kyokushin 2001 World Cup 2 lightweight champion, did a mma rules fight in ZST earlier this month. He lost by ko in just over a minute of the 1st round to a shooto fighter from Lithuania.

Picture of Noji,

Sonik; Have you ever seen any of Noji fight from his time in Kyokushin? His fight against Sergio da Costa and Glaube Feitosa from the 7th IKO1 World Open is amazing!!

Man, i haven't seen those fights yet!! Gotta ask someone to get me those tapes!!

Roger there was another Kyokushin fighter competing in MMA. His name is Tatsuya..... He fought against Wanderley Silva in Pride Shockwave event and lost by referee by TKO in the first round as well. Not sure if he belongs to IKO-1 though.

The best Kyokushin fighter i've seen in a MMA was definitely Hiroki Kurosawa in Pride-1 against Remco Pardoel. Man, he showed one hell of a spirit!! Even though he had broken leg, he kept on fight and still managed to hit Remco with an ushiro mawashi geri!!

I just happened to watch that Kurosawa fight from Pride 1 not song ago. It was actually against Igor Meindert, not Pardoel. Good stuff, Kurosawa was a warrior. It was a severed tendon he suffered. It was a pretty horrific injury that almost ended his fighting career. That is definitely a fight you should check out if you have never seen it. Kurosawa has an official at www.kurosawadojo.com for anyone interested.

I have been talking with Kurosawa many times, and he is as kind and humble as he was an amazing as a fighter. In my eyes, Kurosawa was one of the best Japanese fighters ever, in the history of Kyokushin. The only few Japanese fighters that can be compared with him are, Kenji Yamaki, Matsui, Kazumi, Nakamura and Akira Masuda.

I will never forget the fight between Peter Smit from Holland against Kurosawa at 4th World Open in 1987. It is with out any doubt, the best, hardest and toughest fight I can recall seeing in Kyokushin… And I have seemed them all. It was 5 Rounds of war, and Kurosawa won the fight after two extension rounds on judge decision 2-1. Kurosawa was so hurt and beat up after his fight against the great Peter Smit, that he had to redraw himself from the tournament. Kurosawa could not stand or walk one week after the fight, he told me.

Another great fight in Kyokushin with Kurosawa, was in All Japan 1990 (I think), in his fight
Against the big Yasuhiro Shichinohe, who weights over 125 kilo and is over 2 meter high. Shichinohe gave Kurosawa a knee strike right on his right thumb, so it broke and the bone stack out from the skin. Still Kurosawa continues fighting Shichinohe even, and he only lost the fight because he was unable to hit or block with is arm. Talking pain and lion heart!

And lest not forget the 5th World Open in 1991, where Kurosawa outfighted Kenji Yamaki totally in the semi finale!

Yeah, after he tore his knee up in that Pride fight, he just wrapped it up with tape during the break and still was throwing kicks and trying to ko Meindert till he just could no longer stand. I would really like to see some these Karate fights he was in that you mentioned.

Full undercard of Ichigeki show, all K-1 these fights K-1 rules :

x)Sveto Dekovic (Serbia, 2003 European IKO super-heavy champ) vs. Fabiano da Silva.

x)Taichi Furuta vs. Alejandro Navarro

x)Maxim Dedik (2002 Russian middle. Kyokushin champ) vs. Joji Hibino (USA, www.kyokushinla.com/joji_hibino.htm)

x)Magunamu Sakai vs. Ohono Takashi (ISKA World champ)

x)Masayuki Fujita vs. Arthur Hovhannisian

x)Igor Peplove (2002 Russian Kyokushinkai heavy. champ, 1st place 2nd IKF World Championships in 2002) vs. Hajime Moriguchi (0-1 in K-1)

Also Pride / mma fighter Alistair Overeem has replaced TOA vs. Feitosa

Roger you're right!! I saw that fight a few years ago on tape. At the time i had no idea the other guy's name. Somebody told me it was Remco Pardeol and i took it for credti. But now i checked it out and i confirm what you said. That was one hell of a fight.

By the way, regarding the Ishigeki event, i just found out that Toa was replaced by Alistair Overeem.

Osu

K-1 vs Kyokushin
May 30, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan
By Monty DiPietro (monty@assemblylanguage.com)

TOKYO, May 29, 2004 -- A unique K-1 event is planned for tomorrow, Sunday May 30 at the historic Budokan in central Tokyo. "Ichigeki" ("decisive strike") will feature seven fights in a K-1 vs Kyokushin Karate format.

Seminal to K-1's development, Kyokushin is the ne plus ultra of karate styles, demanding unparalleled dedication to the development of spiritual and physical strength. Explained Kyokushin originator Mas Oyama (1923-1994): "One thousand days of training, a beginner; ten thousand days of training, a master". Today, dojos and practitioners all over the world comprise the Kyokushin Family.

The Ichigeki card is divided into two parts -- four fights will be fought under K-1 Rules, with some of K-1's best taking on elite Kyokushin fighters, and the first three matches will be contested under Kyokushin Rules (judging is based on technique, the Kyokushin Rules also prohibit strikes to the head).

2003 K-1 World GP Champion Remy Bonjasky will square off against Kyokushin (and K-1) legend Francisco Filho in the main event. In the penultimate bout, Brazilian Kyokushin fighter Glaube Fetosa will take on big Maori warrior TOA of New Zealand.

In the other K-1 Rules bouts, Alexandre Pitchkounov of Russia will represent Kyokushin against American Jiu-Jitsu fighter Seth Petruzelli; and Kyokushin' Makoto Akaishi of Japan will meet German powerhouse Mavrick.

In the trio of Kyokushin Rules bouts, Kyokushin fighter Ewerton Teixeira of Brazil will meet Peter Majstorovic of Switzerland; Kyokushin's Lechi Kurbanov of Russia will step in against American "Big Fam"; and Kentaro Tanaka of Japan will defend the Kyokushin honor against Hanse Nijman of The Netherlands.

The complete matchups are here: http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top605.htm. Ichigeki kicks off at 3:00 pm JST and will be same-day broadcast in Japan on the Asahi TV network. As always, check the K-1 Official Website for results, pictures and a story on the event soon after the final bell.

Alexander Pichkunov Vs. Seth "Silverback" Petruzelli

Lechi Kurbanov Vs. Big Fam

Ewarton Teixeira Vs. Peter Maistrovic

This is going to be hot!

Remy Bojansky Vs Francisco Filho

"Brazilian Kyokushin fighter Glaube Fetosa will take on big Maori warrior TOA of New Zealand'"

Looking at the photo, think the big Maori warrior made place for Allistair "Demolitionman" Overeem from Holland.

It's better that way

Im afraid only looking the guys knuckles! Check the kyokushin fighters, like a stone! All that ice, glass, and wood! Damn, these guys can punch really hard!

Copied from http://www.shoto.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8025
Missing results will follow soon hope.

Grt,
EricR

Translated from Sportsnavi:
Under Card:

K-1 Rules Bout
Fabiano Da Silva wins by first round TKO over Sveto Dekovic

K-1 Rules Bout
Alejandro Navarro wins by first round knockout over Taichi Furuta

K-1 Rules Bout
Magunamu Sakai wins a unanimous decision (3-0) over Ohno Takashi

K-1 Rules Bout
Maxim Dedik wins a unanimous decision (3-0) over Joji Hibimo

K-1 Rules Bout
Arthur Hovhannisian wins a unanimous decision (3-0) over Masayuki Fujita

K-1 Rules Bout
Igor Peplov wins by second round TKO over Hajime Moriguchi

Main Card (Kyokushin leads 3-0)

Fight 1 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (Kyokushin Rules)
Kentarou Tanaka wins by first round infringement (foul) over Hanse Nijman

Fight 2 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (Kyokushin Rules)
Lechi Kurbanov wins by knockout at 1:00 of the first round over Big Fam

Fight 3 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (Kyokushin Rules)
Ewerton Teixeira wins a three round decision over Petar Majstorovic

Fight 4 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (K-1 Rules) - 2 Rd overtime if needed
Makoto Akaishi wins by second round TKO (towel) over Mavrick

Fight 5 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (K-1 Rules) - 2 Rd overtime if needed
Alexander Pichkunov vs. Seth Petruzelli

Fight 5 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (K-1 Rules) - 2 Rd overtime if needed
Alexander Pichkunov wins by second round knockout over Seth Petruzelli

Fight 6 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (K-1 Rules) - 2 Rd overtime if needed
Glaube Feitosa wins by first round knockout over Alistair Overeem

The missing fight. Same link as a source.


Fight 7 - Kyokushin vs. K-1 (K-1 Rules) - 2 Rd overtime if needed
Fransico Filho wins a three round unanimous decision (30-28, 30-28, 30-27) over Remy Bonjasky

Kyokushin wins 7- 0

Think that pretty much says it all.

I found where the shoto people are getting it from

thefightgame.tv

which has the full results including the undercard

Even though it was great for Kyokushin, probably needs to be taken with a grain of salt though. Filho's win was big, Bonjasy taking the 8-count in the 3rd. But Overeem came in extremely last minute. Pichkunov should get a shot on a K-1 show. He is the kind of real fighter K-1 needs. Mavrick isn't too much of a fighter from what I gather. Big Fam was one of those obscure guys K-1 seems to pull out a hat anymore. Nijman infringement was said to be fouls that caused bleeding in Tanaka's right eye. Sounded like some gouges or something to me. Anyone see the broadcast? What did Filho put Bonjasy down with? Punch, kick, combo, etc.? I really hope I am able to get a tape of this show.

Fancisco Filho walking to the ring

Remy Bojansky walking to the ring

(Francisco, not Fancisco... Sorry)

Remy Bojansky walking to the ring

(Francisco, not Fancisco... Sorry)

Sempai Glaube "The Monster" Feitosa walking to the ring

MC Hammer walking to the ring

Great pics Oliver!!!!
LOL @ MC Hammer!!!!

Osu Glaube!

Alexander Pichkunov

Alexander Pichkunov

Makoto Akaishi

Ewerton Teixeira

Ewerton Teixeira

Lechi Kurbanov

Lechi Kurbanov

kancho Matsui

Kentarou Tanaka

Kentarou Tanaka

K-1 Bows to Kyokushin

Written by Monty DiPietro.


TOKYO, May 30, 2004 -- Kyokushin Karate fighters overwhelmed their K-1 opponents, winning all seven matchups in a unique fight event at the historic Budokan in central Tokyo. "Ichigeki" ("decisive strike") featured a K-1 vs Kyokushin format.

Seminal to K-1's development, Kyokushin is the ne plus ultra of karate styles, demanding unparalleled dedication to the development of spiritual and physical strength. Explained Kyokushin originator Mas Oyama (1923-1994): "One thousand days of training, a beginner; ten thousand days of training, a master". Today, dojos and practitioners all over the world comprise the Kyokushin Family.

The Ichigeki card was divided into two parts -- four fights were fought under K-1 Rules, with some of K-1's best taking on elite Kyokushin fighters, and three matches were contested under Kyokushin Rules (judging is based on technique, the Kyokushin Rules also prohibit punches to the head).

2003 K-1 World GP Champion Remy Bonjasky squared off against 33 year-old Kyokushin (and K-1) legend Francisco Filho in the main event. Bonjasky had won eight in a row in K-1, a streak dating back to July 2003. But on this night, he came up against a very focused Filho. Aware his side had won six of six so far on the Ichigeki card, Filho was determined to complete the Kyokushin sweep. But few in the room could have anticipated the manner in which Filho would accomplish this incredible feat.

Filho and Bonjasky tested one another with kicks in the early going -- Filho firing in low, Bonjasky answering up high and just missing. Bonjasky then tried to work knees from the clinch to no avail. It was Filho who scored first with a solid right punch that sent Bonjasky reeling and very nearly falling to the canvas. A shaken Bonjasky used his long legs to push his opponent back while he recomposed, but Filho now knew what he had to do -- from then on, the Brazilian used the right punch more than all his other weapons combined.

In the second Bonjasky closed his guard up, but when he did move to throw a kick, Filho read him like a book, and exploited the opening with that punishing right. In the third, aware he was down on the cards, Bonjasky looked for opportunities to launch his flying knees. But Filho was masterful at controlling the distance, tossing in low and front kicks to keep Bonjasky outside, leaning in when Bonjasky tried opening some space for more creative attacks. Bonjasky began punching more midway through the third, and was doing not half bad, when Filho again got that right straight punch through to stun the Dutch fighter. His back against the ropes, Bonjasky closed up while Filho threw in ten unanswered punches before the referee stepped in to call a standing eight. This capped Filho's performance in fine fashion, and earned him the win by a comfortable unanimous decision.

Given Filho's artistry with high kicks and Bonjasky's unparalleled knees, there was a surprising lack of legwork in this bout. Still, the crowd loved it -- cries of "Filho" could be heard long after the fighters had left the ring, and it is certain that all around the world, the Kyokushin Family will be celebrating this evening for a long time to come.

"I am happy with the fight of course," said Filho in his post-bout interview. "Punching is not new for me, having fought in K-1 for many years, but I was working on that, training for the last several weeks at the VOS Gym in Holland."

Asked about his mental preparation, Filho said: "I treat every fight as if it is my last, and so I always give it my all."

Reminded by a reporter that he has now beaten four K-1 Champions (Hug, Hoost, Aerts and Bonjasky), Filho said: "I was fortunate on the days I beat those excellent fighters, and if I go to the Tokyo Dome Final this year I hope I am fortunate there too, so that I can become the 2004 Champion!"

In other action, Brazilian Kyokushin veteran Glaube Feitosa took on Dutch fighter Alistair Overeem in the penultimate bout. Overeem was a late substitution after scheduled fighter TOA of New Zealand injured a cervical vertebrae. Feitosa wasted no time here, laying into Overeem with an uncharacteristic punching attack to force a standing eight count just seconds into the fight. Overeem came back with a good knee attack, but Feitosa was able to slip out of harm's way and resume his balanced kick and punch work to effect. Perhaps it was the lack or preparation, but Overeem did not look sharp here, and Feitosa once again got in with punches. It was a straight right that dropped Overeem for good and earned Feitosa his second consecutive KO victory in the K-1 ring.

Alexandre Pitchkounov of Russia represented Kyokushin against American Jiu-Jitsu fighter Seth Petruzelli. Pitchkounov used his 9cm height advantage to keep Petruzelli at bay with kicks in a listless first round, and retained control in the second. Petruzelli was unable to get inside with any sort of effective attack, and Pitchkounov was simply the better fighter here, picking his spots. Pitchkounov's spinning back kick and ax kick attempts just missed in the second, but a left straight punch did not, and sent Petruzelli to the canvas. The American beat the count, but at the clapper it was another left straight punch that got through and put Petruzelli down. Again Petruzelli beat the count, but this time the referee stopped the fight. A solid if unspectacular performance from Pitchkounov to record a win in his first K-1 bout.

Twenty-three year-old Kyokushin fighter Makoto Akaishi of Japan met German powerhouse Mavrick, who is 29 and a two-time Kage Kombat Light Heavyweight Champion. Mavrick was the more aggressive fighter from the bell, surprising his opponent with a number of low kicks. But Akaishi recovered and adjusted, and got in with a couple of big left hooks that sent Mavrick turning and retreating to the corner, where he was assessed a standing eight count. Akaishi did it again at the bell, connecting with punches to force a second standing eight. In the second, Mavrick kept leaning in, and the result was another set of punches that set the American turning away and stumbling to the canvas. It looked like this was the end, but Mavrick beat the count and came back with a fairly good rally -- a right straight getting in and a few uppercuts just missing. Soon afterward, Akaishi put a right in on Mavrick's kisser, sending him turning away yet again for another count. Seconds later, the towel came in from the red corner and Akaishi had the win.

The trio of Kyokushin Rules bouts saw fighters dressed in white Karate "do", fighting in a 2 min x 3 round format with 30 second breaks between rounds:

Ewerton Teixeira of Brazil won the Kyokushin All-American Championship in '01, '02, and '03. Here he defended Kyokushin's honor against spirited challenge from Seidokaikan fighter Peter Majstorovic of Switzerland, who has won 22 of 30 bouts in a K-1 career spanning almost a decade. Both fighters were light and mobile in the early going, respectful and technical. Teixeira looked cool, and got the better body blows through in the first and second, just missing with nice high kicks as well. The second round was close, both fighters working the kicks more here. Majstorovic looked good in the third, aggressively launching a combination that left both fighters on the canvas. A spirited dance, and judges saw Teixeira as the better fighter overall, giving the Brazilian a close but unanimous decision.

Kyokushin's Lechi Kurbanov of Russia met a mountain of a man in "Big Fam", at 144kg the heaviest fighter on the card. Big Fam laid into Kurbanov with a barrage of body blows from the bell, and these had to hurt. But Kurbanov weathered the storm, countering brawn with finesse. By midway through the first Kurbanov had planted two kicks on the big Fam's noggin, the first stunning the big American, the second, a spinning back kick, dropping him like a sack of potatoes. Any doubt about the edge a good technical fighter has in a match like this vanished when the medical team brought in a stretcher to retrieve Big Fam from the mat.

Hanse Nijman of The Netherlands brought a 30kg weight advantage (119 to 89kg) to the ring against Kentaro Tanaka of Kyokushin. Tanaka, however, had youth on his side -- the Japanese fighter is just 23, while Nijman is 44. The bout began with Nijman landing a number of solid punches to Tanaka's collarbone -- at least that's where he was meant to be landing them, but actually more than a few clocked Tanaka in the chops. Remember, this bout was fought without gloves, and so a punch to the head is like, well, a punch to the head without gloves, and so naturally Tanaka went down. Although Nijman was warned, he persisted in hitting Tanaka in the head (and the Japanese badly-bloodied face would attest to this afterward). The referee really had no choice but to disqualify Nijman for foul play, giving Tanaka the win.

In the undercard bouts, contested under K-1 Rules: Armenian Artur Hovhannisian beat Masayuki Fujita of Japan; Maxim Dedik of Russia beat Joji Hibino of Japan; Magnum Sakai of Japan beat compatriot Takashi Ohno -- these fights all settled by unanimous decision. Igor Peplov of Russia KO'd Hajime Moriguchi of Japan; Alejandro Navarro of Spain won over Taichi Furuta of Japan when Furuta's corner threw in the towel in the first; and Brazilian Fabiano Da Silva made short work of Serbian Sveto Dekovic, scoring two downs in the first round to win by TKO.

The official results are here:
Ichigeki attracted 7,596 fans to the Budokan and was same-day broadcast in Japan on the Asahi TV network.

Photo by Sportsnavi and the K-1

Excellent pics and results. Thanks mate.

Congrats to Filho, Glaube, Ewerton and Fabiano! Nice one! Brazilian fighters rules!

Congrats to Kyokushin for winning all its fights but at the same time they could have taken on a greater challenge then this field of fighters. The only 2 fights of interest for me were the Filho/Bonjansky bout and the Teixeira/Maistrovic bout. These were pretty equal matches with veteran fighters. The rest are a bunch of young guns taking on has beens and never was's.

The true challenging spirit of Kyokushin died with Oyama.

Great job, thanks Oliver!!!!

Thanks

Ignashov...

Great pics!! Wow Filho seems to have made an impressive performance! Hope to see him on the K-1 GP this year!

Zack Arnold said on puroresupower.com, the main news coming out of the show is the win over Bonjasky is being considered somewhat of a career-saving win for Filho, and the win got him a spot in the World GP Qualifying Tournament Sept. 25th. Match-maker Tanigawa also wants Filho to do a mma rules fight against Kaz Fujita on the 2nd K-1 ROMANEX mma show. Fujita being the guy who recently destroyed Sapp on the first ROMANEX show. I am glad this show focused on fighting, even with the booking of the K-1 gimmick fighters. Glad there was no Bob Sapp Breaking Demonstration or Akebono doing Kyokushin Kata. Akebono was there at the show, as was Ignashov. Bonjasky had been training with Hoost.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Hey Oliver did you get to see the event ? If you did, then, what's your opinion about the other Kyokushin fighters under K-1 rules? Do you think they are ready for K-1 ?

Sonik,

No, I have not seen the Ichegeki on video yet, but I am looking forward to see it very soon!

Even do I haven’t seen the event yet, I don’t think that many of the big names in Kyokushin are ready for the K-1. It is hard to shift and to readjust from karate fighting with no punches to head, to kickboxing with gloves. It takes years to learn to box, and most of all, to learn to get hit in the face.

Glaube Feitosa is an excellent example. He is one of the absolute best Kyokushin fighters in the world today, but he has had a very hard time to get success in the K-1, and he has been in the game since 1998.

Andy Hug and Filho are two positive examples, where Kyokushin fighters have had huge success in the K-1, so there is no reason to think, that Kyokushin not will produce a new star in the future. But Andy and Filho are also two unique people and fighters, which only come around very rare.

Noji had a good start on his K-1 career, Nicholas Pettas has won the All Japan tournament, Sam Greco was also very popular and had huge success... So who knows who from Kyokushin will be the next? Still I don’t think that Kyokushin karate will produce a new Peter Aerts or a Jerome Le Banner.

A good precise and very honest opinion - I agree! :)

Thanks Thomas...

Awesome pictures Oliver, I will try to introduce myself to you next time, just too busy in the corners for Ichigeki fighters Filho and Feitosa to come and say hello.
Great to see the team caught on camera with fantastic picture.
Great photo's.



Cheers

Supercharge,

Thanks for the kinds words. I wish that it was me, which has taken all the pictures above... But it aint. So I am not the one to take the credit, for all these amazing and beautiful pictures from the Ichegeki event above.

All the pictures are from SportsNavi and the K-1.

If I should be so lucky to see the next K-1 Grand Prix or Ichegeki event live in Japan, I will let you know Supercharge, so we can shake hands. I can undserstand that you was in the Kyokushin corner... Any new or pictures you would like to share from the event?

Greetings and respect from Denmark,
Oliver.

LOL @Akebono doing Kyokushin kata's :) :) :)

?

Sorry Oliver I dont have any photos from the event, I was just too busy in the corners
It will be good to catch up,

Greetings and respect from New Zealand
Supercharge
OSU!

Anyone know where I can get a legal copy of the event on tape?
(having asked eurosport, they apparently wont show it)

Hopefully it will be on Eurosport!

Ask larsenator, he is commentator on Eurosport, he might know much more about upcoming events on TV.

I just watched the fights as shown on japanese TV. (Its amazing what you can find on the net)
VERY nice.
Filho played with Bonjasky, and it was very clear who won.
Bonjasky is a good fighter and I like to watch him fight, but this night he didnt have a chance. Maybe he didnt fight at his best, but he simply couldnt compare to Filho this night. Filho dominated every round from start to finish, and near the end of round 3 bonjasky got a standing 8 after standing passive against the rope while filho used his head as speedball.

Pichkunov was impressive. He looked more like kyokushin than filho and feitosa (Ive never liked the flicking round kick of Filho and Feitosa - a brasilian "dialect" maybe?. Although effective, they never looked "right" to me -and Im not talking about the brasilian kick here), and I hope to see him in k-1 again. Although he may be too light . does anyone know his fighting weight?

Feitosa overwhelmed overeem. not much more to say about that. Overeem may be a good/decent MMA fighter, but not anywhere near feitosa in the striking game. Got to give it to him for taking the fight on short notice though.

Teixeira and Majstorovic (out of seidokaikan and so not unfamiliar with knockdown rules) had a good fight (maybe with a bit much forehead-to-forehead punch-trading). but the best fighter won.
Unfortunaly the whole fight was not show

Kurbanov and Akaishi did a good job in their respective bouts, and it was over before I realy got to form a oppinion about them But admitedly they did not have much of a opposition. Nice tobi ushiro mawashi by Kurbanov though. VERY nice. Dropped Fam (who had about as much skill as Sapp on a bad night, and about the same tactics) like sack of bricks, and he didnt get up.
Maveric came out swinging (with the smaller akaishi defending skillfully), but soon lost momentum and didnt realy have anything to show after first half of 1st round. after his first visit to the floor in round 2 (second visit there with a 8 count in the fight) he should not have been allowed to continue -he still had trouble with ballance when the fight restarted after the count.


I also got to watch a small part of the Magunamu Sakai vs. Ohno Takashi bout (unfortunaly the only thing from the minor fighting card shown) Does anyone know where Ohno Takashi comes from? he is not listed as kyokushin in he fighter line up and ive never heard of him, but his opponent Sakai was shidokan. And is WAS a kyokushin vs k1 event? Anyway from what little was shown, Takashi atleast made it a good fight, even if he didnt win.

Nijman came out fighting dirty (face punch to a opponet down on his back after a slip, as his first technique in the fight). And he continued to fight dirty. in the entire fight he made 5 body kicks (poorly) and a whole lot of face punches, nothing else! Im sure the MMA crowd will gleefully show this as proof kyokushin cant defend against facepunches, but realy! A well deserved disqalification -you would think he would make a punch allowed by the rules atleast by accident. I never got to see Tanaka though, and I hope to see HIM in some other event.

All in all a nice event, even though the K1 side could have been of much better skill.

Great Pics !! As Always !From one of the AX Photo Meisters !!!!
Just a couple of Points

Ref: If it was Kyokoshin v K-1?
Why didnt they All wear Uniforms/ Gis?

The Ichigeki card is divided into two parts -- four fights will be fought under K-1 Rules, with some of K-1's best taking on elite Kyokushin fighters, and the first three matches will be contested under Kyokushin Rules (judging is based on technique, the Kyokushin Rules also prohibit strikes to the head).


And If 4 Of the Fights was K-1 and 3 Not?
then how can it be 7-0 to Kyokoshin if they Fought each other?
just Curious !

Small clarification, kyokushin rules dont much care what techniques you use or how they look. Be it a thai, tkd or a kyokushin kick, no matter how sloppy it is done it is perfectly ok as long as it gives result. Face punches and elbows to the head are forbidden though, but head kicks and knees to the head is ok. As are lowkicks. Unfortunaly, it is no longer allowed to grab the head while kneeing it. It used to be, but the japs was at a serious disadvantage due to their small size and changed it.

If you are knocked down (or seriously stunned) but get up immediately the other is given half a point or half a win. two half point and it is over. If you are knocked down and stays down the other gets a full point or win.
If noone is knocked down or both are downed once, the judges can give the bout to the dominant fighter.
The "dominant" bit is why some kyokushin fights ends up as slugfests without either giving a inch. Backing up may be taken by the judges that the other was being dominant.

If noone was dominant, scores are reseted and a extention round is given. And then another one. In tournaments the prelims can have a max of 3 rounds (and they usualy do, unless theres been a knockdown) and quarter fianals and up may have 5 rounds.

And about the ichigeki event. As Sandy said. A bunch of kyokushin fighters faced a bunch of k-1 fighters of different backgrounds (and admitedly-skill).
Off the 7 fights on the main card 4 was fought with k1 rules where everyone used standard k1 gear (trunks), and 3 was fought with modified kyokushin rules (to allow for the ring) and required wearing gi´s.
It was the same in the minor fight card. about half was k1 rules, the rest modified kyokushin knockdown rules.

Just watched the Ichigeki show last night, at least the main fights, the undercard wasn't on the tape I got. I don't think Filho won by unanimous decision. I had pretty much a draw after 3 rounds, and thought they should have went to a 4th. I had seen it ripped other place. But the Akashi vs. Mavrick fight was very entertaining in my opinion. Akaishi has talent, and is only 23 years old. Built like Musashi. Not sure if he is ready for the big-time fighters in K-1, but if they bring him along against the lower-level fighters next year, he has potential to be a native star for K-1.