On a day where the weather was see-saw, and with a start to the Saturday full of gloom, after darkness there must come out the light. We witnessed which was arguably one of the best K-1 shows for sometime, and I would assume sometime to come. Without further due a brief run down...

Fight 1: Daniel “Hitman” Tai Won Vs Felise “FOB Father” Leniu – Majority Dec.

The opening tussle had the makings of two evenly matched brick and tile state houses. Leniu started by controlling centre ring and Tai circling round the ropes. Tai with his kicks and Felise with rockling fists. Tai piled up the points with some effective rib kicks, Leniu struggled a tad with punches which weren’t well timed. In the second Tai gave the fob father a nasty combo of punches which opened the drip in his nose. Smart fight by Tai who worked his opponent cunningly. Dissapointing for Leniu who could have promised so much.

Fight 2: Reuben De Jong Won Vs Simi Tai TKO : Did not answer bell for 3rd

Simi Tai seemed to have learned the first three chapters from Jason Sutties fighting manual, and mirrored a similar stance and game plan. And as he worked the giant around opened a cut on his nose and followed with some nice front thigh kicks. Having said that strangely in the second Simi played Rope-a-dope and took a hammering on his front thigh, and it turned purple in a hurry. And wolla…. He didn’t answer the bell. Disappointing end for the manawatu man, and redemption for the nearly 7 foot monster. Simi in my opinion would be very unlikely to see K-1 action again. Deserving win for the humble giant.

Fight 3: Peter Sampson WonVs Jason Suttie Majority dec.

Strolling to the ring to the track “Sunshine in the music” by Kool and the gand, Suttie got the crowd revving. Oh yeah!!! And not to mention the eye-balling and strolling around the ring …woah
Round one saw Sampson pull out the full range of his karate kicks and Jason work his body, with fast four combos of punches. Sampson used his longer reach to better effect and connected with his teep (push-kicks). Suttie was trying very hard to get in, and on 2 occasions connected with over hand rights. In the third the tempo was upped and the Punisher used the ropes to good effect and made points with his leg work. Desperate to get in to it, Suttie opened up and swung toe to toe. And on the final bell, Sampson sealed the fight with a beautiful high kick to Drop the veteran and pick up the majority win. Are we seeing a change of the guard? Perhaps I speak to pre-maturely. Upset of the night. Wild card is now the only hope for Psycho, who admitted who had an off night.

Fight 4 Super Fight: Jan Antholik Vs Aaron Boyes

In a Napolean V Wellington like dual, both these ring scientists were repeatedly warned for catching kicks under K-1 rules, and amidst the warnings what broke out in the middle was a cracker of a super fight. Both guys traded clinical punch-kick combos and the veteran was unfortunately cut with a late high kick, and a point deducted from Atomic man. The bombers approach was brutal with his leg work and showed the guts of a tiger. Both guys traded some clinical but brutal kicks and in the end the fight lived up to its billing as a super fight. Aarons guts which was written on Jans ribs (not to mention the technique) got him the majority win. What a fight!!!
Aaron showed the fitness of a refreshed and well prep’d pro. Kids take note.

Fight 5: Andrew Peck Won Vs Matt Samoa TKO Leg kicks

A relaxed and smiling Samoa as usual, as opposed to a motoring and fired up Powerhouse stormed his way to the ring, with signs of his former physique (abs and all) With the bell Peck made his intentions clear and unloaded with some solid punch kick combos and the claret was visible on Samoa early on, who was his usual casual self. Coupled with the inability to check, he went down for 3 separate counts inside the first 2 rounds were chopped down in typical Powerhouse style. Simply awesome!!!. Samoa just couldn’t break his duck and Andrew landed some vicious leg kicks, possibly 30 plus. Yes people, Peck is “Fu***n*-back!!!” Good show man and you have well and truly defied your critics, including myself- I admit.

Fight 6: Leamy tato Won Vs. Steve McKinnon KO Punches, thunderbolts

With Rex the Rumble Redden in his corner the big ex-league player (with a heavily strapped shin) was up against the “smooth” sailing, movie star like McKinnon, with brother Stu in his corner. Anyhow… whilst the battle in the ring was about to brew, so was the ringside battle for eagles eye view by the photographers. (LOL….)
Steve started with his usual kicking game but got caught by a storming combo of handy work by Tato, which was reminiscent of clubber Lang and got an early count. Due his inexperience and not retiring to the neutral corner, it gave Smooth the grace he needed and probably cost the quickest KO of the night. Holy heck!!! I witnessed the making of a new champion brawler, with Tyson like grit and the eye of the tiger one of the best Muay Thai fighters in the scene was rocked, cropped and dropped like a hot potato. Those left and right hooks could destroy a mammoth. Steve did make a brief comeback was that was all smashed to bits. Watchout for this guy with the sinister black trunks and one who fights like an angry doorman, and fears no one.
Warning : do not trade toe to toe with this man.

Fight 7: Alexander Ustinov Won Vs Chris Chrisopoulides KO Left Hook

With the Russian community being a significant majority in Auckland tonite the giant 6”10 champ made his way to the rapturous applause and biggest cheer of the night, bar the pervious Laemy KO. Godzilla was focussed as, probably sensing his career on the line.
In one of the most vicious AND BULLY-BOY LIKE KO’s, Ustinovs left flattened the Godzilla and the ref immediately called it quits. He systematically harassed and brought a swift end to the super-fight and (probably Godzilla’s great career). The crowd went ape sh**!!! And broke into shattering glass like applause, shrill whistles and chants. It was like little Moscow. Chris protested the KO but obviously he was jaded (as he did last time round with Leniu), or should I say pole-waxed. K-1 take note, Alexander the great is coming. Perhaps he will have Choi, Bob Sapp and king kong in his sight. Good candidate for a Peter Jackson movie, maybe when he does David and Goliath.


Fight 8: Main event Doug Viney Won Vs Peter Graham Unanimous

Despite the early stumble while entering the ring (a possible bad omen), the Chief found his feet early on in the fight but Dougie returned fire with some beautiful kick punch combos and had the better of the exchanges. Peter looked a bit worried and was a tad shaken. Doug was looking delicious and firing fast and furious. Dougs left kept finding the target of Peter face and the chief couldn’t get inside. Viney was continually making the points and the Chief only answered with knees to ribs and a few sharp punches which hit his opponent.
The crowd was at a boiling point and in a magical third, the chief high-light reel style brought out rolling thunder which sort of connected on Vineys Neck but he displayed a granite chin and the roof was taken off the stadium. What a fight. Doug was a bit gassed and Peter had a few reserves, but it didn’t matter as Dougs superior handy work got him the unanimous dec. What a show, and a disappointed chief would miss out on the final. Fight of the night and lived to the billing of the main event. With this win Doug wagered the support of the entire stadium and a fair few fillies in the crowd. Good for him and NZ K-1. I repeat, fight of the night and fighter of the night. His comeback is now complete.

Well, well, well my prediction of the 4 KO’s have come right and we could see the change of guard in the OCNA K-1 scene. With both Suttie and Graham missing out, and there places taken by Tato, Sampson and the comeback kid (or should I say king) Doug Viney: we are indeed seeing a transformation. Perhaps I may have spoken too soon, it is only an observation which will have to be proven over time with hard evidence. Only time will tell, and that time will be next summer. Long live K-1!!!

Thanks to Dixon and co. for the excellent media facilities and I enjoyed the sushi-rolls. They were yummy as, and the Fast Fours Ring girls who were equally yummy looking much to the delight of an appreciative crowd.

BOA @ ROGUE Fights
Fight Editor