K-1 Grand Prix 2011 Set to Begin on October 29

Quote :

The first 11 official Grand Prix participants are:

Badr Hari (77-11) - 2008 & 2009 K-1 GP runner-up
Hesdy Gerges (39-9-1) - Current It's Showtime Heavyweight champion
Tyrone Spong (67-6-1-1) - 2010 Final 8
Ruslan Karaev (13-9) - 2008 K-1 Taipei champion; 2005 K-1 Las Vegas champion
Daniel Ghita (39-7) - 2010 Final 8; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP champion
Ben Edwards - 2010 K-1 Oceania GP champion
Melvin Manhoef (37-9) - 2009 Final 16
Dzevad Poturak (47-16-1-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut
Sergei Lascenko (27-9) - 2011 SuperKombat GP champion; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP runner-up
Rico Verhoeven (35-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut
Anderson "Braddock" Silva (29-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut

Also, while not yet confirmed, Hesdy Gerges stated on twitter that he would face Errol Zimmerman in the Final 16.

This is a fun line-up with a lot of interesting possibilities and fresh names. However, it's also a bit shallow, and is undeniably missing something. We knew 2010 champion Alistair Overeem was unlikely to be included due to his recent UFC signing, but the lack of K-1 veterans here is unfortunate. No Peter Aerts, no Ray Sefo, no Jerome Le Banner, no Semmy Schilt. In fact, for the first time in the almost 20 year history of the Grand Prix, this year features not a single former GP champion.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/17/2429934/k-1-grand-prix-2011-set-to-begin-on-october-29

Kind of a waste without Semmy, Aerts, and Overeem. Favor Badr or Ghita.

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

Kind of a waste without Semmy, Aerts, and Overeem. Favor Badr or Ghita.

a lot of big name guys not competing, takes out most of the steam for me... plus the defending champ isn't gonna be there

why isn't Saki in it this year?

killerofchicken wrote:

why isn't Saki in it this year?

Saki is really focusing on switching to Mma, but then again so is Sprong. I think he will eventually be announced for the tournament.

oh, i wasn't aware of that. Love watching Saki fight

Badr Hari to Retire from Kickboxing; K-1 World GP Possibly in Jeopardy

http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/badr-hari-to-retire-from-kickboxing-k-1-world-gp-possibly-in-je/

In yet another blow to the struggling sport, kickboxing has lost its brightest and most controversial young star as Badr Hari, former K-1 heavyweight champion and two-time K-1 World GP finalist, has made the decision to retire from kickboxing after a final Jan. 28, 2012 bout against Gokhan Saki to go to the United States to pursue a boxing career.

The news, which comes via a release posted on the It's Showtime website on Wednesday, also casts serious doubt over the 26-year-old's participation in the Dec. 10 K-1 World GP Final 16 and in fact, raises questions as to whether the 2011 K-1 World GP will even take place at all.

"If K-1 will host a World Grand Prix this year, Badr will also participate to that," the release from It's Showtime states. "The Grand Prix Final is scheduled for December 10 in China. If this World Grand Prix will take place, depends if K-1 will be able to pay its debts to IT'S SHOWTIME and others. If not, the fight on January 28 will be Badr's only remaining fight as a kickboxer."

I think Badr Hari could do well in boxing but I'm may be wrong. I don't know jack about the heavyweights in boxing

this sux for K1 but they got themselves into a heap of trouble by not paying fighters... im surprised that he's going to boxing tho

I wish he would do like Saki and come to mma