Japanese INVASION at K-1 MELB!! FULL CARD

Hi everyone,

Just got off the blower with Tarik and here is the OFFICIAL FIGHT CARD for next week's show... with the SHOCK news that the powers-that-be at the K-1 Corporation headquarters are in such a Japanese-frenzy after Masato's win in the K-1 Max that they are sending Japan's TWO best heavyweights to win through to the final 14 in the world via the SUPERFIGHT and the K-1 Melbourne Tournament!

Japanese superstar Musashi, the always-winner of the tough K-1 Japan tournament and Japanese hotshot Tsuyoshi Nakasako (the first man to ever drop Mark Hunt) will BOTH BE FIGHTING IN MELBOURNE NEXT WEEKEND.

That's right... there will be no Stefan Leko as the Japanese are now invading this final world tournament in a bid for Musashi and Nakasako to replicate Masato's middleweight success at heavyweight.

Here is the card as it stands:

Fight # 1

Boxing 4 x 3
Lance Gosteleow vs TBA

OPENING CEREMONY

Fight # 2
K-1 Max Rules 3 x 3

Mike Cope (NZ/Aust) vs Serkan "The Turkish Samurai" Yilmaz (Turkey)

Fight # 3
K-1 Melb Quarter Final 1
Tsuyoshi Nakasako (Jap) vs Jason Suttie (NZ)

Fight # 4
K-1 Melb Quarter Final 2
Auckland Auimitagi (NZ) vs TBA (possible Peck, Thunder or Wissam)

Fight # 5
K-1 Melb Quarter Final 3
Peter Graham (Aus) vs Josip Brodrozic (Cro)

Fight # 6
K-1 Melb Quarter Final 4
Paul Slowinski (Aus) vs Mitch O'Hello (Aus)

Fight # 7
K-1 WORLD SUPERFIGHT
5 x 3
Winner Qualifies for Final World 14
CHRIS CHRISOPOULIDIS (AUS) vs MUSAHSI (JAP)

Looks like a great night of fights - go Suttie
Wasn't Chopper fighting on it as well?

Talk about changing the rules to suit yourself

i guessed this months back. i'm so smrt. i'm so smrt.

chrisop has the easiest road to the best 14 of all. unlike the other guys on the card he just has to beat musashi. then he'll get bob sapp fouling him from pillar to post.

So does this mean that if Musashi and/or Nakasako qualify via Melbourne they won't be in the K1 Japan Tournament?


Also, this line made me laugh- "Japanese superstar Musashi"

is nakasako really considered to be japans #2 heavy?

What do you guys know about Nakasako? Any tips for Jason Suttie? Is this going to be a better draw for Jason than having Paris first or is it the same either way? How does the new draw effect everyone's predictions?

Thats great news for Suttie, he gets a Japanese school boy to smash probably giving him the easiest first round. Its gotta put Suttie as favourite...

Musashi is a big name, hes been around for ages and has appeared at numerous events. Pity theres no Japanese fighter who can challenge the europeans, they just don't grow 'em big enough over there. Maybe that 6'2 guy (Hori wasn't it?) with a bit more experience could be a future contender.

Satankid, why laugh? Musashi is a Japanese superstar. I didn't say he was the greatest K-1 fighter out there, but he is the best thing the Japanese have had for several years now and is a genuine big star in Japan (I've seen this first hand).

Props for Felix - yes, you did guess this many moons ago, well done mate :)

you could say that musashi is kind of a gatekeeper level to the top 20 or
so fighters in the k-1. we get used to him being the easiest fight in the
k 1 finals, but he can handle the lesser fighters.

poor nakasako, was once considered to be a hot prospect, but now seems to be just
"shark bait" in the k-1. he was just k.o.'d by aerts june 29, isnt it a little
soon to put him back in the ring?

advice for jason. brawl knock nak down twice and get ready for the next fight.

Nakasoko is not fighting Jason its Tsuyoshi who trains at Vos gym in Amsterdam with Hoost.
OSU!

Interested to see mike copes max fight..
Go mike.
Hopefully all the fighters stay safe, go suttie...go the kiwis...

tsuyoshi tajima was eliminated by amada already. nice to get a second shot but it is an easy fight for jason.

the musashi-chrisop fight is a little weird. there are only 3 spots open. one is going to the winner of the 2nd vegas tourney. that leaves 2 spots.

who do you think it is gonna be?

musashi or chrisop

and one of the following.

mirko
schilt
holm
bonjaski
bernardo
filho

Well I'll put my money on Hulk Hogan...whoops, that's the WWE. Now how could I get that confused with K1? :)

this is how osaka is starting to look

7 + 4 + 3 = 14

7- lebanner, hoost, hunt, leko, aerts, sefo and sapp

4- williams, ignashov, bregy and suttie [perhaps]

3- vegas 2 winner, mirko and musashi.


the following would then be reserve fighters, i guess.

schilt
holm
bonjaski
bernardo
filho

GO SUTTIE HES DA MAN WHO WILL WIN!

Michael- I laughed because the word 'superstar' is more than a tad OTT to describe Musashi in ability or popularity. It seems that this word is used very freely when people refer to Japanese fighters. Although Musashi is famous, the only Japanese kickboxer who is a true superstar in Japan is Masato.

I have just finished watching Jason Suttie training, and I have to say he is looking on fire. There just might be a kiwi / Samoa invasion happening in Melbourne next weekend. He was sparring and putting his heavyweights through the ringer. He has tremendous speed follow with power. But his greatest asset is his mental strength; he will be hard to beat this year. Good luck to the rest of the fighters on the night.
Andrew Peck is looking good too but it would be nice ( for his benefit ) to know if he is fighting or not
rebel

felix, i think holm and bojansky are in the vegas tourney?
based on their last fight, filho and bernardo arent going to get any breaks
in the k-1 qualifying draw. is schlit going to get some kind of shot? i think
he deserves it...

Suttie vs Slowinski in the final - Slowinski will stop Brodrozic with leg kicks

Suttie on points in the final. Go Jase.

Mike do you think Brorozic will beat the chief?

Hey there Powerhouse - Yeah I think he will.

I think Peter is a great fighter and a great guy but - I'm not sure how he takes big punchers nor of his own punching power. I think if he stays outside and kicks the big fulla he can win but not if he tries to trade. He will need to be really fit to do that and that will depend on his preparation.

The other thing is Josip is a lefty and Peter struggled with me for 1 and 1/2 rounds trying to work it out and was looking a a bit ragged until he caught me with the first of about forty Knees (ha ha ha) and realised how much stronger he was and rag dolled me - but then again that is one fight and 2 rounds only shows a small glimpse - but my gut tells me he will struggle.

Dont get me wrong i'd love to see Peter take this fight as he will be a tougher fight for Paul but I think the 6 ft 8 banging south paw could be a problem for him.

Mind you I'd still like to see the Powerhouse rematch Brodrozic with his chin down becaue I think you could samck him up with kikcs to the legs or body.

I dont know If I am in or not yet but maybe if I make the final(God willing)
I can maybe get The big man back in the final.
But I dont think he is going to make it I think the Chief will make the final because of his Tournament experiance.
OSU!

GO SLOWINSKY! just do what you did to jurgen and clay!!

"only 4 Days to Go"

Has anyone got the confirmed drawn yet????????????

Who's In??? Who's Not???
Who's the Wildcard???

It's pretty much the same as Michael said at the start except Andrew Peck has been confirmed as taking Doug's place. That should be interesting as he and Jason will most likely meet in the semi-final. That will be both awesome and awful to watch for ETK! At least we will be able to guarantee that we will have a kiwi/ETK member in the final if that happens. Best of luck to both Jason and Andrew! (And Auckland Auimatagi too! He might be living over there but he's still flying our flag!)I'm sure they'll all do us proud and that we'll have 3 kiwis in the Tokyo Dome this year!

Good Luck Guys - Go the Kiwis, as for the ETK semi final, well not the best match making but thats the grand prix K-1 format.

My Prediction Suttie vs Slowinski in the final both will be banged up

The black horse of the field has to the Brodrozic being a Southpaw banger.

If I were to go on favorite the guys who I'd love to see do well is Peter (who gets more slack than he deserves most of the time) But jeez he has the toughest draw!

Well here is my predictions!!!

Quarter Final WINNERS!!

SUTTIE
PECK
BRODROZIC
SLOWINSKI

Semi Final WINNERS!!

SUTTIE
BRODROZIC

K-1 OCEANA FINAL WINNER

JASON SUTTIE ( OFF TO TOKYO )

mike,

i think it is good to have a tough first fight in a tournament. mark hunt rode the rush all the way to the grand prix title. if he had met musashi or filho first he probably wouldn't have had the same results.

Go Jase and Andrew soory couldn't make it with work but good luck guys - keep the Kiwi flag flying and Schivello screaming!!!!

Anyone know what time the fights start?. All this waiting is hard work.

is this being shown on nz tv?
go suttie and peck

Fights start at bout 9.00 nz time i think Tony!

Rex: They were goin to be on Sky paperview until thurs night when they pulled the show........have a look at the topic "Sky Tv Nz Pull K-1 Gp Melbourne" if your interested..........it sux big time!

Good luck jason and andrew. Ps. i was thinking if they both meet in the semis whos corner will roger go in?......will be a bit wierd!

I dodn't know who will be in who's corner but I was told the corner men would just give water, apply ice etc and leave it up to Andrew and Jason to fight their own fights.

haha fair enough tony, well it looks like thats what theyl be doin cos danny said they both made it through!