Review of the K-1 WORLD MAX 2007 Japan Tournament!

Date : Monday, February 05, 2007
Gate Open 16:00 Start 17:30
Place : Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
Attendance : 8,961 people

TAKAYUKI KOHIRUIMAKI VS Andy Ologun

Two experienced K-1 fighters by now. This was “the battle of the low kicks”. Both fighters used A LOT of low kicks. Fast and hard. Andy won but broke his leg so he was out of the tournament. “Kohi” was hurt too, think he also suffered a broken leg from all those low kicks. Amazing to see Ologun hit directly with the right punch the face of Kohi several times. An even fight that required an extra round to get a winner. Not very friendly, seemed like the hated each other. Video here and here(part II).

TATSUJI VS HAYATO

This fight was almost all boxing. Both fighters are very good technical boxers. Tatsu almost won by KO in the first round but both of the fighters was in for the duration. By the second round they were really tired and in the third round there was a knee duel and Hayato tried a flying knee, but Tatsuji still won the match.

HIROKI SHISHIDO VS KEIJI OZAKI

One of the most interesting fights in the event. This was Shoto vs Tae kwon do. Shoto trained SHISHIDO showed us that he is a very solid fighter. Usually fighters get tired someway halfway through a fight, but this guy just kept on pounding with the same energy all through the match. His speciality was the straight back kick. This kick shoots straight at the opponent from a turning movement. (As opposed to the back ROUND kick that comes in circular motion.) This technique scored SHISHIDO some points, but the Tae kwon do/Kick Boxing trained OZAKI won the match. Ozaki then tried the back spinning back hand with some success. Both fighters used their full range of techniques and that is something that makes it more interesting to watch than a fight where the fighters just dig in and wait for using their low kick or straight right.

YOSHIHIRO SATO VS YASUHITO SHIRASU

The taller SATO successfully used knees to get at the shorter SHIRASU. This way SHIRASU got tired fast. He never found any method to get at the taller SATO. SHIRASU is famous for his rock hard low kicks, but did not seem to get them working this time. Video here.

Superfight: BUAKAW POR.PRAMUK VS TSOGTO “SHINOBU” AMARA

Last years winner Thai Buakaw against Mongolian AMARA. I thought Buakaw would win by KO in the first round, but I was wrong. The match went the full three rounds and Buakaw at times looked as he played around with his opponent. Dodging and ducking by the ropes he looked like Neo in The Matrix dodging bullets. Buakaw is on top of his techniques like few fighters here. Attacking with a series of punches he suddenly throws in a knee, then continues punching. To the other guy it must be like a hammer to the ribs, just wondering what hit him. Video here.

Tournament Semi Final: KEIJI OZAKI VS YOSHIHIRO SATO

Ozaki was the crowds favourite against the tall Sato. This was much harder for SATO to win. Ozaki had a good idea on how to fight this taller guy. Keep him away and hit him hard with low kicks. Sato never dominated with his knee kicks like in the other fight. Ozaki’s use of the spinning back hand works out ok, but it is no silver bullet. Sato is tall and he can take a beating. Two things that make him a hard to beat fighter. Ozaki actually has some success with the side kick, something not seen so much in K-1. By the second round Ozaki looks winded and Sato is kicking him where it hurts, throwing the same low kick again and again. Ozaki tries a spectacular wheel kick but with no success. The third round he is taking a beating from start to end. Still they seemed almost friendly throughout the match. Winner: Sato.

Tournament Final: TATSUJI VS YOSHIHIRO SATO

By now we know what SATO is made of and what TATSUJI is up against. Though being very fast in counterattacking TATSUJI still has a very hard time fighting the taller SATO. It turns out SATO too has some aces up his sleeve. He hit TATSUJI twice with a flying knee to the chin. Goodbye. We then see a very respectful SATO thanks his opponent for the fight. Video here.

Technorati Tags: Review, K-1, WORLD, MAX, 2007, TAKAYUKI, KOHIRUIMAKI, Andy, Ologun, TATSUJI, HAYATO, SHISHIDO, OZAKI, YOSHIHIRO, SATO, YASUHITO, SHIRASU, BUAKAW, PRAMUK, TSOGTO, AMARA