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Honestly, I kinda hate using the word "robbery" when it comes to a decision in a fight. There was a giant uproar over Lyoto Machida's successful title defense against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104; was it a robbery or was it a fair decision? There has been a lot of debate and it seems like the world has settled on the fact that Shogun should be the champion. I feel in that case there isn't a lot to get upset about; state-appointed judges outside of the Zuffa influence saw what they saw from ringside and came to a tough decision on a close fight.

I held off watching the entire K-1 World MAX Finals until HDNet broadcast the full show in HD with English commentary from everybody's favorite announcer Michael Schievello alongside FEG's Mike Kogan. If you want to get upset about judging, look no further than this event. At least two of the judges seemed to want every round to be a draw, with an uncanny number of the fights having draw rounds, even by K-1 standards. If you've followed K-1 for a while you'll understand that the judges can do us a lot of favors in close contests. A fight like Machida/Shogun would not of been decided that quickly, it would've been ruled a draw and forced into an extension round.

In theory this is a good thing, it means fighters are given a second and sometimes third chance to steal the fight and it gives the fans a better show. I start to have problems with this when a fight was going in one clear direction and due to poor judging a fight is sent into an extension round where the losing fighter is able to pull out the victory. Japanese judges, especially at FEG shows have been called into question many, many times, and right now I'm calling them into question. Buakaw Por. Pramuk beat Andy Souwer.

It is hard to not be critical of Buakaw this year in K-1, as his fire seems to have left a bit, and he has even talked about not fighting for K-1 anymore and focusing on fighting elsewhere. I only speak for myself, but Buakaw leaving would leave a hole in K-1 MAX competition, but if he doesn't want to perform up to par there is no reason to stay around and turn into Mike Zambidis. Buakaw was aggressive, kept Andy at bay with his world famous push kicks and jabs. At the end of the fight it was clear by even looking at the two men that Souwer was the worse for wear; a gaping cut under his right eye, fatigued, red in the midsection. Buakaw looked ready for more. The look on Buakaw's face when it went into an extension was that of disgust, and his desire to keep fighting seemed to be drained out of him while Souwer finally started fighting as opposed to being a heavy bag for Buakaw. Souwer did win that extension round, no doubt, but only after losing the only three rounds that should've counted.

Buakaw, who had it in his head to leave the FEG umbrella would have little reason to want to continue fighting for them after something like this, I believe. Plus there is a feeling that if Buakaw doesn't want to be there, FEG does not want him there. This would not be the first time that FEG has made Buakaw feel unwelcome, either. Look no further than the one knee from the clinch rule if you want proof of that.

I feel a bit biased as I had always enjoyed MAX, but when Buakaw hit the scene it breathed new life into the already fresh division to watch a masterful muay thai fighter decimating everybody in his path.

K-1 World MAX 2009 Finals coverage

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With the K-1 MAX Finals complete and Giorgio Petrosyan now sitting firmly atop the ladder, the focus for MAX now firmly shifts to the retirement of Masato. Since the inception of the MAX division in 2002, Masato has been the clear top representative for the division, winning the first ever MAX event in Japan along with the Grand Prix in 2003 and 2008. Masato provided the template for the top MAX stars - a combination of high-level skill, fast-paced action, and good looks. And he rode those attributes to great heights of popularity, drawing in the coveted casual fan base that is the bread and butter of all Japanese combat sports. With his retirement eminent, the question on everyone's mind is clear: how will MAX do once their poster child is gone?

This weekend we saw some answer to this question in the form of ratings. The finals drew a 10.7% rating. While not a break-out number, this is a solid base that are obviously willing to tune in without Masato competing. For reference, Masato's last fight with Tatsuya Kawajiri drew a 19.8%. While a drop of half the audience is nothing to be ignored, this is by no means uncommon in the fight game. Look at the UFC where buyrates for big shows featuring names like Brock Lesnar hover near 1,000,000 buys, while shows without the marquee names are viewed as successful when they earn 400,000 buys. So the drop off is not a disaster, nor is the final 10.7 number. (For a disastrous number, look no further than K-1's sibling organization DREAM which drew a 1.7% for DREAM.12)

The danger about this drop off though is that this is not a "Franklin v. Wanderlei" level show - this is the MAX Finals, which featured essentially every top name the company has. What this tells us is that right now, MAX has no Brock Lesnar. They have no single name that is going to draw that huge crowd. The good news is, with a solid fan base behind them, they can build that star to replace Masato. The bad news is, Masato was so good at the putting together the components of the perfect MAX fighter that filling in after him is almost impossible. Years ago, Kohi looked to be the man to take that spot, but that time has clearly passed. There was a hope for Kido or Nagashima, but neither look to have the skills to make it there. At this point, there are perhaps four names that could take up Masato's mantle:

Yoshihiro Sato - Sato looked primed for this spot last year, but his recent record has raised questions. He's on the road to recovery, but undoubtedly did some real harm to his spot.

Yuya Yamamoto - He was defeated handily in the semi-finals, but if he works hard and improves, he has the personality and charisma to reach that wide audience. Honestly, he may have the best shot, but he has a ways to go before he can be at the skill level of the top MAX fighters.

HINATA - An outside shot, and one who obviously is nowhere near that level yet, but is improving.

HIROYA - For quite some time, it's obvious that this is MAX's choice for the next Masato. But as his graduation from the Youth division grows nearer, it's looking less and less likely. In a way it's a shame - because of the undue pressure on him, HIROYA won't have a chance to build up slowly in his early career. The expectation is that he must be a major star the moment he comes of age, and this just is not going to happen. Could he be a big star down the road? Very possibly. But I would say you are looking at 5 years from now, and that's a long time to wait.

Of course, there is a 5th option, which is the rise of a top name who does not fit the Masato mold. But this is not the kind of thing the company has much control over. A fighter will connect with the fans, or he won't, and no amount of forcing the issue will win fans over - an important lesson for K-1 to learn.

So far MAX, the upcoming year becomes a game of wait and see. We know they can survive without Masato - that they still have fans without his presence. But to continue to thrive he will need to be replaced. And until that happens - we wait.

"There have been various martial arts events on TV recently but the one who has left the biggest impression was Petrosyan.  If there was a fighter like Petrosyan in MMA I would retire. No matter what you do you can’t defeat him (laugh). He towers above the rest."

-Kazunori Yokota, speaking the truth

Courtesy of Nightmare of Battle

I find Petrosyan's manner here very interesting.  Because of his skill and his experience, sometimes you forget that he's pretty young, but here I think you can really see it.  He looks somewhat uncomfortable and daunted by this whole thing, like he's not really sure what to do.  I'm sure it's the shell shock of winning combined with, you know, a broken hand, but it's interesting to see someone reach the top who does not yet have that level of polish with the media.  Personally, I find it refreshing, as he really comes off as just a guy who worked real hard and made it big.

Xu Yan vs. Nagashima

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Coming off one of the biggest weekends for kickboxing action this year there's a lot to discuss. We've already touched on the biggest stories - Petrosyan winning the MAX title, Chahid v. Direkci ending in controversy, Morosanu defeating Mighty Mo - but there are other important stories you may have missed. Let's take a look at five moments that, while maybe not taking place in the main event, could impact the kickboxing scene in 2010.

1. Raul Catinas and Dzevad Poturak steal the show at K-1 ColliZion. On a night when people were most excited about Morosanu v. Mo, it was Catinas and Poturak who walked away with the hands down fight of the night in an all out war. An absolutely crazy battle that saw both men drop their hands in round 3 to bellow at each other, this may be the fight of the weekend. Catinas pulled off the win, showing why he was invited to the K-1 Europe GP earlier this year, and undoubtedly earning himself a return trip to the big stage.

2. Xu Yan completely derails Nagashima. The most noteworthy thing about this fight is not just that Nagashima lost, it's that he was destroyed and looked terrible in the process. Throughout the brief duration of the fight, Nagashima shows no spark of fire or interest in the fight - watch his face before the fight starts and you see an already defeated fighter. One of the criticisms of Nagashima is that he wants to use K-1 as a launching pad to anime voiceover work. With his performance here, I think it's time to start heading out on those auditions.

3. Freddy Kemayo continues his rise. After an up and down start to his career, Kemayo has been on a hot streak of late. With this beautiful KO victory at ColliZion, he pushes his win streak to 4 straight; in the past two years he's only lost twice, to Ghita and Morosanu. He deserves another crack at K-1, and let's hope he gets in next year.

4. HINATA gets back on track. Maybe it's because he dropped out of the tournament due to injury, or maybe it's because people focused more on the fading star of Yasuhiro Kido, but HINATA's K-1 MAX debut at the Japan GP tournament was a sorely overlooked story. Completely dismantling defending champion Kido, HINATA looked fantastic in his win. Injuries forced him out of the tournament and out of action before a disappointing return loss, but this fight showed he needs to be taken seriously, and helped cement his place as a new fixture of MAX.

5. Sahin Yakut keeps winning for It's Showtime. Yakut has put together a quiet winning streak this year in It's Showtime, taking care of everyone put in front of him. While not yet given the high profile fights of other It's Showtime fighters, Yakut continues to impress. I'd like to see him get a shot at a fighter like Direkci or Chahid next year.

Petrosyan and Masato Face-Off in the MAX Ring, Solidifying the Dynamite!! Main Event.

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We had our doubts, but after Petrosyan celebrated and accepted his championship, Masato, last year's World MAX Champion and easily K-1 MAX's banner star came into the ring to extend an offer to Petrosyan that he could not refuse; the main event at the premier fight card of the year.

Masato entered the ring and faced off with the 23-year old dynamo, Giorgio Petrosyan and asked him a simple question; "Are you free on New Year's Eve?" Without a doubt this year has become a dream come true for Petrosyan, and he'll now headline the biggest show K-1 has to offer against K-1 MAX's banner star. It will be the "old" against the "new" on New Year's Eve.

K-1 World MAX 2009 Finals coverage

Giorgio Petrosyan, 2009 World MAX Champion

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Congratulations to Giorgio Petrosyan, the 2009 K-1 MAX Grand Prix champion.  Petrosyan earned the title with a one round destruction of Yuya Yamamoto in the semi-finals, followed by a unanimous decision victory over Andy Souwer in the finals - his second defeat of Souwer in 2009. 

Petrosyan has been making his name in the European kickboxing scene for the past 5 years before making his K-1 debut at the start of 2009.  At this highest international level of competition, his rise to the top has been nothing short of meteoric, winning the Grand Prix in his first year as a MAX fighter.  With only 1 decision loss to his name, Petrosyan suddenly is the fighter to beat in MAX, and at 23 years old has the potential to be a dominant champion for some time to come.

We'll have much more on his victory and more analysis of the MAX finals in the days to come.

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That time is finally upon us, the K-1 WORLD MAX Finals. Our readers seem to be torn between Petrosyan and Buakaw Por. Pramuk, but who will be able to dig deep and come out the champion today? Check here for updates.

#10 - Finals: Giorgio Petrosyan (Unan. Dec.) Andy Souwer

#9 - HINATA  (Unan. Dec.) Mike Zambidis

#8 - Artur Kyshenko (R3 - KO) Toofan Salafzoon

#7 - DRAGO (Dec.) Taishin Kohiruimaki 

#6 - Albert Kraus (R2 - KO) Kozo Takeda

#5 - Jae Hee Cheon (Split Dec.) Kazuhisa Watanabe 

#4 - Yoshihiro Sato (R2 - KO) Yasuhiro Kido

#3 - Andy Souwer(Ext.R - Split Dec.) Buakaw Por. Pramuk

#2 - Giorgio Petrosyan (R1 - KO) Yuya Yamamoto 

#1 - Xu Yan (R1 - KO) Yuichiro Nagashima 

K-1 World MAX 2009 Finals coverage

With only hours to go, here's one last bit of hype for K-1 MAX - the promo video for the man who has emerged as the favorite in the Finals: Giorgio Petrosyan.

Check back tomorrow for all the results.

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DREAM is in the books, which means it is time for the K-1 World MAX Finals for this year, where we are down to four men; Giorgio Petrosyan, Yuya Yamamoto, Andy Souwer and Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Three of those four names are expected, with Yamamoto the pleasant surprise. Who will take the tournament this year, and what about all of those superfights? Fraser Coffeen and myself break down this huge event in painstaking detail.

#1 - Yuichiro Nagashima v. Xu Yan

FC: After a good run in the Japan GP early this year, Nagashima saw his stock on a fast rise, only to be stopped cold by a quick KO loss to Kraus.  More talk focuses on his cosplay antics than his actual fighting, but since that loss he’s quietly be training at Masato’s Silver Wolf gym.  Yan is a name largely unknown to K-1 fans, but he is well traveled, having competed around the world in Muay Thai and Sanda events, including facing Shootboxing’s Kenichi Ogata in 2007.  He’s also extremely tall and lanky, which could pose some problems for Nagashima.  I’ll go with the upset here and pick Yan by decision. 

DW: Nagashima is a guy who has had a lot of pressure put on him over the last few years, because K-1 is always looking for the next Japanese star to carry the promotion. Masato has been that star, but they knew his time would come, which it happens to be Dynamite!! of this year. So be it, that being said he is not that guy. He has a really fun personality that fans seem to enjoy, especially girls and strange Japanese boys, but as a fighter he has a lot of work to do to catch up with the rest of the MAX division. Xu Yan is an unknown for a lot of fans, with only one MAX appearance, this year, and that being a loss. This fight is set up for Nagashima to get a win, and you know how those fights usually go. Xu Yan has the reach advantage and the power advantage, while Nagashima has probably better technique. If Xu Yan can take him offguard Nagashima is done.

#2 - Yuya Yamamoto v. Giorgio Petrosyan

FC: On paper this is a huge mismatch, and I think when all is said and done Petrosyan will get the much expected win.  But anyone who thinks he's going to steamroll Yamamoto may be in for a surprise, as Yuya is an exceptionally durable fighter.  In some ways, this reminds me of Wanderlei Silva v. Yoshida from back in the Pride GP, where the "easier" semi-final may not be as easy as you think.  Yamamoto will have the crowd on his side, and you know will be fighting his heart out.  I'm picking Petrosyan to win this, but Yamamoto will rough him up, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Petrosyan come in to the final weakened or even be forced to drop out.  I should also say - best fight of the night?

DW: Petrosyan, plain and simple. He was the "dark horse" for a lot of people, but there is no reason for him to even be that, Giorgio Petrosyan is one of the best there is out there, and while he does not have a lot of KO's to his credit since moving up to elite level competition, that does not mean he isn't a beast. He is. Yuya Yamamoto hasn't had the same sort of bright career as Giorgio has, but has been facing top competition for a little bit longer. He is coming off an impressive win over DRAGO, that being said, he can't stop Petrosyan.