Actually I understand what Shaun means about the freakshow aspect a bit. Sapp doesn't do much to make a strong arguement for learning kickboxing or striking skills, since he just mauls everyone with little to no skill applied. But the truth is muay thai lost any purity the second it left the shores of Thailand and went across the ccean. The freakshow aspect I do actually partially agree with. Nonetheless K-1 has done more for public awareness of even muay thai in my opinon than any event in the past 10 years that I can think of. But what's the alternative? A bunch of elitists competing against each other and slapping each other on the back and assuring each other they're the best when the truth is they aren't? Muay Thai has evolved immeasureably since it's inception. Any deviation from what it once was is already a loss of purity.

I have the opposite view, this sport and fightsport in general should be as populist as possible. I want every man, woman, child in the world to watch K-1. Muay Thai does need more money. Shaun, if you want to maintain your level of 'purity' then I guess all muay thai fighters should be entirely amatuer and never ask for money. Because demand for money will always lead to demand for more money. Can you blame them? Getting your ass kicked for crap pay really is hard enough as is. I fault no one for trying to earn more through a sport they love.

As for Felix, yeah I could care less about 'purity' as well but I do love muay thai and my opinon is conflicted regarding whether mongkons and ram muay pays much respect to muay thai and Thailand in general. But to refer to them as tennis rackets or whatever is disrespectful. But I do respect people's rights to use both. The real irony is that many thais in Thailand are now learning NHB as well as muay thai and I have no doubts that time will show them excelling in both. Apparently not too many of them have any issue with branching out or much concern about purity dilution through participation in other related sports.

Lastly, isn't K-1 trying to get more middle weights involved through K-1 Max? By the way that represents a big(ger) payday for them as well. Seriously, do you think K-1 should stop that as well?