K-1 TO BRING HERO'S TO U.S. SHORES

[SuiPSYedKing]

K-1 TO BRING HERO'S TO U.S. SHORES
Thursday, March 15, 2007 - by Scott Petersen- MMAWeekly

Pride isn't the only Japanese promotion that is looking to make a splash in the mixed martial arts landscape in America. HERO'S, the MMA segment of K-1, is looking to bring their show over too.

When asked by MMAWeekly about bringing their event to the United States, Mr. Maeda said, "In the case of America, we have some fighters who have what you call star quality already on standby. They are ready and prepared to go into the ring."

But they are also focusing on bringing up new talent as Maeda told MMAWeekly, "What we focus upon is, as I said, raising talented, skilled fighters to a professional level and focusing at the same time upon fighters who are local." Maeda also feels that they have "a world network capacity" that will help them succeed in the U.S.

While K-1 officials did not confirm the speculation that they are planning a U.S. show for sometime in May or June, they did confirm a press conference to outline their strategy for the U.S.

K-1 HERO'S will be holding a press conference in the U.S. at the end of March where they will reveal their "plan and strategy" said Mr. Tanagawa. Tanagawa went on to say, "It's going to be a really interesting press conference that will have a lot of content to convey to you, something that will surprise Dana White as well...."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Im looking forward to Brock Lesners mma debut even thought it's a 1 fight deal with K-1 Heroes. I heard Brocks been training with royce graice for his debut. Hopefully Brocks debut is on the U.S show.

 

[SuiPSYedKing]

Just as Pride FC’s run at the American mixed martial arts market has stalled out, another Japanese promoter is taking aim at audiences in the United States. For some time now, officials at K-1 have been hinting at their Hero’s debut in America (Hero’s is the MMA arm of K-1) and recently, their plans have established a foundation.

According to K-1’s Mr. Tanigawa, K-1 HERO'S will be holding a press conference in the U.S. at the end of March where they will reveal their "plan and strategy." Stated Mr. Tanigawa, "It's going to be a really interesting press conference that will have a lot of content to convey to you, something that will surprise Dana White as well."

Although the press conference will no doubt shed more light on the exact plans that K-1 has in mind for the U.S., sources are coming forth with some of the details for the Hero’s debut in America.

K-1 is planning a Hero’s show for June 2nd in America, most likely at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The L.A Coliseum would be a rather bold move. The seating capacity for the L.A. Coliseum, according to their website, is 92,000. The current largest live audience to ever attend an MMA event in the U.S. is 19,079, which was set just recently by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Columbus, Ohio.

Matches such as Hideo Tokoro vs. Kazuya Yasuhiro, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Kazushi Sakuraba, and Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Melvin Manhoef have headlined recent K-1 MMA events; not exactly match-ups that promise to grab the attention of the masses in the U.S. But according to K-1’s Mr. Maeda, “In the case of America, we have some fighters who have what you call star quality already on standby. They are ready and prepared to go into the ring." Maeda also feels that they have "a world network capacity" that will help them succeed in the U.S.

It appears that Brock Lesnar, a former World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestling champion and talent acknowledged to have caught the attention of UFC president Dana White, is one of the “star quality” fighters that K-1 has in mind for their Hero’s debut in America. He is on tap to face Hong Man Choi, the 7-foot 2-inch goliath from South Korea. Lesnar is sure to draw some attention when he makes his MMA debut against Choi, but it’s not likely the type of match that will put K-1 over in the U.S.

A more intriguing name that has surfaced, one that has much more drawing power when it comes to mixed martial arts in the U.S., is that of Royce Gracie. Sources have verified that Royce is indeed planned for the June 2nd Hero’s show in the U.S. A statement he seemed to confirm himself in a recent interview with MMAWeekly’s Scott Petersen. In the interview, Gracie stated that he does have an MMA fight coming up “for K-1, but not confirmed yet where the location [will be], maybe Las Vegas, maybe L.A.” And he did state that it would be under the Hero’s banner.

One of the more interesting bits of information about K-1 Hero’s coming to the U.S. is that it appears they will be doing so as part of an association with the ProElite/Showtime partnership that produces EliteXC. Although details of the association aren’t concrete, it appears that initial plans call for a combined event with a portion of it televised on Showtime’s premium channel (presumably promoted by EliteXC) followed by a broadcast on Showtime Pay-Per-View (promoted by Hero’s).

Such an association makes perfect sense for both EliteXC and Hero’s. EliteXC has the established muscle of Showtime behind them and Hero’s has, as Mr. Maeda said, K-1’s "world network capacity" to bring in some of the top fighters in the world. Now, it’s just a matter of ironing out the details, putting the plan in action and seeing if it yields the desired result.

It has been stated time and again recently that these are interesting times in the flourishing world of mixed martial arts in the United States. The addition of K-1 Hero’s to the mix is sure to up the intrigue factor considerably.

 

[Shogun Locc]

If Brock is going to be doing battle with Hong Man Choi he is going to have to take him down and either ground n pound or try to submit him.

 

[iaoish]

Every American fighter has to sit down when they go against my man Remy Bonjasky HA!

 

[Shogun Locc]

Every American fighter has to sit down when they go against my man Remy Bonjasky HA!

Remy does not do mma only stand up kickboxing.

 

[LA Dodgers]

i was under the impression that Pride FC and K1 are the same company?

 

[iaoish]

Remy does not do mma only stand up kickboxing.

I thought this topic is about the K-1, Remy is a multi K-1 Champion

 

[Shogun Locc]

I thought this topic is about the K-1, Remy is a multi K-1 Champion

Yes Remy was and still is a multi K-1 champ but right now Semmy Schilt is dominating K-1 as their champ. Besides I don't think Remy would do well in mma.

 

[iaoish]

I know Sam Schild is the current champion I watched the finally I was really hoping he would loose, although he was fighting someone who wasn't Dutch
I think is fighting is so ugly he doesn't have any technique at all! he is 2 meters 20 or something and his fists are like hammers that can pound through a wall, so no point in blocking when you fight him because he is going to pound right through it.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Semmy is good when it comes to stand up fighting but he does have holes when it comes to mma.

 

[Shogun Locc]

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, modeled after the arena in which Maximus was written to have slayed a Caesar, plays host to mixed martial arts for the first time on July 7.

Fight Entertainment Group, the parent company of K-1 HERO'S, in conjunction with ProElite and Showtime pay-per-view officially announced "DYNAMITE!! USA" Thursday, the first MMA card on U.S. soil from the promoter of Norifumi Yamamoto and Kazushi Sakuraba.

While neither fighter was mentioned on the initial list of participants, UFC legend Royce Gracie appears slated to return to the ring for the first time since Matt Hughes pummeled him in the Octagon.

Former WWE star Brock Lesnar, who signed with K-1 last year, will make his anticipated MMA debut. Seven-foot-two South Korean Hong Man Choi fights in the U.S. for the first time, and former USC Trojan Johnnie Morton returns to his former home field for his pro MMA unveiling.

A press conference Tuesday at the Coliseum will feature the aforementioned fighters, as well as FEG CEO Sadaharu Tanikawa, ProElite CEO Doug DeLuca and Showtime Senior Vice President Ken Hershman.