No, you aren't a K-1 Champion


I haven't been on here for a while, yet still pop by from time to time. I'm still training and although lighter (84kg is now my fighting weight - always been my actual fighting weight yet I fought 'up' as that's where the money was back in the day!) and keeping the youngsters in check lol during sparring. I feel strongly enough about what I am seeing to make some clear points.

Here's a copy of my FB post of a few moments ago.

"No. You are not K-1 Champion.

There has never been a European K-1 Champion Title. There has never been an English K-1 Champion Title. If you have not fought for K-1 you are not a K-1 fighter. There have only ever been three different K-1 British Champions of which I am one, doing so twice. So if you aren't one of us three don't claim to be a K-1 British Champion.

So few fighters from the UK have actually fought for K-1, even fewer of us who have actually fought in the K-1 Grand Prix. Don't devalue our achievements by making out you are something you are not.

If you are a show champion who has fought under K-1 rules, by all means say you are a show K-1 rules champion. If you are an association champion who has fought under K-1 rules, by all means say you are an association K-1 Rules champion. If you fight K-1 Rules, by all means say you fight K-1 Rules.

Yet, unless you have fought for K-1, you cannot claim to be a K-1 fighter. Unless you have won an official K-1 Championship you cannot claim to be a K-1 Champion.

If you do make these claims and you are not, then you are misrepresenting and actually can be considered as being fraudulent. It also devalues the few of us that have achieved our K-1 status.

This is the way I honestly feel - and I welcome feedback and comment for discussion."

On my FB I have posted the official records of K-1 from inception to 2007.

If you have not fought on an official K-1 show you are not a K-1 fighter.

I agree completely with you Gary!!!
There are loads of people in Sheffield coming up to me saying "my mate is K-1 UK champion".
They say his name and i have to turn round and say " WHO???"

As far as im concerned if they arent :
Gary Turner
Matt Skelton
Nick Murray
John Love (he won Road to Tokyo 2006)

Or for the 70kg MAX
Neil Woods
Mark Beale

Then they quite simply are NOT K-1 champions ;)

We even get gyms locally claiming to teach "K-1" or to be "Black Belts in K-1"
Im not quite sure what they mean by that but I think they should be either Kickboxing or Muay Thai.
I openly teach Kickboxing , however my students compete under ISKA Oriental Rules or occasionally ISKA-K1 Rules.

Fahad we also need to check whether those events were official K-1 events too, or just using the name. The 2006 show does not appear as an official K-1 event. You can cross reference this as per my photos of the official event records on my FB.

I also need to check the records for the British K-1 Max fighters, to see if those shows were official - they don't appear to be on the records.

I had an interesting chat with Daisuke in Stockholm, the K-1 matchmaker, about unofficial tournaments.

I'm going to be trawling back through the records to find out who fought on what show, whether it was an individual fight, or part of the Grand Prix, undercard, or support card, listing the records accurately. I also will be liaising with the other 'real' K-1 fighters from the UK to cross reference their memories too.

Kind regards,

Smiler

Thanks Gary :)

Well said Gary!

Gary didn't you claim to be a Muay Thai world champion but didn't fight Muay Thai?

Tom, I claim to be the WPKC World Thai boxing champion defeating Azem Maksutaj in Switzerland and taking his title, and yes there were no elbows in the fight. I also have done a blog post in the past stating clearly which of my 13 World Titles I value and why. And I highly value that fight yet not the title. I make that clear. And I have never claimed to be anything I am not.
It is not the same thing at all.
Kind regards, Smiled

Hi, just to clarify my post to Tom, the governing body for K-1 is the company that owns it. K-1 is a company that puts on shows of the sport of kickboxing.

It is the same as UFC, being a company that puts on the sport of mixed martial arts.

I fought for the WPKC who put on the sport of Thai boxing, and I won their World Title against a great opponent.

I also say that I have won a 'version' of the Thai boxing world title, which I have.

Kind regards,

Gary

But you never fought Muay Thai rules?

The rules I fought under were Muay Thai rules, their version doesn't have elbows. It is not the same thing as my original post at all.

I have made no false claims at all.

If people claim to be K-1 Fighter they are claiming to have fought for K-1. Unless they have fought for that company they can't claim it.

No different to those claiming to be a UFC fighter, or worse, UFC champion, without ever having fought for the UFC.

I think you are completely missing the point Tom.

Kind regards,

Smiler

I have had the same Gary, some fighters claiming they are K-1 fighters and even champions etc and they have only had 2 or 3 matches.

For the record, I trained at the K-1 Seidokaikan Honbu in Japan in 1994 as an standby fighter for the late Andy Hug RIP, and then returned to fight for the K-1 corporation in 1995.

I have fought on various K-1 sanctioned events since and I was even on the European selection tournament in Prague where I fought.

My victory over Simon Doré was officially K-1 sanctioned I believe, maybe Gary can confirm?

I was a legit K-1 fighter but never a champion.

Be a champion by all means but just don't say K-1, same as UFC.

I would also suggest that a name for kickboxing that resembles K-1 ie 3x3 no elbow and limited clinch etc be used. A big part of the problem is that the K-1 corp didn't pursue and sue those that stole the name.

Imagine if a fighter went about claiming to be a UFC champion or an event calling itself the UFC but wasn't, they would be hunted down and there arse sued.

Why use the term 'International Kickboxing' rules or 'Unified Kickboxing' rules like mma does.

So you cold then say I'm (Brand name) IK Champion.

Saying you are a K-1 champion is the same as saying you are a UFC champ.

'K1 Rules Champion' Clarifies it. It's as simple as that.

It's a reference point to describe the rule set. You could call it MTR (Modified Thai Rules) if you wanted to get picky but K1 rules makes it universally recognisable.

It's true, the amount of people that say 'I fight UFC' when in fact they might train a little MMA and have a T-shirt.
However I think this is slightly different as many people don't quite understand the difference between K1 and K1 rules. The fact that it is/was a brand. I think even some promoters don't get that either and offer fighters a 'K1 title fight' which is where their belief comes from.

But it is clear. You can't be a 'K1 champion' outside of the brand, you can be a 'K1 rules champion' as this is now an accepted rules/style variation.

It is an interesting subject but we shouldn't get to anal about it.
The proper people will always do it properly - and then there's the rest, and always will be - whatever the subject matter!

Are cool, I'm now a UFC rules champion lol

One slight point though, even when people say K-1 rules they are not using the K-1 rules, I've been to events where the officials don't know what K-1 rules are, it's not just 3x3 round without elbows.

There needs to be a K-1 amnesty and a resetting of what is/was commonall known as K-1 and call it Unified or International Kickboxing Rules.

Without Gary raising the point many promoters and fighters would stay in the dark about the whole K-1 mystery.

You say don't get anal but that's because maybe you never fought real K-1 or was a legit K-1 champion??

Imagine you got aload of mma fighters claiming to be UFC champions?

Would you take your fighters to a lcal promotion to fight for a UFC rules belt??

I'm actually totally with you. Don't read too much into the 'anal' comment. What I'm trying to say is don't make it too complicated in explanation or definition.

The rest of it is totally right, as is Gary posting the thread.
As far as 'K1 rules' or not I refer to my previous comment:

'The proper people will always do it properly - and then there's the rest, and always will be - whatever the subject matter'!

It would still be useful to have 1 rule set for it though. As you say, it has already been diluted into various forms.

It's all to do with people's general understanding of the format. If someone asks me what Glory is, and what their rules are, my first answer would be that it's similar to K-1 and k-1 rules. Then most people get the general gist of it... the term Kickboxing is also used too far widely - i used to love watching 'kickboxing' on Eurosport as i knew it was either full contact or low kicks, but when i tuned in once i seen some poxy mat sport tip-tap stuff that even then commentator was wondering what the hell was going on.

'International Rules' - wasn't that one of the early names for low-kicks rules? Along with Freestyle and possibly japanese? It's a mess unless you actively follow the various disciplines.



Back to the point though, i do think that as the term 'k-1' is now recognised as a rules set, and not just as the name of a promotion, that promoters need to be more clear with their branding - ie WKA British Champion - K1 Rules, etc.

The UFC have done very well in promoting itself as Mixed Martial Arts, so much so that it's caught on with the public enough for the majority to know that not every local fighter is a UFC champion, and are in fact some version of an MMA title holder.
K-1/Glory, etc, do well to label themselves Kickboxing so the mainstream public also know what to expect when they see it in the TV listings. However, even within combat sports circles there's petty bickering from certain groups that dispute K-1/Glory, etc, as Kickboxing, as they have a blinkered perception of what they see kickboxing should be - ie full contact. So if people in the industry cannot even agree, then how do we expect it to catch on with the public?

I disagree with the idea that it is okay to use K-1 in any context outside of an actual K-1 show.
Even saying K-1 rules is not okay in my opinion. K-1 as a company created the rule set, promoted the brand and gave it any recognition that it has, albeit still not as a recognisable sport to the masses.
How long would a takeaway last advertising McDonalds style burgers?

Sort of a fair point. However, K1 are not pushing their own rule set forward now and most promotions are not big enough to have a recognised rule set under their own brand name. Therefore 'K1 rules' or 'K1 style' helps to clarify that. Although I accept that many use the tag just to heighten the 'credibility' of their event or fighter status.

Can't say i disagree with LeeJonesJnr either, it's totally unfair to steal someone's hard work, but how do we re-tune people's thinking on such as mass scale? It's going to take something pretty bug to get fighters, coaches, promoters, and fans to retune themselves into calling it something else, especially when that something else doesn't even have a name as of yet?

What alternatives are there?

Unified Kickboxing Rules
International Kickboxing Rules
Kickboxing
Japanese Kickboxing
K Style
Professional Kickboxing


We already have some orgs using the Oriental Rules for a similar format.

As i say, i totally agree with the point of the post, i just think it's going to be a mammoth task retuning people's way of thinking. I do agree though, we need to re-label the rules for that style of combat so that sanctioning bodies, etc, can all read from the same book.

“UFC Rules Champion” Lee – you have just made me spit my coffee out lol!!

As is mentioned, so few people actually have any idea of what K-1 Rules actually are, let alone the scoring system.

Smiler

'Professional Kickboxing' does what it says on the tin.

Yep!

It appears from the contacts I've had that this has hit a nerve with the industry...

The problem lies with the promoters and fighters who perpetuate the myths.

Smiler

Who's upset then? It's not really something you can argue with!
Would it be the same promoters that give a 'brand' title fight to an 0-4 fighter perhaps?

Where's Neil Holden? He seems to be quite on this thread?

JoeToe,
Neil Holden feels as I do. Just call it KICKBOXING!!!
Not so sure about direct translations from Japanese as these lead to incorrect English grammar.

Bulldog
Anybody who gives a title fight to a Fighter who is 0-4 is a DISGRACE to the sport!!!

Pro Kickboxing.

There's one very relevant point that's missing here. In ideal world no doubt K1 would be K1. BUT there is now loads of activity going on under 'K1 rules' and that's the reality, its too late now to stop it....and on the whole I can't see it as being a bad thing. When I go to watch a fight under what I'm told is 'K1 rules' then at least I know broadly speaking what I'm going to see

It's out there, it's going on and it's now too late to stop it I would say. If anyone wants to get legal then they expect to be in court every day for a year, mostly chasing people who don't have real money anyway

Farhad - I agree. But for the talkers, not walkers they are getting what they want and they get to parade their fighter around with a belt. I've heard it called 'moving with the times'. Sad times then, but we lost the battle with the masses, those who thought doing iot properly was the way forward - until a couple od days later when someone called them up and offered them an XYZ title belt for their fighter that was stopped 7 days previously.
Speaking hypothetically of course, but I bet it would take me all of 2 minutes to find a real example!

However, I do not wish to digress any more from the thread. Pardon the interlude :)

I like the term Professional Kickboxing, though as pointed out, the term K-1 has been used too much now to convince many people to change. I do have a gripe with MMA promoters cashing in on the whole K1 thing and giving away their worthless titles, even the biggest UK MMA promotions' kickboxing titles are not really that worthy.

I think that part of the problem is, that early on K1 promoted / marketed K1 as a new sport.
I think some people view it as a seperate sport .

K-1 Rules I don't have a problem with.

Yet, claiming to be K-1 etc can only be misrepresentation and fraud...

I don't follow K1 rules much but must admit I thought it was a ruleset not a brand, maybe I got into kickboxing too late and missed when these tournaments took place but to me like Colin says its too widely used now to change much IMO. There are already too many names (Full Contact, low kick, oriental rules, k1 rules, Japanese rules) then all the different types of Thai rules, a b c class and so on. Its no wonder its hard to get recognition with all these flying around. Promotions like Glory and Ennfusion etc I thought were just a K1 ruleset under differet promotions like when different shows have FC or Thai.

I know I have no real point here I just wasn't aware of this situation lol. Like I say I think it would struggle to be changed and for all those that did try to use a different name there'd be 10 more still using k1. Why doesn't the original creators of K1 start legal proceedings then and get it stopped? Or hav they and people are just chancing it?

K-1 is a brand Dean, and it is posts like this that help to make people aware of it. Using a K-1 ruleset is one thing - claiming you are a K-1 Champion is another.

Kind regards,

Smiler

I've heard it all now - just seen that there is someone out there claiming a black belt in K-1 haahahahahahahahaahaahahaaaa!!!!!

I laughed so hard I spat coffee all over the wall!!

Lol Gary the worse thing is some of public will beleave him

He's corrected his Facebook post now though, deleting it and apologising...though he's still calling himself a K-1 Professional though...

It's a problem
Speaking as a Muay Thai purist I'm on the fence
The masses know it as k1 but they don't allow people to teach it. So how do the masses get into it? How does the outsider who wants to do k1 get into k1?

Train for it, get a fight record that speaks to the matchmakers, get connected management, get the breaks...it is HARD work...

Or contact people who manage and work for K-1 before you sayin myself and Kieran do lol

Carl Tankard is

That's coo Paul - what K-1 Show did Carl Tankard fight on?

Who are you to critise people smiler?

Just calling it as I see it Tony, no more, no less.

K1 world champion, Good luck Chad

Oh dear.

Good luck Chad though!

Stop nit picking Smiler what's the reason yes you won K-1 and fought everyone no ones has forgot that funnily enough I watched you fight Badr Hari from years ago : )

K-1 is over virtually Glory Kick Boxing is the future. Shame but true!

Note we have put K1 and not K-1 but the reality is its a OR title but Joe Public does not understand what OR is. So we have used K1 not K-1 (OH DEAR)

Gary - I agree with your points entirely but unfortunately K-1 is not the org it was and all the top fighters have signed with Glory (most of them).

We went to K-1 try outs in the States and was not impressed with the standard or the selection process. No Sparring :-(

Chad also fought in Grand Prix 8 x Man last year where the winner was supposed to get the opportunity to fight on actual K-1 Show. That has not happened but we have put ourselves out there and couldn't of done anymore to try and get an OFFICIAL K-1 fight.

We know we are not fighting for an official K-1 Title but IMO an ISKA Oriental Rules World Title is next best thing to winning GLORY 8 Man 70kg max EVENT. So that is why we have challenged for it but understand it is only a K1/ OR rules fight.

Marcio is unbeaten as Kick Boxer (OR/K1 Rules). If the K-1 want to comment on me using K1 (NOT K-1) CAN THEY ALSO TELL ME WHY WE HAVENT GOT OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT ON AN OFFICIAL K-1 EVENT YET:-)

Respect to Smiler but unfortunately for the new generation of Real Fighters they prob wont get the chance to achieve what you have done because the org is all over the shop. If it isnt then please pass my details on as we would love to fight in the K-1 Max:-)

Vinny its not nitpicking, its correction.

I didn't fight everyone - far from it.

I didn't get the breaks in K-1. i Nearly won the qualifying tournament in Stockholm for the final 16, yet made a mistake that cost me dear.

When we asked for more opportunities K-1 said I hadn't fought the right people. They then gave me access to fight Gregory Tony, Azem Maksutaj, Carter Williams and so on and I beat them - and then they said I was too old lol! So I didn't get the breaks either.

Dean, the answer to getting access is in my post above - it is not easy to even get the first opportunity to fight for K-1.

kind regards,

Gary

Nothing changes it and won't and correction you didn't fight anyone the kids today are way better anyway so get ya slippers and enjoy them all x

What a way to shoot a guy down.

Gary fought Venetiaan, Badr Hari, Bjorn Bregy and Matt Skelton.

Liam R
Shame on you posting the Newark show and trying to poke fun at that very prestigious fight.

Yes Farhad but "he didn't fight anyone"

I'm going to hold a UFC British Title fight on my next event ;)

And Tyrone Spong

Chad is looking good.

Chad is looking good. But i dont think he will have much of a chance

Buy a ticket and see!!!

what u on about Farhad u tool, Chad is legit world title challenger?

LiamR,
Chad won the 8 man tournament with some big names in there.
He is also a world FC champion with numerous fights to his record.
What grounds can you find that he is NOT a genuine World Title Contender???
You are a disgrace to the sport you represent with such unprofessional behaviour.

Farhad well said for once your talking sense. Liam's a right jobs worth. His the type of guy that Wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says "your a neet guy."

Tony, with a record like Liam has, he can look in the mirror and say "you're a nice guy" any times he wants - he's earnt it lol!

Vinnie, it will change things, if only to make people aware of what K-1 actually is and the history of what has gone before. Oh, lol, I'm still keeping the youngsters in their place in the gym - if someone wants to offer me the right money, I'm more than willing to show that the old fella still has it ;)

Kind regards,

Gary

Chad defeated Costel Pasniciuc for the ISKA OR Intercontinental title in Dec last year why wouldn't he be a credible challenger.

I can't work out if Liam is suggesting chad is or isn't a credible challenger?

Costel record is 45 wins 6 losses and a very close fight and one of them losses to Tim Thomas and clear loss against chad who won every round. Costel fought very well against Glory ranked 10 fighter at Excel. Chad looking to test himself at the highest level and loves to prove people wrong. Last year he shocked a few but those closest to him weren't shocked.

He only gonna get better :-) and wants to mix it with the best hence why we put a challenge in for this title and champion.

Chad on fire deserves his shot just my thoughts

Chad is doing well, well worthy. Has a great future
Only 18 too.

farhad what the hell are you on about can you actually read?

my post above says Chad is a legit world title challenger, which he is, he beat romanian guy, smashed the tournament, other wins on a big shows, i speak to his dad now and then even tried to help set them up a fight recently as it was at his weight and decent money and he deserves it.

i thought u had stopped being such a bellend after we had chatted on a few shows but you are back to it again, if you think im a disgrace come speak to me at next show u little worm, do my head in chatting shit all the time when you do and achieve fuck all.

Piss off now.

@ Tony Taylor, why u saying that kid? Is it because Ben banged u out up town then u paid him £120 not to bang you out again a second time? haha spoke to ray and roma all said ur a fag so why you runnin your mouth u know where i am 4 times a week so just come down i u aint down by sunday ill come your work.

Does't read like liam r was being disrespectful.

Smiler is right though......you can't be a K1champion unless you fought on a legitimate K1 show. But you can be a K1 Rules champion without competing on a K1 show in my opinion. I have always viewed K1 as a rule set,rather than an organisation. Wasn't all that long ago that K1 as a brand and organisation was almost finished.

K1 really did shootthemselves in the foot by not legally pursuing people who used the word K1 to promote shows outside of the K1organisation.

Liam, on another thread someone was complimenting you on how you are a brilliant up and coming coach with a great stable of fighters.
Going by the ones I have seen fight dan McGowan, Ricky Sewell etc i would agree with this.
You are letting yourself down by reacting to people trying to wind you up. If you know these two guys personally as you suggest then speak to them off here and sort out your differences.
Threads like this with stupid threats and insults are what drag our sport backwards. We don't know each other and I write this post with nothing other than the intention of a friendly word of warning, not to jump on the band wagon and join in with those winding you up.
It doesn't look good for the sport when a well regarded coach is calling someone a 'fag' and threatening to come to their work.

I have had the pleasure of sparring gary and testament to his conditioning and consistency i actually think hes getting better with age!!! he still has what it takes to clear up!!

Just seen an Irish ISKA event that's actually calling itself 'K1 Rising' - Talk about copyright !!!

@ Neil Gribbon

You are right mate, it was a little out of character I was having a nightmare day in the office and have been subject to remarks from the same jealous person for months now, usually directed at my boxers. Anyway will all be sorted off the forum should not have wasted time responding really and given Farhad something to pleasure himself over in his otherwise dull existence.
Thank you for the kick up the backside, we all need it sometimes and to admit when we are in the wrong. Have had a chat with Dean Sugden who knows the truth and has made sure that those who matter also know my intentions were nothing but good with the post promoting Chad.

Right, time to close some more of these support tickets...

Smiler you didn't get the breaks because of your fighting style, K-1 really wanted to make it the most exciting stand up fighting they could and with all due respect your style although effective was not exciting.

Hahaha just see a GLORY rules show now brill

Im a k1 champion

Jamin, you get it mate!

Skud187 thanks mate! Hope you are well!

Liam, slapped wrist to himself, apology, and back on track. Good work.

Tom, fully agree - I've never had the KO, the power, or the sparkle - just the chin and the sweep lol!

What frustrates me too is when a referee not skilled in K-1 rules gives trainings for judges and refs in K-1. This particular referee didn't understand the 2 knockdown rule in round 1 of a tournament, and during a fight after he gave my opponent a warning for a knee to the head, and I have to correct him for it is actually legal.

Jamin, you get it mate!

Skud187 thanks mate! Hope you are well!

Liam, slapped wrist to himself, apology, and back on track. Good work.

Tom, fully agree - I've never had the KO, the power, or the sparkle - just the chin and the sweep lol!

What frustrates me too is when a referee not skilled in K-1 rules gives trainings for judges and refs in K-1. This particular referee didn't understand the 2 knockdown rule in round 1 of a tournament, and during a fight after he gave my opponent a warning for a knee to the head, and I have to correct him for it is actually legal. Every fighter should expect the ref and judges to know the rules.

Good lad Liam.

I am k-1 simple fact!

I am Ke1th :D

Everyone look at my car and numberplate im so sexy

Thats a classy motor Tate.

LiamR
£120 not to get beaten up??? Is that the going rate these days?
Isnt that a bit extortionate? There is a recession on after all.

Hi Gary. Didn't Duncan Airlie james fight K-1 in Japan years ago? I may be wrong............i often am!!lol

Yes he did!
Duncan fought Nobuaki Kakuda (the ref) it was a right tear up especially since they were both the same age and height!

Also Fought Musashi?

Hi Chad, he did - that reminds me, I gotta shout my mate Duncan up and see how he is!!

Quick mention for Pele if we have moved from champions to UK fighters who fought on K-1 promotions.

Pele was one of the ones who was given access to Japan - even fewer K-1 fighters have done that! He soooo nearly, like Matt Skelton, converted to becoming a K-1 God...

Pele Reid - the man who knocked out Vitali Klitshco with a jump spinning hook kick - I was there in Varna, Bulgaria as part of the team.

Pele is a top fighter, a top friend, and a K-1 fighter official...

Hi guys
Smiler, long time hope your well my friend.
Not been on here for a long time and looks like people have forgotten me already lol!
Just wanted to remind people that I fought in K1 MAX fighting on the same K1 show as Peter Aerts v Andy Hug in Switzerland 1998, I fought an official K1 max eliminator against Sergie Karpin in Birmingham and then went on to KO Kohiruimaki in Japan at the Ariaki stadium on the same K1 max show as Masato v Kraus.
Hope your all well guys
Pete "The Gentleman" Crooke

Pete!!! Hope you are really well!!!!

Pete Crooke - one of the greatest fighters EVER to come from Britain, a K-1 official fighter, and definitely a gentleman too ;)

I dont think anyone had forgotten Peter Crooke in a hurry ?
How could anyone forget the UK's number 1 70kg of the previous era.

Peter Crooke also beat Malaipet Sitpraprom in the Superleague.

The fight v Karpin in Birmingham remains one of, if not the, best fight I have had the pleasure to see live; great fight

Hi Guys
Thanks for the kind words, nice to know some people still remember me lol!
Take care and hope to catch up with you all soon.
Pete ;-)

Forget everyone else Peter is the man everyone knew who he was the others didn't make much of an impact really well done Pete mate x

People being nice in AX wtf? Lol wish I got into Thai sooner seeing these comments.

Its Pete Rich - everyone loves Pete!!!!

Besides, don't care who we are, if we were nasty to him, he could kick our butts...

Thanks Vinny

Hope your well mate, take care buddy and see you soon ;-)

Smiler (yes thats VERY true!!!)

Pete is the one all the Dutch and Japanese mention and matt Skelton too and yes Pete see ya soon pal!

Peter Crooke was a top fighter

how was ur leg afta the Kohi fite dosser! lol
best end of round corner advice ever in that 1.

Nah Farhad i'd probably want more than that not to slap you, see you weekend in Bolton ;-)

Hi guys.

I haven't posted to Ax for YEARS ! Anyway, I felt I had to post to this thread. It's an interesting topic. YES, I fought on K-1 in Japan, and a few other places. I fought three times there - against Musashi, Yoji Anjo, and lastly against Nobuaki Kakuda, all in 1999 ! I'm not as young as I look ! Lol.

It was a great experience, and was the way EVERY fighter wanted to be and should be treated. I became a "mini name", was getting mobbed in the street by screaming fans, and those fights / times are still the highlight of my career, over the World titles won, and other fights I had.

I'm still the only Scotsman ever to fight on K-1 officially, when K-1 WAS something, and I had the privilege of getting to know, and being able to call some of the biggest names in the whole fight World, as my friends ! People like - Peter Aerts, Ray Sefo, Mike Bernardo, Ernesto Hoost, Andy Hug, Andre Manaart. And a good few others.

And also, when I fought in the K-1 UK's that happened in the early 2000's, I became friends with Gary [Smiler !], Phil Williams, Matt Skelton, and a whole host of others.

On this thread, my own personal opinion, is that it is SO important to be accurate. I think just call it "K-1 Rules", and / or, a fighter is a "K-1 Rules" champion. Nothing more / nothing less. Just THAT simple. Anything, or anyone, that starts getting it all mixed up and "confused" does so for the general fans as well, that we NEED to be encouraging and introducing into our sport.

The myriad of bullshit styles, titles, "formats", etc, etc, etc, that have sprung up, mostly of course, just to make it easier for usually bad promoters to [exploit ?] make an easy[ier] buck, are the WORST thing that has happened, and is why the sport has become so diluted to the general public. They haven't a clue what is, or is not "legitimate". And it also gives an "out" to the mainstream media and so on, that just DON'T want any form of fighting sport, other than Western Boxing to get on their channels !!!

Amongst various other things I am doing, I now promote some of Scotland's biggest and best fight shows - and we are ALL K-1 Rules ! No thai, Kick, or anything. We also do Global / Dream Rules MMA, similar to the old Pride days ! But really all K-1.
Check out our website - www.katanafighting.com

So, all the best to everyone that remembers me, and I shall post again in another 5 or 6 years ! Lol.

Honourably Yours,

Duncan Airlie James.

www.duncanairliejames.com

Excellent post Duncan!!!
I remember enjoying all your matches in the K-1 UK Tournament.
I was also honoured to share a dressing room with you at the K-1 UK at Wolverhampton.
Kasim Khan and his wife still ask me about "The Scottish Fighter" LOL

Alongside Peter Crooke, Kirkwood 'FIRE' Walker has to be mentioned when you speak of British fighters and 'K-1'.

Kirkwood was a great ambassador for the U.K. and also for 'K-1'.

When he was 'On Fire' he was amazing to watch.

On a circuit of Super-Heavyweights, one has to remember that Walker was a Cruiserweight ( World Champion ) and to row with the people that he did was incredible.

Firewalker = one of the U.K. best ever!

Well K-1 is definitely NOT dead, they are investing in the future...and the future is 2 Slick. Chad has signed a long term contract to fight for K-1 and with immediate becomes a K-1 Fighter. One of the youngest ever to be signed by K-1. Check out www.k-1.tv for the Official announcement.

Another U.K. K-1 fighter well deserving of a mention is Mark Russell.

On the video above he faced Andy Hug, ( K-1 World GP Champion, W.K.A. World Champion and W.M.T.C. World Champion ).

Mark put in a great performance in this fight, at several points he was pretty close to getting landing a K.O. finish, that would have shook up the 'K-1' World!

I keep seeing posts/comments on Facebook and other social media of ''fighters'' claiming to be K1 fighters/Title holders.

Unfortunately the blame does not lay with the fighters all the time, Certain promoters are shameless/dangerous and someone soon is going to get seriously injured as a result of someone's actions and stupidity just to sell a few tickets.

Smiler Posted: 2013-03-29 07:49:24

"No. You are not K-1 Champion.

There has never been a European K-1 Champion Title. There has never been an English K-1 Champion Title. If you have not fought for K-1 you are not a K-1 fighter."

---

Well on the 21st September 2013, at The Parr Hall in Warrington, Cheshire, England Dan Green and myself will be giving English fighters the opportunity to gain their OFFICIAL 'K-1' fighter status and someone will be crowned 'K-1 MAX England Grandprix Champion 2013'.

This event is part of the 'K-1 World Tour', a series of shows in 16 different countries, that will see the real 'K-1' MAX National Champions progress onto a Super-show called the 'K-1 Final 16 event'.

At the 'K-1 MAX Final 16' event, there will be 8 super-fights resulting in 8 winners. These winners will then progress onto the 'K-1 MAX World Grandprix'

'K-1 MAX World Grandprix' is the final 8 man tournament, to crown the 'K-1 MAX World Grandprix CHAMPION'.

Three stages for Fighters / Trainers to aim for : The route to becoming a true 'K-1' National Champion and then a 'K-1' World Champion.

1. K-1 MAX 'National Grandprix' ( 8 man tournament ).

2. K-1 MAX 'Final 16 : Super-show'

3. K-1 MAX 'World Grandprix' ( 8 man Tournament ).

Best of luck to all competing on 21st September 2013 at K-1 MAX England Grandprix.

Pict : Official 'K-1 National Champion' belts.

Tickets available now - text 'K-1 England Grandprix 2013' to 07973-43-18-18 to reserve yours!

as said before pete crook was the only british fighter to ever do well at k1! he beat some elite guys, jordan now in my opinion is better than pete was jordan will go all the way! only one person k1 rules jordan will have a real hard night with and thats petro, kirl was great in his day but its a shadow of what the level is now, they didnt have the same level of coaching, if pete had the level of coaching like todays fighters he woiuld have been k1 max champ! i always think of pete's horrible corkscrew jab/left hook! absolute killer punch!

Peter did have better hands IMO, but Jordan is a BEAST with his sheer kicking strength

Gday Smiler, have never seen you fight in the past but i have been watching a few of your fights on youtube today. Especially like the badir hari one, that dude spent most of the time on the bottom. Respect to you sir great fighter! fighting other great fighters

Those belts look shocking.
It could just be the photo but I would have expected something a little less plastic looking.

It's all about to change Chad Sugden will be the dominant force from UK in K-1. And will not just fight but beat K-1 legends. Happy to be in a position where we can prove it...

19 years old - ISKA World Champion and happy to defend it against anyone :-)