Some Digested Thoughts on the World Grand Prix

There has been a lot of talk about the World Grand Prix over the past week, and sadly a lot of it has been focused on the commentary throughout the show, mainly the "bias" towards Badr Hari. During Badr Hari vs. Alistair Overeem, the announce team of Michael Schiavello, Mike Kogan and Ray Sefo made it clear that Badr Hari was the man that they wanted to win the fight and the tournament in general. 

The talk has been that sportscasters should be reserved and without bias as they call events, when really it is hard to imagine any sort of fight where the announcer doesn't have some sort of bias or at least a preference. In a lot of cases, it feels like the obsessive need for legitimacy in MMA has led announcers to be dry, reserved and in a constant "educational" tone. I understand the desire to make sure fans know what is going on, but there isn't really a lot to teach the average viewer; they tune in for fights and can see what is happening, if they aren't a fan of one part or another telling them to like it isn't always going to work. The HDNet/K-1 announce team is at least passionate about the sport of kickboxing and aren't afraid to let that be known.

Some imply that it worked along with the "story" of the fight; Alistair Overeem was the outsider who had insulted the sport and claimed he could just run through the competition before returning to MMA. The announce team are kickboxing fans and their enthusiasm for kickboxing and wanting the outsider to lose just plays into the story. That I can agree with, to an extent, but regardless of any sort of slant, the atmosphere built around the Alistair Overeem vs. Badr Hari fight is one of the best that I've seen in years. The last time they met, Overeem knocked Hari out and restarted his K-1 career, and this year he stood in the way of Badr's path to the championship.

Of course mentioning champions, Semmy Schilt's domination of K-1 continues and shows very little sign of slowing down. Even with rule restrictions and facing longer, more drawn out fights Semmy found a way to keep his Grand Prix streak alive. The question that I've been mulling over is if Badr Hari will be the next Jerome Le Banner and never win the World Grand Prix. Of course, speaking of Le Banner, I never want to see him in another GP again.

SBN coverage of K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Finals