At Last... The Official K-1 Final 16 Card is Announced

by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 19, 2010 10:07 AM EDT in K-1 News

We've been patiently waiting for weeks and finally the time has come. K-1 has officially announced the card for the Final 16 on October 2:

Semmy Schilt v. Hesdy Gerges
Ewerton Teixeira v. Peter Aerts
Errol Zimmerman v. Daniel Ghita
Gokhan Saki v. Freddy Kemayo
Ruslan Karaev v. Tyrone Spong
Andrei Arlovski v. Raul Catinas
Alistair Overeem v. Ben Edwards
Kyotaro v. Jerome Le Banner

Two obvious huge stories here:

#1 - No Badr Hari. We had heard rumblings about this for some time, but I have to be honest, I really thought they would be worked out. I'm very surprised to see him not included here, but if he really can use this time to get his head on straight and return with the mental focus that allows him to reach his potential, then so be it. I believe negotiations with Hari are also what led to this announcement being so slow coming.

#2 - Arlovski in the Final 16. The news broke this weekend that Andrei Arlovski would be fighting, but it was said to be in a superfight. Now, it turns out he is actually in the Grand Prix, and against a somewhat hand picked opponent too. Catinas is a good fighter, but he's significantly less experienced than most of the field, and is very short for heavyweight. Arlovski will have a dominating reach advantage, and should be able to get the win here. It seems like K-1 is banking on Arlovski making it in to the Final 8, giving some star power to cover up the absence of Badr Hari. I expect him to win, and if he doesn't, then the young Catinas's stock will shoot through the roof and he'll be a big story himself at the Final 8.

Also announced were three super fights: Chalid "Die Faust" v. Dzevad Poturak, in what should be a crazy fight, Sergey Kharitonov v. Takumi Sato (I honestly did not expect to see Sergei ever in K-1 again) and Min Ho Song v. Hyun Man Myung.

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Good to see Saki in there. Really like the Karaev/Spong and Zimmerman/Ghita match-ups. Obviously you got to favor Schilt going in but I think guys like Overeem, Kyotaro, and Saki could be dark-horses.

by Tim Koskuba on Sep 19, 2010 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t care who Arlovski is fighting, his glass chin makes it extremely likely he doesn’t make it past the 1st round.

by gzl5000 on Sep 19, 2010 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

If he can keep up a Remy-like defense, coupled with the bigger gloves (from MMA to K-1), he may do better than people are expecting.

by Relax. on Sep 19, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

about stereotypes

Why everyone says Catinas is to short for heavyweight when he is 182 cm and Ray Sefo is 183 cm i never heard no one saying that Sefo is to short for heavyweight ,to say that about Catinas is a stereotype, Catinas will ko Arlovski ; Arlovski has tone off loses by punches he has a proven fragile jaw;Arlovski is 193 cm he has 11cm height over Catinas its a lot but not decisive

by man'10 on Sep 19, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

maybe its more about the short REACH

Instead of height

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by robinhorobson on Sep 19, 2010 2:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So much for Iggy in K1. Sucks that they didn’t even give him a super fight.

"...I don't want to save the World, I don't even want to save me. We're so boring that we don't event want to save ourselves...There's nothing left to say, we're so fucking boring. Let it die I say. Let there be a new beginning...It's awful. Goodnight"

by dancingChicken on Sep 19, 2010 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Im super excited for these fights! I really hope Andrei does well but I just dont see it happening, Id say making it to the final 8 is the best he could hope for.

by WandyGuy on Sep 19, 2010 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

I think it'd be great -

- some new blood in the HWs. Arlovski is a great size for HW too. I bet Badr Hari is pissed – some other “MMA guy” coming to K-1. I hope Arlovski does well enough to warrant interest in him returning next year. Maybe MMA gloves are too small for him.

by Relax. on Sep 19, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

quite honest

Im a little bit dissapointed at this line up maybe because hari and remy er missing but still.

I think hesdy can surprise semmy, because hesdy is taller than most opponents semmy has fought.
And semmys reach wont be such a huge advantage over hesdy.

Also exciting for karaev/spong up and comer vs veteran.

And zimmerman/ghjta, zimmerman doesnt like to train and i think that for ghita he has to be focussed and i hope that brings out his true potential.

My Top MMA Talents

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3. Phil ''Mr. Wonderful'' Davis
4. Charles '' Do Bronx" Oliveira
5. Terry Etim

by robinhorobson on Sep 19, 2010 3:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

No Hari, no Remy and no Ignashov?

Why?

I’m still excited and will watch but I’d like to know why no Ignashov? I’d think he would bring in more star power than Arlowski. Oh well

by olegb139 on Sep 19, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

well

Remy is out because of a eye injury, Hari is trying to get his head straight because of all the police issues. And the current Ignashov is just a shell of the killer he once was.

My Top MMA Talents

1. Jon ''Bones'' Jones
2. Anthony ''Showtime'' Pettis
3. Phil ''Mr. Wonderful'' Davis
4. Charles '' Do Bronx" Oliveira
5. Terry Etim

by robinhorobson on Sep 19, 2010 3:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think the Arlovski that fought Fedor shows up he’s definitely a factor in this tournament. If the Arlovski that fought Bigfoot Silva shows up, he’s going to sleep, hand-picked opponent or not.

by Tedd Welch on Sep 19, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

I am not so much bothered that Arlovski is in the Final 16, but it’s just that I think other fighters deserve it much more. Arlovski never fought one K-1 fight and now he gets a shot at even the title (in the long run). How about Ignashov, Morusanu, Poturak, Manhoef, Lashenko and some more? They are working and training for years and deserve the spot more than AA.

But the fight against Catinas could be very exciting of course.

by D-rop on Sep 19, 2010 7:01 PM EDT reply actions