2010: The Year of K-1 in the United States
by Dave Walsh on Dec 18, 2009 7:08 PM EST
in K-1
17 comments
World domination is not something to take lightly, nor is the fact that K-1 has not touched U.S. soil since the U.S. Grand Prix in Hawaii in 2008, with the last Los Vegas show being the Vegas Grand Prix in 2007. To say the least it has been quite a while since the United States has gotten live K-1. That being said, there have been some rumors spreading around today about a possible reality series to be airing in the United States.
It sounded too good to be true and there were no reliable sources on this. Well, after some digging, Head Kick Legend spoke with a K-1 official and can indeed confirm that there will be a K-1 Realty Series set to hit U.S. airwaves in 2010 that is getting the details ironed out right now. When we hear more about it we'll bring you th details, but for now all that we can say is that the rumors are true, this is in the works.
That isn't it, though. K-1 airing on HDNet and all of the support of fans in the United States has twisted the arm of FEG and K-1 is set to make their return to U.S. soil. If all goes according to plan there will be a grand total of three K-1 shows in the United States. Three. There are no more details right now as to the dates or if all three will happen, but my most educated guess would be the Hawaii Grand Prix, Las Vegas Grand Prix and possibly another Dynamite!! USA show which would run a mixed format of kickboxing and MMA. While the last Dynamite!! USA show was questionable in its success, the chances of K-1 booking a 100,000 seat arena again is very slim (although there were 42k in attendance, 18k confirmed, the number was less than 4k paid).
I can only thank every fan in the U.S. who has supported K-1 over the past few years and shown that American fans love kickboxing, too.
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Wow….if the rumors are true and Shinya Aoki will make his US debut this year that and K-1 in America would make my life complete.
by The Savage Science on Dec 18, 2009 7:26 PM EST reply actions
Seriously.
I’m very close to Vegas, a Vegas show would be well within my reach. Hell, California, too. I have no issue traveling to see K-1.
Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend
Seriously.
I wouldn’t of bothered looking too far into this if you didn’t mention it.
Instead of just finding out about the reality show, I hear about that and some K-1 shows.
Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend
Three shows in America....nice
Thanks for the info. Great site you got here, D.W. Keep it up!
by The Real T-Bone on Dec 18, 2009 9:28 PM EST reply actions
Best news of year
it’s really great , it’s unbelievable now american people can feel K-1 spirit.
Thanks so much for nice news
VIVA K-1
Sceptical
I’ll believe it when I see it. If they can put down just one event that proofs very succesful, it’s already a very good result.
First step of course, is firing Mike Kogan.
Why fire Kogan?
Just because they haven’t put on a show here in a while?
Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend
Pride put on 2 shows in the US and thats while they were dying from scandal.
apan and FEG does believe in attempting to expand into the US
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 20, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
Mike Kogan quote:
“It shouldn’t have been a unanimous decision, that means Remy won EVERY round, which he didn’t.”
What’s this guy doing in kickboxing? He’s obviously not busy with FEG USA, since he’s been working on his second career as broadcaster. As head of FEG USA in 2007, wasn’t he responsible for the success of hosting a K-1 event on his home turf? Then came K-1 Dynamite!!
Then I wonder, why did they need Akebono to make the K-1 World Grand Prix of 2008 in Hawaii happen?
If this news that you guys have brought is his doing and it actually happens, I’ll gladly admit I’m wrong about him. I have to say, I know absolutely nothing about the guy apart from when he started doing FEG and it’s easy to wonder what the guy is actually paid to do. It can’t be commentating, yet, that seems to be the only thing he’s doing.
Think about it this way
K-1 went from pay-to-air ESPN late night slots in the late 90’s to nothing, since then they’ve slowly built a partnership with HDNet, to the point now where they have live coverage of every FEG event.
HDNet doesn’t have the broadest reach, but they have a partner who is fully supporting them.
It is hard to blame Kogan for Dynamite!! USA, as he isn’t a promoter. I’m pretty sure he didn’t think booking a 100k seat arena in America was a good idea, that was FEG in Japan thinking they can do whatever they want.
Head Kick Legend
Twitter @HeadKickLegend
Kogan is a play by play guy
He likes the sport and knows how to talk about it as it happens. It doesn’t mean he’s as knowledgeable about it as Al Michaels is about hockey or football. He gets excited and says whats happening for people that aren’t paying attention thats all he needs to do.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 20, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
ever since i had to order the k-1 max cd’s (probably pirated but no way to tell) way back in the day and avoid any k-1 news site to watch the event unspoiled, i’ve been waiting for k-1 to make its inroads here. i’ll wait and see, like when pride had its one and only show here. sigh
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Dec 23, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions
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