There are two K-1 organizations now!?

[K1power]

Japan's Kickboxing Scene Reunites Under the K-1 World League Banner

K-1 began in Japan, becoming the world standard for professional Kickboxing and the name, to this day, holds the most weight when it comes to Kickboxing. Of course, mismanagement and corruption led to the demise of FEG, who held the K-1 name at the time. Since then K-1 Global has taken over the K-1 name and have been working their way towards their own goals that exist outside of Japan. So consider the shock today when news comes out of Japan of a new promotion called K-1 World League using the K-1 logo and everything.

There was a press conference in Japan today to announce the formation of K-1 World League, which will be managed by Good Loser, the company that produces KRUSH events in Japan, and produced by M-1 Sports Media. The first event is set to take place on July 21st at Shinjuku FACE and will be an amateur tournament akin to K-1 Koshien, the finals being held on November 3rd at Yoyogi National Stadium along with professional fights from some of Japan's top fighters. Announced names are Yuta Kubo, Yoshihiro Sato, Yasuhiro Kido, Hirotaka Urabe, Koya Urabe, HIROYA, Takeru and others. Takayuki Kohiruimaki is also listed as one of the K-1 Gym's official trainers, as this whole thing is in association with the K-1 Gym.

K-1 Global will continue to run events outside of Japan and K-1 World League will serve as K-1's re-entry point into the Japanese market beginning this year.

liverkick.com/index.php/item/2959-japan-s-kickboxing-scene-reunites-under-the-k-1-world-league-banner

[rictor]

As Dave writes this is part of K-1 Global's plans for the future. So does that mean we can expect to see some of those fighters back in K-1 ring? Know something more, Dave?

[dvewlsh]

I know that they got upset with me writing about this, haha.

Mr. Kim emailed me to explain that Yabuki is his agent who works in Japan for him and that Yabuki purchased KRUSH (which is true). Kim told him to start running K-1 amateur events in Japan and to start priming the market for K-1 again.

I'm really not sure how everything fits together, but Yabuki is also the guy running the K-1 Gyms in Japan.

These are basically going to be re-branded KRUSH events, just called K-1. The idea is that KRUSH doesn't draw well with some of Japan's biggest talents who drew better while featured in K-1. If they use the K-1 name fans *should* tune in again.

There is also the fact that Fuji TV has expressed interest in promoting K-1 events again, but K-1 G hasn't felt comfortable presenting their current product to them. If this team in Japan can put something together, there is a chance they'll get back on Fuji. But will they ever link up? I'm not sure.

[K1power]

Very interesting development, maybe there is some interesting stuff in here Rictor can clarify for us:





Kido is such a boss!

[rictor]

Will watch it again later with more attention but it doesn't appear that anything important was said there other than what was already covered by Dave's article. Maybe that they are trying to make a point that this is a completely new org compared to the "old K-1" but we all know that K-1 Global owns all the trademarks (nothing would suggest otherwise, right?) and so wouldn't allow anyone to use the name or the logo if there wasn't any connection (why someone would get upset about it is beyond me, people in fighting sports are way to sensitive about stuff like that, seriously).

Either way, I would be completely baffled if they wouldn't use some of those lighter weight Japanese fighters in the future considering this obvious connection and the fact that they are relatively cheap and instead spend money on some random unskilled heavys (no offense to anyone).