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