The highly-anticipated K-1 Romanex was a great success for fight fans and the mixed martial arts community as a whole. The night saw violent beatings, quick finishes and controversial endings. With several intriguing match-ups on the card, K-1 made its full-scale MMA debut with a resounding bang.
Serjbudee Dolgorsuren vs. Tom Howard
The opening bout of the night was not the most action-packed. Howard came out looking to get his first MMA win, but it was not in the cards for the man called “Green Beret.” This was an uneventful fight to say the least. An unintentional clash of heads causing a cut a cut on the Howard’s hairline was the most notable blow of the fight. In the end, the Blue Wolf’s superior ground skills led to him getting the north-south position in the second round and raining a half dozen or more unanswered knees to Howard’s head. Although none of the knees seemed damaging, Howard’s corner threw in the towel. TKO2.
Ryoto Machida vs. Sam Greco
Riding a perfect 5-0 record with recent impressive wins over Rich Franklin and Michael McDonald, Lyoto looked to continue his unbeaten ways against Sam Greco. Although both fighters posess solid standup game, Lyoto looked to take advantage of Greco’s weakness and kept the fight on the ground all three rounds.
After securing the takedown to open the bout, Lyoto Machida wasts no time working to the full mount. Lyoto works hard for an armbar, but Greco defends well and escapes to his feet momentarily. Lyoto wisely takes the fight right back to the ground, secures the full mount and goes to work on Greco’s arm once again. He works hard for a kimura, but the Australian powers out and eventually reverses the mount into Lyoto’s guard. Still focused on the arm, Lyoto Machida tries to work for an armbar, but Greco defends and stands up out of the guard. He proceeds to punish the legs of Inoki’s protégé until the round comes to a close.
The second and third rounds mirrored the opening stanza with Machida focused on trying to submit his more powerful opponent, although he spent a good amount of the second and third rounds on his back with Greco working his ground-n-pound inside of Lyoto’s guard. Although both men are accomplished strikers, very little of the fight was spent standing.
In the end, this was an extremely tough fight to score. Machida spent more time trying to end the fight with submissions, but Greco never appeared to be in any real danger. On the other hand, Greco inflicted more punishment with his ground-n-pound, but Machida was never close to getting stopped. Although the judges gave a split decision win to Lyoto Machida, Greco seemed more deserving of the victory.
Gary Goodridge vs. Don Frye
Remember Big Daddy’s retirement match against Don Frye? His retirement from MMA didn’t last very long as he returns to face the Predator. The fight opens with both fighters looking to strike. The Predator lands an inside leg kick and moves in with punches. He’s wild with his strikes and Goodridge takes advantage by landing a counter lefthook. Big Daddy opens up with a flurry of strikes and drops his bearded opponent. Goodridge continues with his attack, and the referee stops the bout. TKO1.
Josh Barnett vs. Rene Rooze
Josh Barnett enters his bout with Rene Rooze riding a 7-fight winning streak. The fight begins in typical Barnett fashion as he engages his opponent with a controlled charge. He uses a quick combination to engage Rooze in the clinch and then walks him into the corner. Barnett attempts a slam, but Rooze grabs the ropes, which prompts a yellow card.
The fight resumes with Barnett charging once again. Rooze is better prepared this time and lands a couple of strikes followed by a good knee. Barnett is unfazed by the blows and initiates another clinch. This time he gets the takedown with Rooze’s head and shoulders under the bottom rope. Once Barnett secures the mount, he delivers some brutal ground-n-pound through the ropes until the referee stops the fight. TKO1.
Genki Sudo vs. Royler Gracie
Genki Sudo has a flare for the dramatic, and his K-1 entrance would be no different. Sudo comes to the ring with a tribal outfit and dancers surrounding him. The fans absolutely love Genki Sudo.
The bout opens with Sudo attempting an inside leg kick. Gracie uses that opportunity to shoot for a takedown. The two fighters grapple for a few seconds as Sudo works back to his feet. Royler immediately closes the distance between the fighters and takes the fight back to the ground. But Sudo works back to his feet once again.
Once standing, the fighters engage in a clinch and begin to exchange knees to the body. Sudo is clearly winning the exchange, so Gracie pulls Sudo down without securing the guard. Sudo stands up again leaving Royler in the butt scoot position. In Sakuraba-like fashion, Sudo attempts a jumping stomp. Gracie tries to secure Sudo’s leg for a leg lock, but Sudo puts hands to his face and then begins landing vicious knees to Royler Gracie’s face. Gracie is hurt! He falls back. Sudo drops a serious of brutal punches on Gracie’s face. Gracie is out cold. KO1.
Duane Ludwig vs. BJ Penn
Although the matches with the NJPW stars seem to garner the most interest from the Japanese fans, B.J. Penn versus Duane “Bang” Ludwig is the match that is the most intriguing to this writer. It is the ultimate clash of styles in a sense. Although Penn is a very skilled striker, Ludwig is worlds better. On the ground, Penn holds the doctorate and Ludwig is a mere student. Who will impose their will and style on the other? The bell sounds!
It’s clear that Penn wants no part of Ludwig’s standup game as he shoots and executes a double-leg takedown in the opening seconds of the first round. Bang secured the guard, but Penn quickly and easily passed to the side mount and then the full mount while landing strikes to the ovevermatched Ludwig. Once in the mount, Ludwig tried desperately to hold on and defend, but Penn landed a few more strikes before the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert seized the opportunity to sink forearm choke. Ludwig taps out at 1:45 of the first round.
Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Nakao
The fight opens with Nakao shooting for a takedown. Frye defends with a left-right combination that fends Nakao off momentarily. Nakao attempts another takedown and Frye sprawls. During the sprawl the fighters clash heads and a huge cut opens up on Frye’s left eyebrow. The Predator tries several big right hands as the fight goes to the ground. After a few seconds, it is apparent that Frye’s cut is bad. The referee steps in to get the cut checked. The doctors inform the referee that Frye cannot continue. The bout is ruled a no contest. Although both fighters are openly disappointed by the decision, it is the correct one.
Alexey Ignashov vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura opens the bout by attempting a shooting tackle. He drives the K-1 standout into the ropes before Ignashov pushes him off and looks to begin landing strikes. But Nakamura quickly shoots for a single-leg and takes Ignashov down. Ignashov’s head is caught under the ropes and Nakamura tries to pound him out. Ignashov defends well and tries to work from the bottom. Nakamura passes the guard to the side with under a minute remaining, but Ignashov quickly works back into the guard and rides out the round.
Round two opens with Nakamura executing another single-leg takedown. Ignashov secures his guard, but Nakamura begins raining down hammer fists. With Ignashov focused on defending the hammer fists, Nakamura passes his guard and secures a choke. Ignashov tries to defend, and actually escapes momentarily, but Nakamura sinks the choke a second time causing Ignashov to tap out.
Not to take anything away from Nakamura’s victory, but Alexey Ignashov was a shell of himself tonight. He arrived in Japan less than a day before the fight after facing Semmy Schilt in a Muay Thai bout in Holland on Thursday. Fighting twice in three days certainly affected his cardio as Ignashov looked gassed very early in the first round.
Bob Sapp vs. Kazuyuki Fujita
The main event features Japan’s biggest combat star, Bob Sapp, and the legendary Japanese fighter, Kazuyuki Fujita. The fight opens with Sapp looking to strike, but Fujita immediately rushes in and executes a double-leg takedown. Sapp tries for what looks to be a heel hook, but Fujita pulls out and begins soccer kicking him to the head. He lands a hand full of kicks and then lands some right hands to Sapp’s head. Sapp struggles to get up as Fujita takes a break. He sits up, but Fujita shoves him back over while trying for a choke. He resumes the soccer kicks mixed with punches and a knee. Sapp taps out as the referee stops it.
Overall, this was an excellent night of fights. K-1 MMA made a solid debut with Romanex. And B.J. Penn affirmed his position as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
