[XiaolinSoldier]

K-1 HERO'S announces there matchups.
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Kustustis Smirnovas
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs Taiei Kin
Rodrigo Gracie vs Shungo Oyama
Melvin Manhoef vs Carlos Newton.
Excellent tournament, who are your picks to win this round? I got:
Sakuraba
Akiyama
Gracie
Manhoef
I think if Sakuraba comes in half healthy hes gonna be the winner of the whole thing.
Also, anybody notice BJ Penn didnt turn out to be in the tournament after all? I guess that means hes gonna be in the UFC.

[colinm]

i think rodrigo is gonna break out in this tournament. Great to see newton back!

[Teemu]

Too bad that Melvin will be exposed in this tournament.

[infamy]

i cant wait for this event

[ezc3m]

i know there's no possible way for sherdoggers to shed their sak nuthugging long enough to see the truth, but: sak + within melvin's striking range= death, this is a mathematically rigorous formula

i too had a biased opinion regarding mm when i watched some of his earlier fights where he was sloppy as hell, but some of the recent fights exemplified how much he has grown as a fighter. not only does he have tremendous gnp and takedown def, he's extremely adept at throwing hard hitting combos when his opp is in range as opposing to chasing them and whiff air while gassing.

while sak on the other hand, received a mauling ala courtesy of arona, who has significant worse gnp than melvin. and got ko'd lights out cold by wandy's looping jab, which in no way shap or form carry the same zip/power as melvin delivers with his straight leads.

i'm not sure why anyone would think sak would be a fav if they ever fought, other than hoping for a miracle gassout from melvin in the later rounds covering his entire face with sak's cauliflower ears.

additional note to mention is that sak's entire takedown repetoire is composed of solely single-leg ankle picks. aside from the tremendous sprawl melvin has shown. in order for a takedown to succeed means a.) sak has to get low, b.) sak has to use both hands to hope to control only one leg of melvin's and thus cannot use them to block, and c.) plant his face within kissing range of melvin's kneecap... gee, i can't see anything remotely dangerous with that scenario in an organization that allows knees and soccer kicks to a downed opponent..

[jadizm]

Akiyama vs who? This guy is really a "HERO" huh. Oyama already fighting his third Gracie. That'll be nice

[babo0n]

cool lineup
much more interested in seeing how they pair the 2nd round of the lightweight gp on this card

[XiaolinSoldier]

Originally Posted by Teemu

Too bad that Melvin will be exposed in this tournament.

I agree. In fact, he may not even make it past the first round. I just think hes the favorite against Newton because of his activity as of late compared to Newton's. I dont think he would get past Rodrigo Gracie or Sakuraba though.

[infamy]

Originally Posted by ezc3m

i know there's no possible way for sherdoggers to shed their sak nuthugging long enough to see the truth, but: sak + within melvin's striking range= death, this is a mathematically rigorous formula

i too had a biased opinion regarding mm when i watched some of his earlier fights where he was sloppy as hell, but some of the recent fights exemplified how much he has grown as a fighter. not only does he have tremendous gnp and takedown def, he's extremely adept at throwing hard hitting combos when his opp is in range as opposing to chasing them and whiff air while gassing.

while sak on the other hand, received a mauling ala courtesy of arona, who has significant worse gnp than melvin. and got ko'd lights out cold by wandy's looping jab, which in no way shap or form carry the same zip/power as melvin delivers with his straight leads.

i'm not sure why anyone would think sak would be a fav if they ever fought, other than hoping for a miracle gassout from melvin in the later rounds covering his entire face with sak's cauliflower ears.

additional note to mention is that sak's entire takedown repetoire is composed of solely single-leg ankle picks. aside from the tremendous sprawl melvin has shown. in order for a takedown to succeed means a.) sak has to get low, b.) sak has to use both hands to hope to control only one leg of melvin's and thus cannot use them to block, and c.) plant his face within kissing range of melvin's kneecap... gee, i can't see anything remotely dangerous with that scenario in an organization that allows knees and soccer kicks to a downed opponent..

well, lets hope ronin makes him tap so sak wont have to worry about winding him.

[Escabar]

I think Akiyama will win the tournament.