Masato vs. Kawajiri @ K1 World MAX Final 8

DBHK · 06-10-2009, 12:30 PM

Japan’s Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) has announced that former two-time K-1 MAX Grand Prix Champion Masato is set to do battle with DREAM lightweight standout Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri in a K-1 Rules bout at ‘K-1 World MAX Final 8’ from the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Jul 13.

The fight continues the recent slew of K-1 vs. MMA fighters that FEG has been brewing, which has seen various mixed martial artists invade K-1 and try their hand out in the stand-up only combat. And more often then not it has seen the mixed marital artists win or at the very least give the K-1 stars a run for their money.

Now it appears “Crusher” will look to continue that trend against the K-1 legend in one of his final battles.

Though Kawajiri’s strongest base may be his wrestling, he is no stranger to K-1. He fought Kozo Takeda in a K-1 Rules bout and won in devastating fashion at ‘Dynamite!! 2008’ on New Years Eve, knocking the K-1 veteran out just two minutes into the opening stanza.

Though Masato is certainly a big leap in competition from Takeda and will present a mammoth challenge to Kawajiri, Crusher heads into the bout with some momentum after dominating highly regarded lightweight Gesias “JZ” Calvancante last month at ‘DREAM 9’.

Masato also looks to take on the winner of this years K-1 MAX Tournament on New Year’s Eve in his farewell match. Though he said if he loses to Kawajiri in July this will not happen.

Kawajiri has actually been calling out Masato for a while now and lobbied for them to fight in July.

Ask and you shall receive.

Also on the card will be the K-1 MAX (154lbs) World Championship Tournament quarterfinals.
K-1 MAX Japan Tournament runner-up Yuya Yamamoto will collide with Gago Drago in his preliminary bout.

While Italian bruiser Giorgio Petrosyan will be in action, he’s been on an absolute tear on the smaller circuits earning a 19-fight win streak (bar a draw with Buakaw Por. Pramuk). Though he may have his hands full when he faces off against the first ever K-1 MAX tournament winner Albert Kraus, who is certainly no pushover.

Last years runner up in the tournament, 22-year-old prospect Artur Kyshenko is set to do battle with Dutch blitzkrieg Andy Souwer in his opening round bout.

Rounding up the rest of the brackets will be former two-time K-1 MAX Champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk. He takes on K-1 MAX Scandinavia 2006 tournament champion Nieky Holzken.

Here is the current line-up for ‘K-1 World MAX Final 8’:

K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final 16:

Yuya Yamamoto (6-5) vs. Gago Drago (6-5)
Giorgio Petrosyan (1-0) vs. Albert Kraus (24-10-1)
Artur Kyshenko (11-2) vs. Andy Souwer (18-3)
Buakaw Por. Pramuk (24-4) vs. Nieky Holzken (1-1)

Non-tournament bout:

Masato (34-4-1) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (1-0)

K-1 World MAX Final 8: Masato vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri on July 13 at UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets — MMAmania.com

I don't like either guy but it's an interesting bout.

R3D D3ViL · 06-10-2009, 12:40 PM

"The King of Decisions" Masato.

I hope the Crusher knocks his fucking block off.

I fucking hate Masato. Artur Kyshenko beat him but was robbed by the biased ass Japanese judges.

Fuck Masato's life. Ill be cheering for Kawijiri!