Quote:
Originally Posted by koreankid6413
World Combat League looks like kickboxing, but it isnt. If you throw a kickboxer in there against any type of fighter who has had some fights in WCL a couple times before, chances are that kickboxer is going to have a ROUGH time. The rules are different, no wearing your opponent down, its 1 three minute round. You can't corner your guy into the ropes, fighters and angles are much different. This is the type of fighting that benefits tae kwon do and karate fighters more so than others with its speed, staying busy, and 1 round concept.
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Does "kickboxing" imply a specific ruleset? What are the rules? I'm just wondering because from what I can see, it's kickboxing, just with a different ruleset than what you are used to seeing. I agree that the rules are different than most orgs so naturally anyone would have to adjust, but I think that is true for any fighter going from one org to the next right? In other words, what makes WCL not kickboxing? I dunno.
For an example of a kickboxer/MT excelling in that ruleset look at Anthony Njokuani. He's got some youtbue stuff up. Check him out.
But like you said, I think 2 of the top 5 fighters in that league are from a Karate background. Some of the guys are very quick.
Quote:
Originally Posted by koreankid6413
Tim Connors and Jennifer Santiago are both fighters who have a good enough knowledge of kicks for attack and defense and use them to complement their hands. Kevin Engle is one of the guys who pretty much stays to his boxing roots and is successful.
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Kevin Engle cracks me up. You should watch one of his interviews, the guy is just so down to earth about his fighting. In his last interview he bascially said "Yeah I'm tall and a boxer so everyone just tries to kick my front leg. Whatever, I just chase them down and get the KO." He just eats kicks and sets up his overhand right time and time again. As a boxer he has done well adjusting to the rules - he even pretends to throw a kick once in a while. Since the rounds are so short and there are only two of them, he know he can eat a few kicks without getting worn down as fast. It's all about working the ruleset.
Connors is a guy who pretty much only boxes in the WCL as well. He can kick, but really he didnt start throwing kicks until he got KO'd by Craig Oxely. Now he takes his time, picks his shots and works his opponent down. But even when he kicks, all he is doing is just setting up his hands; I dont think Connors is comfortable kicking as they look so stiff and ridged.
Anyway, whatever you want to call it, it's exciting stuff and the fighters are getting their payday and TV exposure. Can't ask for more than that I suppose.