It’s not mixed martial arts, but both ‘Suga’ Ray Sefo and Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovi? are both legends in their own rights. Filipovi? certainly found more success in mma than Sefo has, earning a PRIDE championship and competing in the UFC. Now both of these legends are set to meet in a K-1 rules kickboxing […]
Ray Sefo versus Valentijn Overeem
It’s not mixed martial arts, but both ‘Suga’ Ray Sefo and Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovi? are both legends in their own rights. Filipovi? certainly found more success in mma than Sefo has, earning a PRIDE championship and competing in the UFC.
Now both of these legends are set to meet in a K-1 rules kickboxing match this weekend in Filipovi?’s native Croatia, headlining the K-1 Final Fight event from the Zagreb Arena in Zagreb.
Both men are not as quick as they once were, with Sefo turning 41 last month and ‘Cro Cop’ turning 38 in September, but both still possess knockout power in their strikes.
In an interview with Fighers Only Magazine, Sefo says it’s that power that each of them still has in their striking that will end this fight quickly, predicting an end with someone layed out on the mat by the end of the night.
FO: Obviously ten years ago you were both younger and therefore faster and more explosive and so on; can we expect a classic fight?
I’ve watched pretty much all of his fights. I agree to a certain point that he has lost some speed, I don’t feel I have lost speed or power, I move just as fast now if not faster than my last four years of K-1 because I work with a strength and conditioning coach now.
It depends how you train, I live in the gym. People might think I am old for the game but I don’t drink, I don’t smoke I don’t do drugs I don’t party. I don’t do drugs. I live in the gym, six times a week, twice a day. I’m always in the gym. So I can last a lot longer, I think, than a lot of people.
We will not see the final bell. I guarantee you one hundred per cent. One hundred per cent. No decision. Not at all.
FO: You’re predicting a stoppage win for yourself then?
Oh I have no doubt in my mind. I am confident, I know that I am going to be very aggressive, my training has been tremendous. I am a fast starter, a fighter that is in your face, and CroCop is a very slow starter and is a ‘mover’. I think I am a really bad match-up for him.
Well yeah when you have been fighting as long as I have you are always going to be carrying some battle wounds and so on, but its mind over matter. You get in there and you do your thing.
MMA H.E.A.T.’s Karyn Bryant sits down with Ray Sefo at Xtreme Couture on Las Vegas, NV, and hears what he has to say about fighting Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in Croatia on March 10, 2012. The fight will be contested under K-1 rules, and Ray talks about facing Cro Cop in a fight that somehow never happened in the past. A K-1 legend and MMA fighter, Ray also trains some of the biggest names in the UFC. He lets us know what it was like inside Vitor Belfort’s camp when Anthony “Rumble” Johnson came in very overweight for his fight in Rio, he gives his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Vitor and fellow TUF: Brazil coach Wanderlei SIlva and he fills us in on Evan Dunham, Martin Kampmann and Brad Tavares as well.
MMA H.E.A.T.’s Karyn Bryant sits down with Ray Sefo at Xtreme Couture on Las Vegas, NV, and hears what he has to say about fighting Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in Croatia on March 10, 2012. The fight will be contested under K-1 rules, and Ray talks about facing Cro Cop in a fight that somehow never happened in the past. A K-1 legend and MMA fighter, Ray also trains some of the biggest names in the UFC. He lets us know what it was like inside Vitor Belfort’s camp when Anthony “Rumble” Johnson came in very overweight for his fight in Rio, he gives his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Vitor and fellow TUF: Brazil coach Wanderlei SIlva and he fills us in on Evan Dunham, Martin Kampmann and Brad Tavares as well.
Croatian heavyweight Mirko ‘Crop Cop’ Filipovi? will return to his kickboxing roots this coming March when he faces New Zealander ‘Sugar’ Ray Sefo at an upcoming show in Zagreb, Croatia. Sefo announced the matchup on Twitter (@SugarRaySefo) this past weekend. – Some news for you all my fight with Mirko Cro-Cop has been confirmed for […]
Croatian heavyweight Mirko ‘Crop Cop’ Filipovi? will return to his kickboxing roots this coming March when he faces New Zealander ‘Sugar’ Ray Sefo at an upcoming show in Zagreb, Croatia.
Sefo announced the matchup on Twitter (@SugarRaySefo) this past weekend.
– Some news for you all my fight with Mirko Cro-Cop has been confirmed for March 10th!!!
– The fight will be a K-1 rule fight, it’s held in Zagreb Croatia I’m told it’ll be in front of 25,000 people
– The promotion is called Fight Channel Promotions it’s a TV Network in Croatia, the fight will be K-1 rules…
This will be ‘Cro Cop’s first professional bout since retiring this fall from mixed martial arts following a third round TKO loss to Roy Nelson at UFC 137. “I was treated like a king from the beginning. It’s in my best interest that this is my farewell fight, thanks everybody.”
As a kickboxer, Filipovi? (16-7) had his last pro bout back in 2003 at a K-1 World Grand Prix event in Japan where he earned a first round knockout over Bob Sapp. After that, the Croatian fighter moved onto mixed martial arts and joined the PRIDE organization full time.
Sefo (56-21-1) has kept his career mainly in the ring fighting for K-1 for many years. His most recent bout took place in 2010 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16, where he took a fight against Tyrone Spong on ten days notice. He would lose that bout by decision.
‘Suga’ has tried his hand at mma, going 2-1 with a loss to Valentijn Overeem one year ago at the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event. Sefo, who was last seen in the corner of Vitor Belfort earlier this month in Brazil, had been unsure of his future as a fighter but it appears that a chance to face ‘Cro Cop’ was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
The event will be conducted under K-1 rules but is being organized by the Fight Channel, a Croatian TV station. The event is named “K-1 Final Fight” and is expected to take place at the Zagreb Arena, which holds 24,000. An official announcement is expected to take place on Tuesday at the Sheraton Zagreb hotel.
Fighting and Entertainment Group, the Japan-based K-1 promoter and co-promoter of DREAM, is falling apart at the seams.
As if Simon Rutz‘s claims of bankruptcy earlier this week were not enough, top DREAM featherweight Kazuyuki Miyata also spoke publicly against Japan’s leading fight-sport promoter this week, claiming in a blog post that after two and a half years of patience, he has had enough of the dishonesty and problems surrounding FEG.
Speaking exclusively to MMAFighting.com, the recent DREAM title contender detailed his problems with FEG, his plans for the future and gave his thoughts on the UFC‘s 2012 Japan return.
Although foreign fighters have been vocal about their problems with FEG, Kazuyuki Miyata became the first Japanese fighter to publicly speak out against the troubled Japanese promoter this week, stating in a blog post that his contract with FEG has been “irreparably damaged due to payment issues” and “dishonesty” and that he will not continue to work with them.
“Well, as it has already been known or [at least] rumored by most in the industry for some time now, and recently has come to light in the world media, certain fighters, such as myself, have not been paid either in full, and/or at all by FEG for quite some time now… a couple of years actually, in my case,” said Miyata to MMAFighting.com.
“In the beginning, Mr. Tanikawa and FEG where very good to me. They treated me very well and I was on a good contract,” said the former Olympic wrestler. “Before going any further, let me take this opportunity to state how much I sincerely appreciate those initial stages of my relationship with FEG and Mr. Tanikawa, The opportunities [I received due to that contract] helped me, my family and my career during those initial stages.”
Although falling victim to the incredibly difficult matchmaking during the early stages of his career, Miyata received almost unparalleled support from FEG at the height of the Japanese fight-sport bubble. In addition to the exceptional purses up for grabs in the Japanese fight scene during the mid 2000s, Miyata also received a monthly salary and support for his family during training camps.
With the collapse of PRIDE in 2007 however, the fight-sport bubble was burst and Miyata, Alistair Overeem, Ray Sefo, Jerome LeBanner, Peter Aerts and many more have been chasing payments for years now. While Miyata declined to reveal how much is owed by FEG, if it is in line with his others who have gone public against FEG, it is likely to be a significant amount.
“It is for the reasons above that I trusted Mr. Tanikawa and FEG and continued to be patient with the ongoing promises of being paid in full for as long as I did,” said Miyata.
Although Miyata has been able to survive financially due to sponsor support, after not receiving fight payment for so long, one may wonder where the recent DREAM featherweight title contender gets his motivation to compete. Removing money from the equation though has actually brought surprising clarity to Miyata’s career.
“Japanese events used to be on network TV and more mass media exposure. Being in the public eye really inspired and motivated me, but in recent times the events have been aired really late at night, edited down to only an hour or so, and eventually not aired on free to air at all,” explained Miyata. “But now with events not being shown on network TV and without as much media exposure, it has made me realize my real passion for the sport and why I evolve and compete. [Fighting] has been my life for many years and I appreciate the opportunity to do what I love professionally. That’s what really inspires and motivates me now.”
Despite his problems with FEG while fighting for DREAM, Miyata does intend to continue fighting and will fight in Japan’s leading MMA promotion, at least for the time being.
“Of course I am planning to continue competing,” said Miyata. “My contract with FEG was completed at the end of last year and it was from that time forward that I negotiated a fight-by-fight contract with DREAM [co-promoter] Real Entertainment. I am very interested in the UFC and potentially entering that realm but at present, I have my sights set on the end of year show here in Japan [but] will consider my options after that, sometime early next year.”
Miyata mentioned in a blog post earlier this week that Real Entertainment, the company formed by ex-PRIDE FC employees who partnered with FEG to co-promote DREAM, is financially “healthy.” Although DREAM still lacks TV support and sponsors, fighters who have been directly contracted to Real Entertainment (i.e. those who didn’t extend their contracts from the former FEG-run K-1 Heroes promotion) have not publicly complained of payment issues.
Whether or not the UFC can be successful in Japan with their Feb. 26 Saitama Super Arena daytime event is a hot topic among pundits. For Miyata though, rather than speculate on the possible failures of a Japanese UFC event, he is more interested in finally seeing the evolution of MMA in Japan.
“I’m no expert on [promotion], but what I can say is that I am very interested in seeing firsthand the top fighters the UFC has to offer on Japan soil. I’m much more interested in the new and exciting evolution of the sport, rather than continually seeing ex-Pride fighters perform.”
Filed under: DREAM, K1, Japan”FEG, the parent company of the former K-1 brand, is technically bankrupt,” comes the message from IT’S SHOWTIME president Simon Rutz via a statement posted to the IT’S SHOWTIME website on Monday.
Adding to the crippling blow dealt to the sport of kickboxing, Rutz also confirmed the rumors that the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix will not happen.
Bankruptcy has been long suspected of K-1 promoter and DREAM co-promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group, but Simon Rutz, who was set to play a major part in supporting this year’s doomed K-1 World Grand Prix, is the first high-profile figure to come out with the truth on the record.
With the leading promoter reportedly bankrupt, the biggest event canceled and the biggest stars in Alistair Overeem, Badr Hari and Gokhan Saki all leaving the sport, it is tempting to declare the sport of kickboxing dead however the prominent Dutch promoter did reveal several possibilities for the future of K-1 in his detailed statement.
“The name K-1 lays now at the Japanese company Barbizon. There are two serious parties now, which try to pull the K-1 brand name towards themselves and place this in a new company,” says Rutz in the statement.
Japanese real estate firm Barbizon Co,. Ltd., acquired rights to the vast majority of K-1 trademarks earlier in the year in an undisclosed deal. FEG officials never publicly admitted that Barbizon had acquired the rights although the Japanese trademark database did confirm the transfer.
“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,” continued Rutz. “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.”
Kazuyoshi Ishii, the founder of K-1, ran kickboxing’s leading promotion up until he was arrested for tax evasion in 2003. During Ishii’s absence, former journalist Sadaharu Tanikawa took the reins of K-1 and also formed parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group. Tanikawa took a more pro wrestling and entertainment-based approach to the promotion but after a boom in popularity peaking on Dec. 31, 2003, Tanikawa’s new approach proved to be unpopular with fans and fighters and K-1 has been on the decline ever since. Due to his criminal past, Ishii has returned to play a powerful although private role at K-1 since being released from prison.
“The second one to find a potential investor is [Golden Glory co-owner] Bas Boon,” said Rutz in the statement. “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.”
Bas Boon and business partner Frederico Lapenda have already reportedly acquired some rights to the K-1 video library and have been attempting to seize control of K-1 for quite some time. Boon’s health issues, turmoil at Golden Glory and apparent organizational issues have continued to push the deal back however.
“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,” says the IT’S SHOWTIME president. “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.”
Confirming what many had assumed, Rutz continued on to say that the 2011 K-1 World GP will not happen.
“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.”
Although K-1 does represent IT’S SHOWTIME’s biggest rival, Rutz does intend to assist in the rebuilding of the promotion for the good of the sport.
“From next year there will be a new and healthy company that will work on the worldwide brand of K-1,” stated Rutz. “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.”
“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.”
FEG are yet to respond to the release from Rutz or officially call off the 2011 K-1 World GP.
It is not yet known how this news will affect the leading Japanese MMA promotion DREAM.
DREAM executive producer Keiichi Sasahara indicated post-DREAM.17 that the traditional New Year’s Eve “Dynamite” event may not actually be called “Dynamite” due to the distinct possibility that K-1 fighters will not be participating at the event. It is highly probable that Sasahara and Real Entertainment will continue to operate DREAM on their own with limited or no involvement from co-promoter FEG.
Filed under: DREAM, K1, JapanSeven-foot-two K-1 World GP in Seoul Champion and DREAM “Super Hulk” Hong Man Choi has been booked with assault following an October 8 altercation with a female customer at a bar he owns and operates in Seoul, South Korea.
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Seven-foot-two K-1 World GP in Seoul Champion and DREAM “Super Hulk” Hong Man Choi has been booked with assault following an October 8 altercation with a female customer at a bar he owns and operates in Seoul, South Korea.
The alleged assault occurred when a female customer refused to pay a tab at Choi’s bar which turned out to be more expensive than she had anticipated. Following an argument, the female patron claims that Choi punched her in the face.
Posting on his blog on Wednesday, Choi vehemently denied punching the woman, stating, “She verbally insulted me. I just could not take it anymore. I just pushed her a little bit. I swear that I never punched her.
Choi continued, putting his (admittedly dormant) fighting career on the line by writing, “If I am lying, I will quit my career as a K-1 fighter.”
The charges against Choi do seem dubious as witnesses have stated that the women pressing charges was heavily intoxicated, threw a glass at Choi’s head, kicked and punched the former K-1 star and made derogatory comments about his parents. When the women brought up Choi’s family, witnesses stated that he pushed the woman aside in an attempt to end the argument.
Korean reports do not indicate if the charges being leveled against Choi are civil or criminal, but the South Korean giant does intend to take legal action against the female customer if she, “continues lying about the incident.”
Fighting and Entertainment Group, the 
“FEG, the parent company of the former K-1 brand, is technically bankrupt,” comes the message from 
Seven-foot-two K-1 World GP in Seoul Champion and DREAM “Super Hulk”