8/2 K-1 Asia GP 2009 - RESULTS

K-1 held their Asia GP in Seoul earlier today, a very interesting tournament and lots of home fighters. The winner was not from Korea though, actually there was no Korean fighter in thee final.

Veteran Taiei Kin got to the final by knocking out Chinese Sun Wu in the quarterfinal and a close decision that went through an extention round against fellow Japanese, Takumi Sato.

The Indian Singh "Heart" Jaideep got there by first KOing Park Yong Soo, then demolishing Ko Taisei with hard leg-kicks.

"Heart" pulled out the biggest win of his career, and the 21 year old J-Network champion will be a fighter to look for in the future.

I am also happy to see that M-1 Muay Thai champion, Koichi got the win he has been training very hard for. On the night his counters were too much for Sakashita. A very good result for him!

Main-Event: K-1 Asia GP 2009 Final:
10. Singh "Heart" Jaideep Def. Kin Taiei by Decision 3-0

9. Superfight: Pavel Zuravliov Def. Gokhan Saki by Decision 3-0

K-1 Asia GP 2009 Fights Semi-Finals:
8. SF-2: Singh "Heart" Jaideep Def. Ko Taisei by KO (leg-kick) Round 1 2:45
7. SF-1: Kin Taiei Def. Takumi Sato by decision 2-1 after ext.

6. Superfight: Jae Hee Cheon Def. Kim Tae Han by Decision 3-0

K-1 Asia GP 2009 Fights - Quarter Finals
5. Reserve: KOICHI Def. Yusuke Sakashita by Decision 3-0
4. QF-4: Ko Taisei Def. Min Ho Song by Decision 2-0
3. QF-3: Singh "Heart" Jaideep Def. Park Yong Soo by KO Round 2 1:35
2. QF-2: Takumi Sato Def. Yang Rae Yoo by Decision 3-0 after ext.
1. QF-1: Kin Taiei Def. Sun Wu by TKO Round 3 0:00 (towel thrown)

Opening Fights:
Hyun Man Myung Def. Nae Chul Kim by Decision 3-0
Ik Hwan Chang Def. Joung Hyun Koh by Decision 2-1

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8/2 K-1 Asia GP 2009 - Fight Order

FEG have announced the fight order and complete card for the Asia GP on Sunday (August 2).

This should be a very close tournament. Personally I am looking forward to seeing Koichi in the reserve fight. I know he is in great shape and has worked very hard here.

There should be lots to cheer about for the Korean fans, and it should be a very good event.

Main-Event: K-1 Asia GP 2009 Final:
10. Winner of SF-1 vs. Winner of SF-2

9. Superfight: Gokhan Saki vs. Pavel Zuravliov

K-1 Asia GP 2009 Fights Semi-Finals:
8. SF-2: Winner of QF-3 vs. Winner of QF-4
7. SF-1: Winner of QF-1 vs. Winner of QF-2

6. Superfight: Jae Hee Cheon vs. Kim Tae Han

K-1 Asia GP 2009 Fights - Quarter Finals
5. Reserve: KOICHI vs. Yusuke Sakashita
4. QF-4: Ko Taisei vs. Min Ho Song
3. QF-3: Park Yong Soo vs. Singh "Heart" Jaideep
2. QF-2: Takumi Sato vs. Yang Rae Yoo
1. QF-1: Kin Taiei vs. Sun Wu

Opening Fights:
Hyun Man Myung vs. Nae Chul Kim
60kg: Joung Hyun Koh vs. Ik Hwan Chang

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8/2 K-1 World GP - Asia GP - Participants Announced

FEG have announced some participants for the Asian GP being held in Seoul, South Korea.

I think it is always fun to see people I know being recognized for their performance and hard work. I caught up with Koichi in December last year, he was then training hard for his upcoming title fight in M-1 (Muay-Thai). He won that fight, and will come in with the M-1 heavyweight title. Koichi has a Kyokushin background and always leaves it all in the ring, and I am looking forward to seeing him fight here.

For the other fighters, I know very little Takumi Sato also has a Kyokushin background and he got to the semi-final in the K-1 Japan GP last year. On that occation he lost a decision to Keijiro Maeda (the current Heavyweight champion)

Participants:
Takumi Sato
KOICHI
Park Yong Soo
Kim Young Hyun
Singh Jaideep
Ko Taisei

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Congratulations to Koichi Pettas!

Yesterday was a big day for martial arts enthusiatst in Tokyo. I chose to go to the Shooto event in Differ Ariake, but that was not my original plan.

In Yoyogi Gymnasium there was a big muay thai event on, and I wrote an article earlier about one of the fighters on that card. Koichi Pettas was fighting for the M-1 heavyweight title and I know he worked very hard to prepare for that fight. You can see the pictures I took of him training here.

This was Koichi's debut with full Muay Thai rules (including elbows), and I happy to see that he won that fight by KO in the 4th round! So I just want to say congratulations to Koichi on a well deserved win, and he is now the new M-1 Heavyweight Champion!

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Koichi Pettas - Training

I was able to go and watch Koichi Pettas work out at thee AE Factory earlier this month. He has had 2 K-1 fights, but ahead of him now is a slightly different challenge.



January 18 at MuayLok he is facing Keigo Takamori for the M-1 (Muay Thai, not MMA) heavyweight title.



The best facilities, training and coaches will make sure Koichi is ready for his next challenge.



K-1 and Muay Thai has 1 main difference, elbows. Koichi is making sure he is ready for any challenge.



Some of you will now realize I have a dilemma on January 18... Shooto is on the same day... There is no choice for me, I will be there to support Koichi this time.

If you want to go and check out this Muay Thai event, it is in Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium in Tokyo. Doors open at 11AM fights start at noon.

Arena SRS 20,000円(Sold Out)
Arena RS　15,000円
Arena S　10,000円
Stand A 7,000円（Sold Out）
Stand B 5,000円
Stand Free seat 4,000円

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