K-1 World Grand Prix Final Predictions

Predictions for the K-1 World Grand Prix to take place on December 5, 2009 in Yokohama, Japan

The 2009 Fields K-1 World Grand Prix will be live December 5 th on HDNet from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. This year the Grand Prix has some interesting notes. Half of the eight fighters train out of the Golden Glory Gym in Holland; Semmy Schilt, Alistair Overeem, Ruslan Karaev and Errol Zimmerman. Meaning Golden Glory has a 50 percent chance at snagging the title this year. Another eye opener is that Peter Aerts is not in the main draw of the Grand Prix. Instead finding himself in a reserve bout against Gokhan Saki.  Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt and Peter Aerts are all going for their fourth career titles. If any of these fighters were to win it, they would tie “Mr. Perfect’’ Ernesto Hoost for most career titles.

Superfight – Tyrone Spong vs. Kyotaro

The lone superfight on the card matches young gun Tyrone “ King of the Ring” Spong against K-1 Heavyweight Champ Kyotaro. Kyotaro won the K-1 Heavyweight belt fighting in a four man tournament that Spong was also involved in. Kyotaro defeated Melvin Manhoef by KO and Gokhan Saki by decision to win the belt. This has been a breakout year for Kyotaro, his only loss coming at the Final 16 to Ruslan Karaev by decision. Tyrone Spong lost to Gokhan Saki at that same four man tourney in one of the best fights this year, each man hurting the other badly. Spong took Saki to an extra round, but was KO’ed there. Spong is still growing as a fighter and will be a force in K-1 once he plateaus. Spong will have no problem out boxing Kyotaro as he has some of the best hands of any kickboxer . Kyotaro’s gameplan usually is to pick his spots, not engaging much during the opening stages of the fight. Kyotaro does have solid counter punching but Spong is the superior boxer.  If Spong pressures Kyotaro with speed and punches he should have no problems here.

Prediction – Spong by Decision

Reserve Bout – Gokhan Saki vs. Peter Aerts

This is one of two reserve bouts for the Grand Prix. Gokhan Saki has drawn arguably the most beloved K-1 fighter ever, “Mr. K-1” Peter Aerts. Aerts is a true legend in K-1 but has seen his best years. Peter Aerts had a very promising year in 2009 beating Errol Zimmerman and Yosuke Nishijima. However, that promise did not carry over to his bout with Alistair at this year’s Final 16. Aerts looked his age in his fight with Alistair Overeem. Aerts looks to maintain he can hang with the big boys with this fight. For Gokhan Saki 2009 has not been a year to remember. Fighting in a four man tournament for the K-1 Heavyweight strap, Saki beat newcomer Tyrone Spong but was ousted in a decision loss to Kyotaro in the final. Saki moved on to face Pavel Zhuravlev at the K-1 Seoul Grand Prix. Saki injured his groin in that fight causing him not to fight his best and lose a decision. A healthy Saki in this fight should be able to outpower Peter Aerts in a fairly close decision. Saki will of course have to be alert for Aert’s kicks. Aert’s will have to be on guard for punching flurries from Saki.

Prediction – Saki by Decision

Reserve Bout - Daniel Ghita vs. Chalid “Die Faust” Arrab

  Another Golden Glory team member in Chalid “Die Faust” finds himself on the card in the second reserve bout.   He takes on powerhouse Daniel Ghita. Ghita could have found himself in the tournament main draw if he was not matched up with Semmy Schilt at the Final 16. Ghita won the K-1 Tokyo Grand Prix ending all of his fights impressively in the first round putting his powerful kicking on display. That tournament win got him into the Final 16 where he was obliterated by Schilt. I’m not sure why “Die Faust” is in a reserve fight here. There are other fighters in K-1 that deserve the spot over him. Ghita ought to put a beating by way of leg kicks on “Die Faust”. The kicks Ghita lands should wear down Chalid “Die Faust” and allow Ghita to tee off.

Prediction – Ghita by TKO

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Tournament Quarterfinal - Badr Hari vs. Ruslan Karaev

The matchup here is a rubber match between Golden Glory’s Ruslan Karaev and Badr Hari, the Mike Passenier trained bad boy. In many ways an interesting, guaranteed exciting bout. Each fighter has one knockout win over the other. This will be the tiebreaker. Often times Karaev is criticized for not having the best defense, focusing on his offensive skills. Not the best flaw to have when you fight, arguably, the best knockout artist in all of K-1, Badr Hari. That being said Karaev looked very good in dispatching of  K-1 World Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro at the Final 16. Hari also does not have the best chin in the world. Neither does Karaev, leading me to the belief that once again one of these two gentlemen will be knocked out. A more focused and respectful Hari has been seen in recent interviews. After the way Hari took care of K-1 Lodz Champion Zabit Samedov in one round he should be looked at as one of the favorites, if not, the favorite to win this tournament.

Prediction – Hari by KO

Tournament Quarterfinal - Alistair Overeem vs. Ewerton Teixeira

The talk of the Grand Prix, Alistair “Demolition Man” Overeem has drawn the lethal Kyokushin Karateka Ewerton Teixeira in the Quarterfinals. Alistair is currently taking a detour from his MMA career and Strikeforce Heavyweight belt in order to focus on the K-1 World Grand Prix. What people fail to realize is that this is not just some MMA fighter coming in and wrecking K-1. Alistair has been training with Golden Glory for years. By the looks of the Grand Prix one can see Golden Glory’s talent pool. Alistair received a spot in the Final 16 by way of fan vote taking a lopsided decision win over Mr. K-1 Peter Aerts. He impressed me with not only his power but the defense and crispness he displayed against Aerts. Overeem will be a handful for a guy like Teixeira. Tex, the Kyokushin ace, was involved in one of the more lackluster fights of the Final 16 defeating newcomer Singh Heart Jaideep by a two extra round decision. Tex has improved his boxing over the past year with some of the best kicks in all of K-1. The question is how Tex will deal with being overwhelmed and overpowered by Alistair Overeem. I suspect the hands of Overeem will be the key. If Alistair can stay away from receiving too much punishment from the kicks he’ll be golden. Perhaps, Alistair will finish with a KO.

Prediction – Overeem by KO

Tournament Quarterfinal - Semmy Schilt vs. Jerome Le Banner

The least anticipated fight on the card pits the high tower Semmy Schilt against one of K-1s all time greats ,“The Cyborg’’ Jerome Le Banner (JLB). JLB is perhaps in his last fight ever. These two have fought three times. Each ending in favor of Schilt .This one looks to be no different given the separate ends of the spectrum they are on.  JLB spent time training at Jacksons MMA to help his conditioning for this last hoorah. JLB had a memorable battle with Musashi at the Final 16, sending Musashi into retirement. Still, JLB appears to be in over his head here with Schilt. Schilt looks reinvigorated, coming off a great performance over a very game competitor, Daniel Ghita, whom was downed twice. I predict a spirited fight being put on by JLB but in the end being outpointed by the scoring ways of Semmy Schilt.

Prediction – Schilt by Decision

Tournament Quarterfinal - Errol Zimmerman vs. Remy Bonjasky

This matchup is fairly intriguing. The “Bone Crusher’’ Errol Zimmerman meets Remy Bonjasky. If Errol puts hands on Remy it could be lights out. Fighting defending K-1 Champion Remy Bonjasky though is no easy task. His defense is the best hands down in K-1.  The only fighter that rivals his defense is Giorgio Petrosyan of the MAX division. Remy won a controversial decision over Melvin Manhoef at the Final 16 whilst Errol bested Glaube Feitosa for the second year in a row. Remy should win on points. Errol’s strikes really are not the most technical and is vulnerable to being hit. The main concern when fighting Errol is power. Remy will be weary of this being a master technician. At the drawing Errol challenged Remy. Maybe he knows something we don’t or has a game plan. It could be that he just wants a shot at the K-1 champ.

Prediction – Remy by Decision

Some possible semifinal matchup’s that will be interesting are Remy vs. Schilt and a Hari vs. Alistair rematch. Errol vs. Schilt or JLB would also be intriguing due to Errol’s power style of fighting. A Hari/Overeem vs. Schilt/Remy combination is what fans want to see most.

K-1 World Grand Prix, December 5 Semifinal Predictions – Hari by KO over Overeem, Schilt by Decision over Remy

K-1 World Grand PrixFinal Prediction -  Schilt vs Hari, Hari winning by KO

By Curt Meyer
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer