Join Jon Kirschner at 2am ET for live coverage of the biggest event in the kickboxing year with eight man battling in a one-night tournament to become the latest World Grand Prix Champion. In addition to K-1 mainstays such as Peter Aerts and Semmy Schilt, for the second year in a row Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem looks to become a two-sport champion with what would be an historic tournament victory. Inside Fights will be bringing you live results and play by play from all the fights broadcast live in America on HDNET, including all tournament matches. Before the fights start, make sure to read our indepth preview of the tournament field.
We are here live! Jon Kirschner here and the program just kicked off. The commenatators for tonight are King Mo Lawal, Mike Kogan and “The Voice” Michael Schiavello. I’m glad King Mo is here, as he is offering in-depth analyzation on the fighters. And I quote (about Peter Aerts) “He’s the most smiley faced guy I’ve ever seen. This is his year.” Awesome. Just more reasons why you should tune in to Inside Fights for the play-by-play!
A video airs highlighting the fighters and explaining their paths to the tournament, and the opening ceremonies just ended. In a matter of minutes the main card will start.
(Reserve Fight)
Ewerton Teixeira vs. Errol Zimmerman
Round One: The bout opens and they bump gloves. Zimmerman is the aggressive striker in the beginning, throwing leg kicks and high roundhouse kicks. Teixeira connects with a couple punches and is finding openings in Zimmerman’s gloves. He corners Zimmerman and opens up with selective body shots, and connects a nice uppercut. Zimmerman is connecting with some nice counter punches. Teixeira is connecting over and over again with straight jabs through Zimmerman’s gloves and right hooks. They exchange shots and the bell sounds. Judges say first round goes to Teixeira, 10-9.
Round Two: Each man is a lot more reserved in the opening seconds. Teixeira again has Zimmerman backed into the corner after a couple body kicks, but is out again after connecting a nice counter punch. Teixeira lands a right hook that visibly upsets Zimmerman. Teixeira is repeatedly throwing body kicks and Zimmerman always returns with counter-jabs that barely connect. The rest of the round is slow, with few strikes connecting. Teixeira takes the second round, 10-9. Zimmerman has to go for broke here if he wants to win.
Round Three: Zimmerman is just blocking strikes and is not aggressive at all. Zimmerman rattled Teixeira with a knee that was blocked. Zimmerman is now showing more urgency and is only throwing one-punch shots, and not combos. Zimmerman is taken down with kick to the leg that is ruled a trip, so it doesn’t count as a knockdown. Teixeira’s body shots have won him the fight, as Zimmerman’s “KO” shots are very slow which make it a lot easier for Teixeira to block. Zimmerman’s conditioning lost him the fight.
Ewerton Teixeira defeats Errol Zimmerman by way of unanimous decision.
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Quarterfinals Bout)
Mighty Mo vs. Peter Aerts
Round One: Mo doesn’t want any of Aerts striking and he immediately closes the distance and throws haymakers to Aerts body. Mo must have the biggest nuts in the world because he just took another ball-shot. Mo clinches for the third time in under a minute. An Aerts high left round kick sends Mo crashing to the ground, and he is standing up at the 8-count. Mighty Mo goes for another clinch and he’s so tired it looks like he’s going for a takedown. Mo is being warned about repetitive clinching. Aerts corners Mo on the ropes and throws a combo of punches and kicks and Mo falls to the mat. Referee stops the fight. Dominating performance from Aerts.
Peter Aerts defeats Mighty Mo 2 Minutes 20 Seconds into Round One
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Quarterfinals Bout)
Semmy Schilt vs. Kyotaro
Round One: Schilt is looking very focused. The bell sounds and the fight is underway. It’s a feeling out process as the first real shot doesn’t land 40 seconds into the fight, which is a straight right jab from Schilt. Kyotaro is throwing right hands and is barely connecting, but it’s generating reactions from the crowd. Kyotaro stays Kyotaro and presses forward with a flurry of punches. Schilt is connecting with jabs which are jarring Kyotaro’s head. Schilt connects with a punch with a second left that knocks Kyotaro down, but the referee says it doesn’t count. They didn’t say the score, but I’d say it’s a 10-10 round.
Round Two: Kyotaro goes for a flurry of punches in the opening thirty seconds, and whenever he does that he goes right into the clinch. Schilt is using his reach to his advantage and landing head jarring jabs over and over again. Kyotaro isn’t throwing many strikes and is getting picked apart with knees to the body and jabs. Kyotaro landed a vicious right hook. Not a very active round from Kyotaro, but Schilt stayed busy and it gives him the round. 10-9 Schilt.
Round Three: Schilt stays throwing straight jabs, but Kyotaro is staying low, getting inside the distance and connects a couple shots. Kyotaro goes into the clinch and Schilt lands a body shot before the referee breaks it. Schilt lands an unchecked leg kick on Kyotaro. Kyotaro lands a couple hooks before he goes right into the clinch. I’d say it’s a tie round because Kyotaro is connecting so much, but he’s also going into the clinch too often and Schilt is staying busy. Kyotaro actually gets warned for clinching. After the clinch, Schilt connects with multiple punches. In the closing ten seconds, Kyotaro just circles as he assumes he either has the victory or the tie.
Semmy Schilt defeats Kyotaro by way of unanimous decision.
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Quarterfinals Bout)
Gokhan Saki vs. Daniel Ghiţă
Round One: Both men come out swinging and kicking, composed. Saki is displaying his explosiveness by landing sick body kicks, but Ghiţă is landing some too. Saki lands a nice leg kick and a nice body punch, but after his flurries Ghiţă is landing lighting fast body kicks. Saki’s ribs are already red two minutes into the fight. Saki is taking a LOT of punishment on the ribs by repetitive kicks. The bell sounds and thats the end of round one. Saki looked really good striking, but he’s just standing there taking body shots. The judges give the round to Ghiţă, 10-9.
Round Two: Same opening as last round; Saki is throwing awesome combinations but Ghiţă is landing nice counter-shots. Ghiţă is really targeting the body now. Saki lands a couple shots, and Ghiţă smiles and invites more only to get punched in the face again. Saki throws a strong headkick, but it’s blocked by Ghiţă. They trade shots to end the round. Saki falls down, but the referee doesn’t rule it a knockdown. Saki was the active one, but Ghiţă is picking him apart with leg kicks and body kicks. Ghiţă’s main connection in the round was a high kick. All three rounds give the second round a tie, 10-10.
Round Three: Saki opens the round with a spinning back kick that only connects with glove. Saki is the aggressor and is digging deep, closing the distance and swinging for the fences. Ghiţă is once again landing body and leg kicks at will. Both men are starting to show fatigue, as their pace and strikes have visibly slowed down. Saki has Ghiţă cornered and is throwing shots that are being blocked, until he finally lands a overhand right and a right hook. Saki connects some nice low-kicks at the close of the bell. Fight is ruled a majority draw, and it will go into extra rounds.
Extension Round 1: Saki quickly presses Ghiţă on the ropes, but they only exchange low-kicks. Saki lands with an uppercut, outside right combination. Saki keeps on pressing Ghiţă into the corner and against the ropes, allowing Saki to take over the fight with slick combinations. It’s clear that Ghiţă is extremely gassed. Saki lands multiple body shots while Ghiţă lazily counters with ineffective leg-kicks. For every leg kick that Ghiţă landed, Saki would land two punches and two kicks. It seems to me that Saki stole the fight by his strikes and his ability to pace the fight.
Gokhan Saki defeats Daniel Ghiţă in extension rounds by way of unanimous decision. Saki going into extension rounds will definitely effect his conditioning in the semi-finals. His opponent will be determined in the next fight.
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Quarterfinals Bout)
Alistair Overeem vs. Tyrone Spong
Round One: Overeem opens the fight with a superman punch and quickly has Spong cornered. Overeem throws a flying knee, but Spong counters it with a kick to the stomach keeping the distance open. Overeem is very aggressive, constantly pressing. Overeem clinched with two hands and connects with a knee, and is warned. You can only clinch with one hand. Spong lands a HUGE right when Overeem misses a knee! Overeem is covering with his gloves while Spong throws punches in bunches. Overeem gets back his senses and is back to pressing. Overeem lands a nice body kick. They exchange knees to the body. Overeem double hand-clinches again and is warned for a second time. Overeem throws an overhand right/knee to the body combo. Spong lands a nice straight jab. Overeem gets away with another knee in the double-hand clinch and the bell rings. All three judges give the first round to Tyrone Spong, 10-9.
Round Two: Overeem is once again pressing and gets caught off guard with a punch which makes Overeem do a Brock Lesnar pirouette, but he stays on his feet and has full composure. Overeem keeps on doing knees in the double hand clinch, but isn’t getting caught. Overeem is staying busy, landing kicks and punches that don’t seem to be doing a whole lot of damage. Spong is not that active, and is standing in front of Overeem. Overeem executes ANOTHER knee in the double hand clinch and doesn’t get caught. Spong had Overeem cornered, but doesn’t pull the trigger. Overeem lands a sick right hand that causes Spong’s legs to wobble, but Overeem stays collective and picks his shots. Spong closes the round with a connected leg kick, body kick and soft jab. The referees give the second round to Overeem, 10-9 (two judges 10-9 to Overeem, one judge a draw).
Round Three: Sping is tired and is just taking hits, shots to the body and punches. His hands are dropping and he goes for the clinch. Kogan is right in mentioning that Overeem’s punches have increased as the rounds go on. Overeem lands a high knee. Overeem has Spong cornered and is landing with multiple knees and punches. The referee steps in and gives Spong ten seconds to regain composure, and he does. His left eye is almost swollen shut. Overeem lands an overhand right. Spong throws a mean hook, only to connect with Overeem’s gloves. Overeem is doing a good job in landing solid, short punches inside the distance. Alistair closes the round with a body kick/jab combo. The result of the fight is coming up, and I fully expect this round to be 10-8 in favor of Overeem.
Alistair Overeem defeats Tyrone Spong by way of unanimous decision.
Hesdy Gerges vs. Yusuke Fujimoto
Round One: Gerges throws a whiffed high kick to open the fight. Gerges throws numerous failed leg kick attempts, and finally connects with one that trips up Fujimoto. Gerges connects with a right hook and another right hook that causes Fujimoto to fall to the ground. He’s up at the 8 count. Gerges is dominating so far. Less than fifteen seconds later, Gerges knocks down Fujimoto again and he’s up at the eight count. And once again, less than ten seconds later Gerges leg kicks Fujimoto and Fujimoto crumbles to the ground. FIGHT OVER.
Hesdy Gerges defeats Yusuke Fujimoto by TKO in Round One
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Semi-Finals Match)
Peter Aerts vs. Semmy Schilt
Round One: This really has a big fight feel. Aerts looks ready to kill. Aerts connects with a nice leg kick and a solid left, sending Schilt bouncing back into the ropes. He stands back up straight and tries to press. Throws a kick to Schilt’s thigh, but Schilt connects with a counter hook. Both men are staying active and connecting solid shots. Aerts feigns an overhand left, and connects with a right hook in the corner. Schilt is connecting with composed, calm punches. Schilt has Aerts cornered, but he gets out without taking any serious damage. Aerts looks a lot more gassed than Schilt; he blew his wad in the beginning of the fight. Schilt misses a high knee in the clinch. Schilt lands two jabs in a row. Schilt lands a solid left to close the round. Two judges give the round a draw, and one gives the round 10-9 to Schilt.
Round Two: Schilt is a lot more aggressive this round, throwing strikes from the start as he senses that Aerts is tired. Schilt connects some power punches, and Aerts drops his hands and talks trash, which usually signifies that Aerts is knocked loopy. Aerts throws a lazy combo, and Schilt lands a counter right. Aerts has a cut over his right eye, and the fight is paused to check out the cut. The fight is resumed and Aerts lands a huge punch and immediately goes into the clinch. Aerts is once again gassed, and with a minute left Schilt can steal this round. Aerts actually lands a huge right hand that causes Schilt to clinch throwing nice leg kicks, overhand rights that sends Schilt bouncing off the ropes. Mo says the round goes to “Old Man”. Awesome. I wonder how much he’s getting paid to do this. The judges score the round a draw.
Round Three: The fight is going in the direction of a draw, so Aerts comes out swinging and quickly has Schilt pressed against the ropes. He lands some loud leg kicks, and throws a wild haymaker that misses. He connects with a nice right hook, left hook that sends Schilt stumbling back into the corner and into a clinch. Referee breaks the clinch and tells Schilt not to clinch, a warning. Aerts lands a right hand out of another Schilt clinch. Aerts is picking apart Schilt; Schilt is gassed. Aerts lands MORE straight, hard punches that sends Schilt into the ropes again. The crowd is erupting with every shot landed, they are rooting for an upset in the loudest way. The bell sounds and Aerts should be awarded the win!
Peter Aerts defeats Semmy Schilt by way of majority decision. That is a HUGE upset!
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Semi-Finals Match)
Alistair Overeem vs. Gokhan Saki
Round One: “The Voice” says this fight is “Kebab vs. Horse-meat”. Overeem presses Saki into the corner already and lands knee. Saki trips Overeem with a kick, and Saki falls too. Both stand back up and the fight is on. Saki is staying active and is keeping the distance open with teap kicks and jabs. Saki lands an uppercut. Saki is throwing endless right hands. Overeem shakes up Saki with a HARD body kick. Saki goes for a spinning hook kick and is tripped up, it’s not a knockdown. Saki connects with an uppercut, but Overeem doesn’t react. Overeem is going to target the right side rib cage. Overeem lands a dominating kick to the ribs of Saki, but Saki blocks it with his elbow. It looks like Saki’s elbow is dislocated or broken… the referee has stopped the fight. Overeem has won. Overeem kept his composure and has a lot of energy left.
Alistair Overeem defeats Gokhan Saki by way of referee stoppage (broken arm). Within seconds after the fight, Saki’s elbow has swollen up to the size of a baseball. He hasn’t moved his elbow once; it’s likely dislocated.
Halftime Show/Let’s Go Make Our Bed Time
It’s too late for J-Pop at 5:00 AM EST. I’m muting it. Stay tuned for the finals.
(Superfight #2)
Sergey Kharitonov vs. Singh Jaideep
Round One: Jaideep connects with a series of leg kicks. Kharitonov is keeping to his usual strategy, pressing his opponents against the ropes or into the corner. While Jaideep is connecting with some nice kicks, Kharitonov is picking his shots and landing counter body shots. Jaideep hits a nice little knee inside the distance to the gut of Kharitonov. Kharitonov connects with another nice right hand and Jaideep clinches. Kharitonov gets caught, and Jaideep is connecting with shots on a stumbling Kharitonov. Jaideep drops Kharitonov and Kharitonov is up at 8. Jaideep once again knocks Kharitonov loopy, and he has to grab on to the ropes to stay up. Referee stops the fight and Jaideep pulls off the upset. Mike Kogan says “That was a huge upset, but unfortunately it’s a super fight so nobody cares”. Way to build up a promotion you partially own!
Singh Jaideep defeats Surgey Kharitonov by way of TKO in Round One.
(K-1 Grand Prix 2010 Finals)
Alistiar Overeem (-350 Favorite) vs. Peter Aerts (+400 Underdog)
Round One Lots of respect between the two. Once again, Overeem presses the action. Overeem lands a right hand. Aerts lands a solid leg kick. Overeem lands a solid right and a leg kick that jolts Aerts body and sends him into the corner. Overeem unloads with a series of hooks, straight jabs, high knees and leg kicks— Aerts collapses to the ground and is crawling toward the ropes to pick himself up. The referee starts counting, and it reaches 10. Peter Aerts cannot continue. Alistair Overeem has won the 2010 Grand Prix!
Alistair Overeem defeats Peter Aerts by way of TKO in Round One
Thank you everyone for joining me in what seemed, to me, to be the quickest five hour combat event I’ve ever watched. I had covering it and hopefully you enjoyed reading it. Good night!
