The Specialists
K1 BEAT: The Top Ten Most Brutal and Eye-Opening Fights of 2009 (Part one)
Mar 19, 2010 - 11:57:11 AM K1 BEAT: The Top Ten Most Brutal and Eye-Opening Fights of 2009 (Part one)

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Last year K-1 put on a number of memorable fights in the year 2009. In the second issue of K-1 on MMATorch, I will go through my top 10 fights that were at times eye opening, competitive and brutal and that ended violently.

10. Alistair Overeem vs Remy Bonjasky - WGP Yokohama 3.28.09

After coming off a dramatic knockout over Badr Hari on New Year's Eve, Alistair Overeem returned to the K-1 ring to fight the 2008 World Grand Prix Champion Remy Bonjasky. K-1's credibility was at stake when an MMA fighter beat arguably the best striker in the organization. Fight day comes and Overeem dominates Bonjasky for the first round. The second round was very close but, in the third, Alistair had gassed and Remy was picking his shots and had got a knockdown late in the final round. In the judges decision the knockdown cost Alistair the fight. An MMA star defeating both K-1 elites was highly unlikely but, Alistair proved he could strike with anyone.

9. Artur Kyshenko vs. Alviar Lima - MAX Final 16 4.21.09

An exciting bout this was, but Alviar Lima was Kyshenko's punching bag. Artur Kyshenko, a twenty-three year old from the Ukraine, exploded on the K-1 scene back in 2007 fighting K-1 MAX ace Masato after beating Mike Zambidis from Greece in the K-1 MAX Finals 2007, only to lose to Masato by KO in the semifinals. He would go on to lose to Masato in the Finals of the 2008 tournament again. Alviar Lima was the unlucky one getting a young and eager Kyshenko on his path to the MAX Finals.

8. Buakaw Por.Pramuk vs. Andre Dida - MAX Final 16 4.21.09

In what almost turned into the biggest upset in K-1 MAX history, two time MAX Champion Por Pramuk was a heavy favorite against a mediocre MMA fighter Andre Dida (6-4). Pramuk got dropped in the first round out of nowhere and Dida was punishing Pramuk with several overhand right's. In the second round, Buakaw wore Dida down with his vicious muay thai. Dida entered the third round getting hunted down by Buakaw while Andre Dida was bent out of shape. Since Dida had a 10-8 score on the judges score cards, Dida had to come out for an extra round when it was declared a draw after three rounds. Andre Dida, fatigued, endured another round with Por Pramuk stalking him. Buakaw was declared the winner by decision in what could've been the biggest upset in K-1 ever.

7. HIROYA vs. Masaaki Noiri - Dynamite 12.31.09

This was my favorite K-1 Koshien fight of the year. For those not familiar with the rules, these bouts are for fighters under 18. I know a lot of people don't care for the under 18 fights but, this fight stood out to me. Many are probably unfamiliar with these younger fighters. HIROYA started fighting in K-1 back in 2007 at the age of 15. He squeaked past Kusakabe at the MAX 2009 Final by split decision moving his record to 17-2. New Year's Eve came along and he fought a 2-0 Masaaki Noiri. HIROYA was the favorite but, Noiri not only beat HIROYA in the best K-1 KOSHIEN match this year, he also was declared K-1 KOSHIEN 2009 Champion after defeating Shota Shimada in the K-1 KOSHIEN Final at Dynamite at age 16.

6. Badr Hari vs Alistair Overeem - K-1 WGP Finals 12.05.09

After a stunning KO upset at Dynamite 2008, Badr and Alistair met in the Semifinals at the 2009 Final event. Alistair was a heavy favorite after desposing Badr Hari coming into the Overeem-Bonjasky superfight at the Yokohama Arena. He had come up short against Remy, but in Seoul he got back on his winning ways with a decision over K-1 legend Peter Aerts at the Final 16 to advance to the Final. They had both destroyed their quarter final opponents, as Badr knocked out rival Ruslan Karaev in the trilogy match in :38 seconds while Alistair viciously knocked Ewerton Teixeira in what has to be possibly knockout of the year at 1:06 in the first round. Without much of a surprise, the most awaited rematch was upon us. Badr made short work of Alistair Overeem in that bout, now making it seem like Alistair wasn't all he claimed to be after he had stubbornly said K-1 is easier than MMA during the week of the Final.