On Saturday, December 11th, K-1 invades the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan for the World Grand Prix Final.
Eight of the sport's top heavyweight competitors battle an incredible three times in one night
in hopes of becoming the 2010 World Grand Prix Champion.
And the first quarter final pairing three-time World Champion, Peter Arts,
looks for his first title in more than a decade when he takes on powerful slugger, Mighty Moe.
The 40-year-old American rebounded from a loss to Sebastian Ciavano earlier this year
by defeating 22-year-old future star Raul Katinas in South Korea.
If Moe shows up in shape and takes it to the Dutch Lumberjack, he could surprise a lot of people.
Although he has experienced, the Samoan lacks the technical stand-up background,
and it could be his downfall in this tournament.
Arts, on the other hand, possesses an incredible skill set
and may use it to wear out the Las Vegas Champion to advance to the semis.
In the next quarter final matchup, Sammy show looks to become the only man in K-1 history
to win the prestigious title a record five times when he faces Japan's Kiotaro.
Sheld has performed flawlessly over his last seven bouts,
which has included KO victories over Jerome Labaner, Remy Ponyaski, and Badar Hari.
Still considered to be one of the favorites to win the tournament,
the 6-foot-11 Goliath will use his reach to punish his opponent on the outside.
At 37 years of age, Sheld is still a serious threat to all that enter the K-1 ring.
Standing across from the karate practitioner is the counter-striker Kiotaro.
The youngest fighter competing in the tournament, the team dragon fighter is flying under the radar,
as he holds victories over three men in the tournament, including a KO win over Peter Arts.
In an intriguing matchup for mixed martial arts fans,
Strike Force Heavyweight Champion Aleister Overeem will be in action,
as he's set to battle Dutch high boxer Tadrón Spong.
In 72 professional kickboxing bouts, the 25-year-old Spong has had his arm raised in victory 65 times,
which included 41 KO's.
Earlier this year, the King of Ring dispatch K-1 veteran Ray Seffo,
and hopes to use that momentum against the most powerful man in the tournament.
His opponent Overeem is also one of the favorites to win the coveted title
because of his explosive power, experience, and solid technique.
Since losing to Badar Hari at the 2009 event, the demolition man is perfect in 2010
with two destructive performances against overmatched opponents.
Overeem will have the weight of the mixed martial arts world on his massive shoulders,
when he meets the smaller and perhaps hungrier Spong.
In a thrilling encounter, Turkish powerhouse Gohan Saki looks to remain undefeated in 2010,
when he meets Romanian leg kickmaster Daniel Gita.
Saki has been very active this year with the Gita fight being his 7th of the campaign.
The 27-year-old has a tough quarterfinal opponent,
but if he can outwork Gita and avoid taking damage to the legs,
he could find himself moving on in the tournament.
Gita on the other hand, in my opinion, is the dark horse to at least make it to the final.
Daniel Gita is coming off one of the most impressive performances to date,
when he stopped reserved about competitor Errol Zimmerman to win the Seoul-South Korea Grand Prix.
Also in action, Sergey Haritanov returns to the K-1 organization for a third time,
when he battles India's Singh Jaydeep, and about the promises to deliver fistic fireworks.
And Errol Zimmerman hopes to rebound from his loss to Daniel Gita,
when he's paired with Brazilian Karateca Everton Tashira.
