Classic K-1 Fights: Buakaw Por. Pramuk vs. Masato K-1 World MAX Final 2004

Here is another edition of the Classic K-1 Fights series here at Head Kick Legend. We'll look to periodically highlight a classic Kickboxing or JMMA fight as well as post a video for readers to watch. The goal is to make people aware of the great fighters and fights that make these sports so enjoyable. The following fight is from the early years of K-1 MAX and the result marks a real shift in the trajectory of the division. I hope you enjoy this piece and any feed back on fights you would like to see discussed would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to present Buakaw Por. Pramuk vs. Masato at the K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Final at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

The 2004 K-1 World MAX Final is an absolutely insane event. There is no other way of putting it. In addition to the two men being highlighted here, the final eight featured Albert Kraus, John Wayne Parr, Mike Zambidis, Takayuki Kohiruimaki, Jadamba Narantungalag, and Shamil Gaidarbekov. The quarterfinal bouts - which all went to decision - are enjoyable watches, some perhaps more closely contested than others but all competitive in their own right. The semifinals provided yet another back-and-forth affair as well as the total dismantling of a top fighter.

Even before the early action was seen, however, there were plot lines abound in the field. Central to the tale of the tournament was the fact that the 25 year old Masato was entering as the defending champion and had also proven victorious at the K-1 MAX Japan tournaments in 2002 and 2003. Albert Kraus entered as the only man to have defeated Masato under the K-1 banner. Masato and Kraus had already met three times, trading losses en route to their respective 2002 and 2003 championship runs while drawing once in between. Another former opponent of Masato's, Takayuki Kohiruimaki was on the opposite side of the bracket.

What's more, Masato's persona as much as his skill was ensuring that he was being pushed quite effectively as the face of K-1. We'll examine the rise of Masato further as we tackle the topic of K-1 history, but for our purposes here it would be sufficient to say this: if you doubt the sort of popularity that Masato had, go watch the quarterfinal bouts from the 2004 tournament. The tone of the crowd as Masato took on Jadamba Narantungalag is quite distinct from what you'll hear during the other three fights.

Buakaw Por. Pramuk entered the tournament as a 22 year old Muay Thai specialist with a wealth of experience, although almost none of it had come under the K-1 banner. He was already a former champion at Omnoi Stadium and the winner of the 140lb. tournament sponsored by Toyota at Lumpinee Stadium in 2002. Even so, Buakaw was yet to show himself for the near unstoppable force that many believe him to be today, as he posted mixed results at Lumpinee Stadium throughout 2001 and 2002. Buakaw was invited to the 2004 World Tournament Open for his first K-1 bout, and it was there he defeated New Zealand's Jordan Tai to qualify for the tournament final.

So how did these two fighters wind up in the final bout of the tournament?

Masato was coming off of a quarterfinal victory over the aformentioned Narantungalag as well an important win over Albert Kraus in the semifinals. Narantungalag had given Masato a tough fight and his right eye was noticeably swollen entering the bout against Kraus. Kraus provided another very real challenge, often controlling exchanges with effective counter punching. The difference between the two, however, was certainly a knockdown scored by Masato with roughly 1:00 left in the first round, as he landed a left hook on a retreating Kraus.

Buakaw began his evening with an extension round decision against John Wayne Parr in an absolutely terrific bout. Despite the proximity of the two, Buakaw was able to enter his semifinal bout looking relatively fresh as he dismantled Takayuki Kohiruimaki over the course of two rounds. After being swept by Kohiruimaki early in the first round, Buakaw began to bully his opponent in the clinch, throwing Kohiruimaki to the ground on multiple occasions and landing waves of knees which sent him to the canvas once in the first round and twice again in the second.

Entering the final bout, both of Masato's eyes were fairly swollen and his face showed clear signs of the two tough fights that he had endured to that point. Round one began with Buakaw throwing vicious leg kicks while Masato looked to close distance and connect with quick combinations. Buakaw responded with teeps and body kicks through much of the round, also getting in small amounts of work from the clinch in spots.

Buakaw began the second round much as he ended the first, the occasional punch surrounded by leg kicks and teeps that landed on the already well-bruised face of his opponent. Masato was able to land a couple significant shots among his combinations of hooks and crosses, but Buakaw once again used the clinch to stifle his opponent's work. The third round was again marked by Masato's efforts to connect while Buakaw used the clinch effectively and threw a number of kicks while at distance.

At the end of the third and final round, the look on the faces of both fighters told the story of the bout. Buakaw stood confident, certain of his victory, while Masato looked tired and defeated in his corner. Yet, when the two fighters returned to the center of the ring, two judges had determined the bout to be a draw. A majority draw in place, a befuddled Buakaw and utterly despondent Masato prepared for an extension round. In the fourth round, Buakaw began to bully Masato in the clinch as he had done to Kohiruimaki earlier in the night. After one particular overhand right failed to connect, Masato was tossed to the canvas by Buakaw.

Near the halfway mark and following more work from the clinch, Masato stood exhausted with his arms over the ropes, his body clearly near the limit of what it could take. The last 1:30 of the bout continued much in this same manner, Buakaw connecting with knees in the clinch and throwing kicks at distance which, at times, sent Masato stumbling in exhaustion. The bout ended with Masato doubled over in between the ropes, having been almost gently placed there by Buakaw from the clinch once more.

Once again, both fighters knew what the score should look like - and this time, the judges responded as expected. Buakaw was declared the winner by unanimous decision, becoming the third K-1 MAX champion. While both fighters went on to win the K-1 MAX tournament a second time in the interim, Masato would have to wait until the 2007 tournament to avenge his loss to Buakaw.

There you have it folks. I've provided the fight video below and I hope that you enjoy it. Let us know what you think.