In their continuing efforts to stick it to the UFC, Spike TV has inked a deal with world-reknowned kickboxing organization K-1 to broadcast four live events on Spike.com through the end of this year, and a series of live events on the cable channel in 2013. As K-1 CEO Doug Kaplan explained in a press release distributed yesterday afternoon, “Spike is the perfect television home and stage to introduce our K-1 warriors and the fast-paced, aggressive style of K-1 fighting to fight fans across America.” Spike’s K-1 broadcasts next year will complement their coverage of Bellator Fighting Championships, though air-dates and times for the 2013 shows have yet to be announced.
Rumors of K-1’s demise have plagued the promotion since last year, but an American showcase on a channel that reaches nearly 100 million viewers could resuscitate the brand. Could K-1 be a “gold mine” for Spike, as Joe Rogan once suggested? After the jump, the full text of the press release, including more details on this year’s Spike.com/K-1 broadcasts.
In their continuing efforts to stick it to the UFC, Spike TV has inked a deal with world-reknowned kickboxing organization K-1 to broadcast four live events on Spike.com through the end of this year, and a series of live events on the cable channel in 2013. As K-1 CEO Doug Kaplan explained in a press release distributed yesterday afternoon, “Spike is the perfect television home and stage to introduce our K-1 warriors and the fast-paced, aggressive style of K-1 fighting to fight fans across America.” Spike’s K-1 broadcasts next year will complement their coverage of Bellator Fighting Championships, though air-dates and times for the 2013 shows have yet to be announced.
Rumors of K-1′s demise have plagued the promotion since last year, but an American showcase on a channel that reaches nearly 100 million viewers could resuscitate the brand. Could K-1 be a “gold mine” for Spike, as Joe Rogan once suggested? After the jump, the full text of the press release, including more details on this year’s Spike.com/K-1 broadcasts.
SPIKE TV AND K-1, THE WORLD’S PREMIER KICKBOXING PROMOTION, AGREE TO MULTI-PLATFORM PARTNERSHIP FOR 2012 AND 2013
New York, NY, August 20, 2012 – Spike TV and K-1, the world’s premier kickboxing organization, have agreed to a strategic partnership that will begin this fall with live fights streamed on Spike.com beginning Saturday, September 8 at the U.S. World Grand Prix Championships in Los Angeles. There will be a total of four events that will be streamed live in 2012. In 2013, the K-1 events will move from Spike.com to Spike TV to coincide with the network’s extensive coverage of Bellator Fighting Championships.
“We are thrilled to be in business with the world’s preeminent kickboxing organization,” said Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Multiplatform Events, Spike TV. “Spike has the most passionate and knowledgeable fans of combat sports and we are confident that they will enjoy the high-action of K-1, which serves as the perfect complement to our Bellator coverage next year.”
“K-1 is excited to join forces with Spike TV, a powerful and highly experienced cable network known nationally for its combat sports programming, presenting our live K-1 events,” said Doug Kaplan, CEO, K-1. “Spike is the perfect television home and stage to introduce our K-1 warriors and the fast-paced, aggressive style of K-1 fighting to fight fans across America.”
Spike.com’s 2012 coverage will include unprecedented access to K-1 events, from live streaming of the weigh-ins the day before the bouts, to locker room interviews, to live coverage of every fight on the card, including all the prelims.
The four K-1 events in 2012 include: September 8 – Los Angeles – U.S. Grand Prix Championship October 14 – Tokyo, Japan – World Grand Prix Final December 8 – Athens, Greece – MAX Final December 26 – New York – World Grand Prix Final
The addition of K-1 to Spike TV’s lineup next year further establishes the network as the premier television destination for combat sports. Spike TV will debut Bellator Fighting Championships in January 2013 with a weekly live fight card featuring some of the best rising stars in the mixed martial arts world.
K-1 is the largest kickboxing promotion in history. Since 1993, K-1 has presented professional live martial arts events in 38 countries, featuring the best and most accomplished athletes in the sport.
World Grand Prix Champions of K-1 include Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt, Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky and Semmy Schilt. K-1 returned to the world stage on May 26, 2012 in Madrid, Spain, drawing a packed stadium and hundreds of thousands of views on the K-1 Live Stream.
(To prove he still has “it,” Cro Cop conducted the entire interview from this position)
Fighters have to fight, we suppose. Ultimately, that’s the reasoning kickboxing and MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic gave when he recently told USA Today that he wants to return to MMA despite retiring from the UFC after his most recent loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 137 in 2011.
“If you ask me, when I look deep into my soul, of course I would like to fight MMA again,” Filipovic revealed. “People don’t get it. Martial arts is my life.”
Cro Cop has lost his last three MMA bouts, all in the UFC, by either KO or TKO, and was 4-6 in his ten total UFC bouts. Cro Cop also fought two dozen times in the now defunct Pride promotion out of Japan, where he took part in one or two fights that you may remember. Filipovic is still fighting for the kickboxing organization where he first made his name, K-1, and most recently picked up a second round knockout victory over Loren Javier Jorge at K-1 Rising, which we’ve added after the jump for your enjoyment.
(To prove he still has “it,” Cro Cop conducted the entire interview from this position)
Fighters have to fight, we suppose. Ultimately, that’s the reasoning kickboxing and MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic gave when he recently told USA Today that he wants to return to MMA despite retiring from the UFC after his most recent loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 137 in 2011.
“If you ask me, when I look deep into my soul, of course I would like to fight MMA again,” Filipovic revealed. “People don’t get it. Martial arts is my life.”
Cro Cop has lost his last three MMA bouts, all in the UFC, by either KO or TKO, and was 4-6 in his ten total UFC bouts. Cro Cop also fought two dozen times in the now defunct Pride promotion out of Japan, where he took part in one or two fights that you may remember. Filipovic is still fighting for the kickboxing organization where he first made his name, K-1, and most recently picked up a second round knockout victory over Loren Javier Jorge at K-1 Rising, which we’ve added after the jump for your enjoyment.
Although he’s won two straight kickboxing fights since leaving the UFC and is scheduled to fight for K-1 in October, the Croatian fighter says that he still spends a lot of time grappling despite concentrating on kickboxing.
“K-1 was my first love, but even as recently as this week I was sparring kickboxing, and it was so difficult not to throw them on the ground and look to ground and pound,” he told USA Today. “Even while I’m preparing for the K-1 grand prix, I’m training on the ground with grappling several times each week.”
Filipovic says that though he’s done with the UFC, he would like to fight in other MMA promotions, just to get some action. What do you say, nation? We all love Cro Cop, but do you all still want to see him fight on in MMA at age 37, despite his struggles to get wins over the last five years or so?
Cro Cop’s motivation is clear, at least, and he doesn’t mind going out on his shield. “My motivation now is to prove to everyone that I’m still capable of being in the cage. I’m not old. I’m 37, but I can do things that fighters 10 years younger cannot,” he said.
(Who wants to learn how to maker Tater Tots the *fun* way?)
There are two schools of thought on how a given fighter should end their career in the UFC. The first, and perhaps most honorable method, involves a fighter going out on their shield, fighting until they can fight no more, so to speak. The second involves a fighter talking a ridiculous amount of trash, losing a fight in embarrassing fashion, and throwing a hissy fit backstage that only enforces their bosses decision to fire them. Thankfully, Mirko Cro Cop chose the former method (though he perhaps stuck around a couple fights too long), and after suffering a trio of (T)KO losses to Frank Mir, Brendan Schuab, and Roy Nelson, was ousted from the UFC.
This is not to say that we got any enjoyment out of witnessing the Croatian’s demise, but more so that we were happy to see Cro Cop come to the realization that his career in mixed martial arts had gone as far as it could go. His career in kickboxing, however, has seemingly yet to come to a crashing halt, as Filipvoic managed to pick up a rather impressive second round knockout victory over Loren Javier Jorge at K-1 Rising earlier today in Madrid, Spain.
Cro Cop looked better than we’ve seen him in quite some time, unleashing a few beautiful, snappy head kicks that were nothing short of nostalgic. But the finishing blows did not come as a result of his well-documented kicks, but rather from a series of uppercuts that dropped Jorge a two occasions, the latter of which he could not recover from. Cro Cop looked quick, efficient, and more than anything else, eager to finish the fight when presented the opportunity. Again, it was a very nostalgic experience for both Cro Cop and those who had the privilege of catching the fight.
Take a trip down memory lane after the jump.
(Who wants to learn how to maker Tater Tots the *fun* way?)
There are two schools of thought on how a given fighter should end their career in the UFC. The first, and perhaps most honorable method, involves a fighter going out on their shield, fighting until they can fight no more, so to speak. The second involves a fighter talking a ridiculous amount of trash, losing a fight in embarrassing fashion, and throwing a hissy fit backstage that only enforces their bosses decision to fire them. Thankfully, Mirko Cro Cop chose the former method (though he perhaps stuck around a couple fights too long), and after suffering a trio of (T)KO losses to Frank Mir, Brendan Schuab, and Roy Nelson, was ousted from the UFC.
This is not to say that we got any enjoyment out of witnessing the Croatian’s demise, but more so that we were happy to see Cro Cop come to the realization that his career in mixed martial arts had gone as far as it could go. His career in kickboxing, however, has seemingly yet to come to a crashing halt, and in fact maybe on the upswing, as Filipvoic managed to pick up a rather impressive second round knockout victory over Loren Javier Jorge at K-1 Rising earlier today in Madrid, Spain.
Cro Cop looked better than we’ve seen him in quite some time, unleashing a few beautiful, snappy head kicks that were nothing short of nostalgic. But the finishing blows did not come as a result of his well-documented kicks, but rather from a series of uppercuts that dropped Jorge a two occasions, the latter of which he could not recover from. Cro Cop looked quick, efficient, and more than anything else, eager to finish the fight when presented the opportunity. Again, it was a very nostalgic experience for both Cro Cop and those who had the privilege of catching the fight.
Though the finish comes toward the end of the video, my personal favorite moment comes around the 6:43 mark, where, after the referee separates the two, Cro Cop pulls off a dead-on Robert Deniro impression without uttering a word. If there was anyone doubting his acting talents after Ultimate Force, they can promptly suck it.
(Behold: The most fabulous bounced-check in combat sports history.)
The writing was on the wall when they couldn’t paytheir fightersanymore, but it looks like Japanese kickboxing and MMA promoter FEG might be one step closer to officially closing up shop. Sherdog is reporting that the combat sports promoter best known for K-1, DREAM, and the now-defunct Hero’s brand has declared bankruptcy after eight-and-a-half years of operation:
“Long-beleaguered combat sports giant Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) has officially declared bankruptcy, according to a report by private credit research firm Teikoku Databank. First published Wednesday by Yahoo.co.jp, the Databank report claims that FEG began the process of declaring bankruptcy on May 7 in Tokyo District Court. No figures indicating the extent of FEG’s debts were revealed,”Sherdog‘s Tony Loiseleur writes.
(Behold: The most fabulous bounced-check in combat sports history.)
The writing was on the wall when they couldn’t paytheir fightersanymore, but it looks like Japanese kickboxing and MMA promoter FEG might be one step closer to officially closing up shop. Sherdog is reporting that the combat sports promoter best known for K-1, DREAM, and the now-defunct Hero’s brand has declared bankruptcy after eight-and-a-half years of operation:
“Long-beleaguered combat sports giant Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) has officially declared bankruptcy, according to a report by private credit research firm Teikoku Databank. First published Wednesday by Yahoo.co.jp, the Databank report claims that FEG began the process of declaring bankruptcy on May 7 in Tokyo District Court. No figures indicating the extent of FEG’s debts were revealed,”Sherdog‘s Tony Loiseleur writes.
Once a giant in the industry, K-1 was dropped from Japanese network television in 2011. Subsequent partnerships with and reported investment from two different Chinese companies were not enough to save the promotion.
K-1 still has one event scheduled this year, for May 27th in Spain. It is unclear now if that event will still take place. While you lament yet another Japanese fight company going under, at least get some happiness from the K-1 highlight video below.
For over a decade Mark Hunt has been a polarizing figure in the world of mixed martial arts. At 5 foot 10 and 260 lbs, he’s not your average heavyweight, but that hasn’t stopped him from putting on many exciting performances during his career. His hefty build and nonchalant demeanor are misleading. Rest assured though, Hunt is a dangerous fighter who wholeheartedly loves the fight game.
Exploding onto the K-1 scene in 2001 Hunt defeated Jerome Le Banner, Stefan Leko, and Francisco Filho en route to becoming the promotion’s World Grand Prix champion that year. A short time later, he decided to try his hand[s] at mixed martial arts. Following a submission loss to Hidehiko Yoshida in his MMA debut, Hunt rattled off five victories in a row against the likes of PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, fearsome Croatian striker Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and Japanese MMA pioneer Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.
These days “The Super Samoan” calls the UFC home. After falling on hard times in the last days of PRIDE and early days of DREAM, Hunt, who dropped his first UFC bout to Sean McCorkle, has turned things around by putting together two victories in a row inside the Octagon against a pair of formidable opponents in Chris Tuchscherer and “Big” Ben Rothwell.
The UFC recently announced that Hunt will be returning to Japan to take on French striker Cheick Kongo in what should be a stand-up war of attrition at UFC 144 in February.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with the seasoned veteran about his past present and future in the sport.
Check out what he had to say after the jump.
By CagePotato Contributor Shawn Smith
(What has two thumbs and loves to bang? This guy)
For over a decade Mark Hunt has been a polarizing figure in the world of mixed martial arts. At 5 foot 10 and 260 lbs, he’s not your average heavyweight, but that hasn’t stopped him from putting on many exciting performances during his career. His hefty build and nonchalant demeanor are misleading. Rest assured though, Hunt is a dangerous fighter who wholeheartedly loves the fight game.
Exploding onto the K-1 scene in 2001 Hunt defeated Jerome Le Banner, Stefan Leko, and Francisco Filho en route to becoming the promotion’s World Grand Prix champion that year. A short time later, he decided to try his hand[s] at mixed martial arts. Following a submission loss to Hidehiko Yoshida in his MMA debut, Hunt rattled off five victories in a row against the likes of PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, fearsome Croatian striker Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and Japanese MMA pioneer Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.
These days “The Super Samoan” calls the UFC home. After falling on hard times in the last days of PRIDE and early days of DREAM, Hunt, who dropped his first UFC bout to Sean McCorkle, has turned things around by putting together two victories in a row inside the Octagon against a pair of formidable opponents in Chris Tuchscherer and “Big” Ben Rothwell.
The UFC recently announced that Hunt will be returning to Japan to take on French striker Cheick Kongo in what should be a stand-up war of attrition at UFC 144 in February.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with the seasoned veteran about his past present and future in the sport.
Here’s what he had to say:
You’re coming off of a decision victory over the durable Ben Rothwell. What were your thoughts on your performance in that bout?
It was good to get the win, especially fighting at high altitude. It was pretty difficult. [It was] definitely good to get the win.
It was recently announced that you will be returning to Japan for the first time since May of 2009 to take on French striker Cheick Kongo. What are were your thoughts when you heard about the match-up?
I’ve trained with the Wolfslair team before. It’s just the way things are. I’m supposed to be fighting, so that’s who I’m fighting. That’s the way I looked at it; business is business.
From your time training together, would you consider Cheick Kongo a friend?
Well, he did help me with my training with the Wolfslair team, but I think it’s just the way things are. Like I said, business is business.
How do you feel you match up with Cheick?
We’re both strikers and I think it will be a good fight.
Is it safe to say this one will be staying on the feet?
I don’t mind if it goes to the ground. If it goes to the ground it goes to the ground. [It] doesn’t bother me. It can go wherever it wants. It just depends on the night.
If it were up to you would it stay on the feet?
I’ll take it wherever I want to take it. If I want to go to the ground, I’ll go to the ground.
You’ve competed in Japan most of your career. What is it like to compete in front of the Japanese audience?
It’s great. The Japanese really dig fighting and I love fighting in front of the Japanese fans. It’s been a while since I fought in Japan, but I’m looking forward to going back and fighting there.
How would you compare it with the North American audience?
The Americans are vocal, I had to get used to that. I think everyone just has to warm up to the fighters. The Japanese fans are much more subdued until they see something happen, and it doesn’t really take much to make the Americans fans go crazy. Someone gets in there and starts getting beat up and they go crazy (laughs).
Do you have a preference?
It doesn’t matter; I love fighting.
After five straight losses, were you surprised to get signed by the UFC?
Not really. I’m a pretty talented person, that’s why I got signed by the UFC.
How were you able to mentally overcome a string of losses like that?
It was pretty hard, you know what I mean? I didn’t know what it was. I tried different trainers, went and trained at a different camp, tried to learn how to train properly and I still lost. I think training back here in Australia – training in my own back yard, sort of gave me the edge to get back on the winning track. I think that’s probably what it was. I have no idea what it was but it suddenly made me try and start winning, so it was good. Whatever it was, keep staying that way. (laughs)
What other changes have you made in your last few bouts to turn your luck around?
I’ve just been training hard, trying to do proper camps and things like that. I’m really looking forward to this fight. I’m in the best shape. Everything should be going really good. My mindset is really good at the moment and I’m just trying to keep it going.
You are frequently criticized for your lack of submission skills. How do you respond to the critics?
Critics are critics. You can’t really win either way. You just keep fighting and winning, that’s the only way to silence the critics. When you’re out on the main stage of fighting you not thinking about the critics, it’s just the way it is when you’re out there fighting. You’ve just got to keep fighting and winning, that’s all there is to it.
We saw you go for an armbar against Ben Rothwell. Is your submission game something you’ve been focusing on?
I was working really hard for that armbar. The climate there is tough. I only had two weeks there, and you probably need two months to get used to the air. It hit me really hard around the second round. I was working really hard, but people probably thought it didn’t look like it (laughs).
As a mixed martial artist, what’s the key to continue going strong even as you approach your 40s?
Well I’m 37, I’ve got three more years. What’s the key? I still think I’m the best fighter on the planet. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe it. That’s probably one of the reasons; I’m trying to achieve the goal of becoming MMA’s world champion. That’s pretty much the reason I just keep going.
Where do you think a victory over Cheick Kongo puts you in the UFC heavyweight division?
Well, I don’t really care where it puts me. Just keep winning and winning and knocking people out and I don’t really care where it puts me. After I’ve knocked out three or four people, maybe the UFC will say I need another four fights, who knows. I’m going in there trying to win every fight as if it’s my last.
How much longer will we see Mark Hunt compete?
I’m a fighter. I’m a warrior, man. They are going to wheel my ass to the ring. They are going to push me into the ring in the wheelchair and I’ll still be fighting (laughs). I’ll fight as long as I can. I still have some goals and dreams. I still believe I’m the best fighter on the planet, it’s just a matter of proving it. I’m in a pretty good position to try and keep moving forward, so we’ll see what happens in February. I’m looking forward to it, and feeling pretty good at the moment.
You just mentioned still having goals and dreams in MMA. What are they?
[They are] to be the best fighter on the planet, of course.
Is the ultimate goal in that plan to hold the UFC heavyweight championship?
Yes, sir. That’s where it ends up. The best fighter on the planet is thought to hold the UFC world title, right? That’s pretty much what I want to be doing is holding that title and saying I’m the best fighter on this planet.
Speaking of the UFC heavyweight title, how do you feel you match up with current champion Junior Dos Santos?
I don’t really care. He’s the current champion at the moment, but it doesn’t really matter. Every fighter has two arms and two legs, that’s the way I see it.
In the future, would you ever consider a return to kickboxing or K-1?
No, I already accomplished that goal a long time ago and I’m focused on right here. I`ve already been a world champion in K-1, and I lost interest and focus on fighting kickboxing matches. Like I said, I only want to be a mixed martial artist. The last fight I had against Semmy Schilt was something I had to do to get the rest of the fights. They suckered me into that, didn’t they? (laughs)
After a year of speculation about if and when the revered kickboxing and MMA promotion would pack it in, it appears that the financially troubled organization may be living on borrowed time.
According to Rutz, K-1 officials are scrambling to find potential investors an/or a buyer for the struggling franchise, which he says has run out of money. As such, they have decided to cancel the finals of the K-1 heavyweight grand prix after reportedly telling fighters a week ago that they would only be paid a portion of money owed to them and that their participation in the tournament would have to come at a reduced price.
Check out Rutz’s state of the K-1 union address after the jump.
(Rutz and K-1 head Tanikawa pretending things aren’t so bad)
After a year of speculation about if and when the revered kickboxing and MMA promotion would pack it in, it appears that the financially troubled organization may be living on borrowed time.
According to Rutz, K-1 officials are scrambling to find potential investors an/or a buyer for the struggling franchise, which he says has run out of money. As such, they have decided to cancel the finals of the K-1 heavyweight grand prix after reportedly telling fighters a week ago that they would only be paid a portion of money owed to them and that their participation in the tournament would have to come at a reduced price.
Check out Rutz’s state of the K-1 union address below:
Because there is no information regarding the new start of K-1 coming from Japan, I will clarify the situation for everyone.
FEG, the parent company of the former K-1 brand, is technically bankrupt. The name K-1 lays now at the Japanese company Barbizon. There are 2 serious parties now, which try to pull the K-1 brand name towards themselves and place this in a new company.
The first one to find an investor is FEG’s president, Mr. Tanikawa. He has found a Korean investor who has big plans with the K-1 label. This investor claims to have a verbal agreement with Mr. Ishii and Barbizon regarding the takeover of the K-1 label. Details were already discussed and agreed upon, but the only missing thing is the necessary signature of Mr. Ishii.
The second one to find a potential investor is Bas Boon. He has found an American company which also has big opportunities to bring the K-1 brand to high levels. However, also this company needs the signature of Mr. Ishii.
In the meanwhile, even a third potential investor has reported itself to take over the K-1 label, but this investor has presented itself only a couple of days ago.
All three companies have big plans to bring the K-1 label back to the place where it belongs and therefore make sure that the brand of K-1 has a healthy future.
All investors understand that a good cooperation with IT’S SHOWTIME is essential to prevent future conflicts of interest and to make sure that in the future all world elite fighters will participate to the tournaments; that means the fighters of both IT’S SHOWTIME as the ones of Golden Glory. We from IT’S SHOWTIME support the plans to make the K-1 label a strong brand again, because this is in the best interest of the sport, the fighters and the millions of fans around the world.
• This year there will be no K-1 Final Elimination and K-1 World Grand Prix Final for the following reasons:
• It’s currently unknown which investor gets Mr. Ishii’s signature
• There’s not enough time left to organize such a big event
• The visas for the fighters to travel to China haven’t been arranged and these are essential to be able to fight there
• The decision to not rush into crazy things is a wise one, because severe mistakes that could cause more unnecessary damage to the K-1 label are being prevented.
From next year there will be a new and healthy company that will work on the worldwide brand of K-1.
For the fighters who were already preparing to fight on October 29 in China this will be a hard pill to swallow, but on the other hand, these developments offer enough perspective to positively look ahead to the future.
I hope I have answered the many questions and to have clarified these matters.
Best regards,
Simon Rutz
IT’S SHOWTIME
———-
Looking at the situation from an objective opinion, things don’t look good for K-1, especially when many of its stars like Overeem, Badr Hari and Gokhan Saki have recently decided to leave the kickboxing world in favor of MMA and boxing. Without big name stars, kickboxing may suffer the same shift in popularity of fans over to MMA that boxing has experienced in recent years, which is too bad for those of us who enjoy the sport and having some variety.
