Iggy ready to sting Badr to cement comeback!

Fight card announcement streamed live on Ustream.

K-1 Event Producer Sadaharu "Tany" Tanikawa recently announced more fightcards for the upcoming Yokohama event live on Ustream streaming network. A Heavyweight title match between Peter Aerts and Kyotaro had been previously made public and now the following cards were announced:

[ K-1 Super Heavyweight Title Match ]
Semmy Schilt vs. Errol Zimmerman

[ Super Fight ]
Badr Hari vs. Alexey Ignashov
Alistair Overeem vs. Dzevad Poturak
Jerome Le Banner vs. Ruslan Karaev

Super Heavy Title Match

Some very interesting points come to mind when viewing the cards. First of all, Schilt will be defending his Super Heavyweight title from Errol Zimmerman (also of Golden Glory Gym). The Z-man captured fans attention last year with a charismatic fighting style. Still somewhat new to the K-1 ring, he held his own against many of the top K-1 fighters. He is quoted saying, "if anyone can beat Semmy, it's me."

Red Scorpion Returns against Golden Boy Badr Hari!

Badr Hari was steps away from the WGP championship once again last year and now he must begin the journey toward the crown once more. His first obstacle is "Red Scorpion" Alexey Ignashov, who hasn't fought in Japan since the Bonjasky bout in 2005 and who hasn't fought in K-1 since the 2006 Las Vegas event. When he first came on the scene he was dispatching some of K-1's best fighters right and left, but then started to lose momentum soon after. Tany reveals that Ignashov had been fighting some personal demons, thus making it more difficult for him to perform well in the ring. "He had become an alcoholic. We just couldn't use him anymore. It was that bad. Then suddenly 2 years ago, he shows up in Shinagawa with a suit and tie and asked me to give him another chance. I told him that it wouldn't be that easy and that he'd have to earn it. Soon after he moved to New Zealand where he defeated Bjorn Bregy and Dzevad Poturak. In October last year, he fought Semmy all the way to a decision and one week later defeated Ron Sparks with a high kick KO in the second round. It looks to me like this Scorpion has got his sting back." Though Badr Hari may seem to be the favorite, don't discount Iggy's knee attacks which helped him tear right through the competition in his heyday.

Newcomer Poturak takes on Overeem

Alistair Overeem return to the K-1 ring may seem a surprise to many fans since the charismatic fighter made it clear that he wants to focus on his MMA career. In fact, he has a fight lined up in May for the Strikforce organization. Whether or not Overeem continues to play in the K-1 sandbox is, according to Tany, "dependent upon what happens in May." His opponent, Bosnia-Herzegovinian Dzevad Poturak, though mostly unknown, is actually a fighter that many hardcore fans have been waiting to see in Japan. He's already defeated last year's shining star, Daniel Ghita and power fighter Melvin Manhoef. Overeem may have to watch his step as Poturak may be as difficult to beat as his name is to pronounce.

The last fight card announcement was LeBanner versus Karaev, a fight that almost happened in 2007, but due to Karaev's withdrawal makes this the first time for the two power-hitters to meet up. Looking at past performance, it's much more likely that we will see someone's face on the canvas at the end of the match than we will see a decision.

Along with the five card anouncements, Tany announced the following WGP tournament schedule:
March 18, Poland
April 10, Lithuania
April 17, Azerbaijan
May 21, Romania (Eastern Europe Championship)
June 5, Germany (Western Europe Championship)
June - August, Australia (Oceania Championship), China (Asia Championship)
August - Europe Grand Prix (World Elimination Championship)
October, WGP Final 16 Tournament
December, WGP Final

Looks like the year will turn out to be an exciting one and all eyes are on Yokohama as the season begins! Check the K-1 Official home page and YouTube K-1 Channel for updates and get ready because in K-1, anything can happen!

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