K-1 Dynamite MMA Coming to the States

Seems like everyone is cashing in on the MMA these days. FEG (Fighting Entertainment Group), ProElite (PELE:PK) and Showtime Networks announced last month a deal to bring the “K-1 Dynamite” mixed martial arts (MMA) series to the United States for the first time. “Softbank presents Dynamite!! USA in association with ProElite,” this SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View event will take place June 2nd at Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum. The event will host a mixed martial arts fighting event for the first time in its 74-year history. Mr. Tanikawa, CEO of FEG claims “Mixed martial arts has shown tremendous growth in recent years and events like this show that we are looking to raise the bar in making it one of the more popular sports in the U.S.”

UFC and PRIDE have most of the big-name MMA fighters locked up, but the idea of K-1 working together with EliteXC, England's Cage Rage, Strikeforce, Bodog Fight and SpiritXC is fun to think about. “Softbank presents Dynamite!! USA in association with ProElite” will combine the disciplines of karate, kickboxing and kung fu, as well as masteries of jiu-jitsu, judo and wrestling. The action takes place in a boxing-style ring, which provides easy accessibility for TV viewers and audiences. FEG holds events in more countries worldwide than any other MMA organization. The events, which draw in excess of 90,000 fans to packed arenas, have been broadcast in more than 130 countries, including New Years Eve prime time broadcasts that average more than 40 million viewers worldwide. The Dynamite!! USA is being broken up into two events, EliteXC will sponsor the early portion and broadcast it on Showtime, while the second half (the K-1 portion) will air on PPV. I think that the combined star power of an ex-WWE wrestler, a 7’2 Koren, a NFL hottie and a martial arts legend, there should be no trouble publicizing the event and raking in the dough for Showtime and all the sponsors. All the fighters bring different sets of skills to the ring, which makes for truly entertaining combat.

Dynamite!! USA promises to be one of the most exciting MMA events in history. Making their MMA debuts will be former NCAA Division I wrestling champion, WWE pro wrestler, and Minnesota Viking tryout Brock Lesnar, NFL alum Johnnie Morton. Taking on Lesnar will be 7-foot-2 South Korean giant Hong Man Choi, aka “Techno Goliath.” Also joining the fight card on June 2 will be mixed martial arts legend Royce Gracie.

Lesnar is a North Dakota native who rose to WWE stardom in shows such as WWE Raw, SummerSlam and WrestleMania. He could be a legit future MMA star if he can take a punch. He's already leaps and bounds ahead of most MMA fighters in terms of power and wrestling ability. If he can strike and more importantly, absorb strikes, he may just be major force at heavyweight. His competitor Hong Man Choi, a K-1 Asia champion, will be making his first U.S. MMA appearance at the June 2nd event. Gracie, a 14-year MMA pioneer and UFC Hall of Famer, began his training in the discipline of Jiu-Jitsu and has taken on many larger opponents during his career, including 6’8, 486 lb. Sumo Grand Champion, Akebono, who Gracie defeated. Morton, a Los Angeles native and football star with University of Southern California and the NFL’s Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers during an illustrious career, will be making his MMA debut at “Softbank presents Dynamite!! USA in association with ProElite.”

First of all HELLO has anyone seen Johnnie Morton? I had wondered what happened to him; I may hafta purchase a ringside seat, just to see him without a shirt on! And who the hell ever heard of a 7’2 Korean, or a 7’2 person period? Those two factors themselves may have me planning a trip out west, scalping tickets to see Johnnie boy and the Korean giant!

The pay-per-view fight card, which begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, will feature up to six fights, with co-main events. Prior to the pay-per-view, SHOWTIME will televise three explosive bouts featuring EliteXC stars Jake Shields, Antonio Silva and Gina Carano. In the weeks prior to the live event, SHOWTIME® will air a six-part series entitled “Countdown to Dynamite!! U.S.A.,” profiling fighters, detailing the match ups and previewing the historic night of action. New episodes of Countdown will premiere every Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT beginning April 30, on SHOWTIME.

From street fighter to pro

Four years ago Jamie Johnson was a streetfighter, today he is a kickboxer preparing for his first professional fight against an opponent eager to smash an elbow, knee, hand or shin into his head.

On Sunday, the 21-year-old Taupo man will fight in Brute Force, a Melbourne- based tournament for top Muay Thai fighters.

Muay Thai, a versatile, straightforward martial art where the hands, shins, elbows and knees are used extensively, is the traditional combat sport of Thailand.

Johnson, added to the line up by promoters just a few weeks ago after another New Zealand fighter pulled out, is looking forward to the chance to win the $10,000 prize purse.

He has upped his training and, with confidence in his ability, he has a good chance of making his mark on his first trip overseas since he was two years old.

I think I've got a fair bit of power and my fitness is a lot better than it used to be. It's exciting to get into the ring and it puts a different aspect on fighting,? he says. Johnson came across kickboxing almost by accident.

Three years ago the dairy farmer was on the lookout for a chance to take up boxing. Instead he found former professional kickboxer and trainer Scotty Thomson, who had recently moved to Taupo.

I headed on down [to the gym] and never looked back, says Johnson, who has come a long way since his days as a teenager on the lookout for a scrap.

I used to get into heaps of fights I just liked fighting, he says. Training has bought a new aspect to combat, which for him now requires brains as well as brawn.

It's [kickboxing] helped me control my anger a bit better and improved my discipline.? He trains at least three times a week and manages to build on his fitness in his spare time with a bit of pig hunting.

Johnson has learned a lot from Thomson, who has been involved in kickboxing for more than 20 years.

When the trainer and owner of Freestyle Gym arrived in Taupo, he intended to take a break from the gruelling sport - that wasn't to be. Since he has been here he has managed to get 23 people into the ring. Johnson has been the one who has stuck it out the longest.

Compared to places like Auckland, kickboxing is almost non existent in Taupo, which makes the task of finding sparing partners difficult. That could change, however, with the founding of a fight club at Freestyle Gym.

Thomson intends to have the club, which will cater to everyone from beginners to those who want to go pro, men and women, up and running in the next few weeks.

?What I?m doing now is stepping up to the next level by starting up a proper fight club here, says Thomson.

Meanwhile, whether Johnson wins or loses this weekend the experience will be invaluable. In the ring you don?t get beaten, you get taught a lesson, says Thomson.

You learn more from losses than you do from winning.

Choi Loses to Mighty Mo at K-1 World Grand Prix

The world’s tallest mixed martial arts fighter Choi Hong-man suffered his first career knock out loss Sunday against an American opponent, 33 centimeters shorter than him, at the 2007 World Grand Prix in Japan.

Mighty Mo, 33, knocked down the 2.18-meter Choi 50 seconds into the second round of the bout, handing the South Korean his first loss since September when Choi lost to Jerome Le Banner of France by a unanimous decision.

Choi, 26, who beat reigning K-1 champion Semmy Schilt in May, has gone 10-3 since his debut in March 2005. He also lost to Remy Bonjasky of the Netherlands by a decision.

In the match held at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Mo (9-4) floored Choi with a strong right hook before the referee stopped the bout.

Later in the event, Schilt clinched the newly created super heavy weight title after he overcame a first-round knock down to KO Ray Sefo of New Zealand in the second round.

In their last dual, in 2005, the Dutchman knocked out Sefo en route to winning the World Grand Prix throne.