Tyrone Spong: Looking Toward MMA, K-1 Appearance in Question

MMA fans like to say that “boxing is dying”, if not dead. But they can never articulate what that death would look like. Low PPV numbers? Boxing still has a few superstars capable of pulling in great numbers. Lack of proper fights involving champions and challengers? Brent Brookhouse broke the numbers down, revealing that in October alone, boxing has 8 #1 ranked fighters all actively challenging proper (some more than others) contenders.

Although I’d never argue boxing is actually thriving, boxing has not drawn the outline for what constitutes “dying”. For a real outline, you’d probably look at kickboxing. Though the sport is not dead, one of its major organizations has practically gone bust, and the stars are leaving for seemingly greener pasture.

K-1 has yet to pay their own champion, and included in a lengthy list of competitors still missing a check is Tyrone Spong, the 26 year old kickboxer who has practiced under the tutelage of legend, and all around badass, Ernesto Hoost. In addition, Spong has been training with Rashad Evans, and Mike Van Arsdale. Two pretty good candidates to spar with if you’re eyeing a spot in the MMA spotlight.

Spong was candid about the prospect in his interview with Matthew Roth at MMA Nation. “I know I’m a talented athlete and I can do whatever I put my mind on. Whether it’s boxing or MMA, I did it both in practice. It went very well. I have the skills to do it. I have the ability to learn very fast. I wish them the best of luck but I can only speak for myself.”

“As of now, I’m looking to work with some professional big organizations. There are some negotiations with a few big organizations. I can’t really say anything about it right now. I’m just getting ready. I owe Mo Lawal a lot. He’s my very good friend. He introduced me to the states. Through him I got to learn to know Rashad Evans. He’s one of my very close friends now. Very talented athlete. We worked with the whole Blackzilian team. I’ve moved over to Florida.”

Spong is a relatively small HW, and so his prospects might be more interesting as a LHW, but I can’t imagine him having any less success than a Joey Beltran or Pat Barry and both have gotten high profile fights to modest exposure. Against Alistair Overeem, he gave “The Reem” a scare in the first round, having wounded the now-UFC contender.

What’s unfortunate is that with the news of Badr Hari trying a hand at American boxing (which Spong was critical of in Roth’s interview), and Gokhan Saki likely doing the same, kickboxing is left without much interest in its HW division.

K-1’s loss just might be MMA’s gain. In a way, however tragic, Spong is a symbol of MMA experiencing its own version of the kokatagi boom in Japan, where kickboxers became a significant element in MMA popularity. Only now the boom is in America. However, the difference now is that MMA has wizened to one dimensionality (not that it doesn’t still exist). Whatever Spong’s prospects are, he’ll have to learn fast. Thankfully he’s fighting at HW though. I mean, if an overweight 37 year old former kickboxer now 2-0 in 2011 in the UFC could do it…