Comments on: 2008 K-1 Max Final 8 – Buakaw vs. Sato

By: nopstar

nopstar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:55:56 +0000

chenzen-

Welcome to MMT!

By: chenzen

chenzen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:47:23 +0000

Wassup guys. New kid in town here. I am little late on this but want to put my 2 cents in.
Buakaw is one of my favorite fighter. I am just disappointed when he lost to Masato last K1 and now this. I am speechless. And lost to Sato? an apponent he dominate before. I wonder if the K1 ever changing rule have anything to do with it.
I want old Buakaw back.

By: treeman

treeman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:17:54 +0000

I notice that buakaw’s hands are still as heavy as when he knocked out Sato in their first meeting. However, i think the difference is that without good boxing and the element of surprise he can’t land those punches while he is still fresh and throwing predominantly punches seems to tired Buakaw out much more than throwing kicks. Phyically he looks in incredible condition as always but I’ve notice he seems to tire alot quicker these days. Don’t forget he’s not a natural puncher like Yod.

By: Gusnark

Gusnark — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:19:05 +0000

Hayato is an ok fighter, but another Japanese fighter in Max Final is way too much. :)
Hayato had the opportunity, but Kido dispatched him.
Which brings to idea, why don’t we see more Thais competing in Asia tournament? Te only explanation to me is that, they’re not given a chance. Why is that, only K-1 administration knows the answer. Two fighters that I really miss in K-1 are Yod and Petrosyan. Hope to see them around soon! Cheers.

By: Kamatari

Kamatari — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:07:46 +0000

Yeah, but fighters like HAYATO only get a shot at the Japan MAX tournament and let’s not forget that he beat someone like Kyshenko in a super fight. I don’t think fighters like him would become K-1 MAX champion, but at the most there’ll be 3 Japanese fighters in the eliminations that way.

I would love to see more Thai fighters in MAX and I really do have a problem with Japanese AND Dutch fighters being priviledged over Thai fighters. Yodsanklai with his style could become a star, he won’t have Buakaw’s appeal but let’s not forget that Buakaw’s popularity blows Kraus and Souwer’s out of the water.

By: Gusnark

Gusnark — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:09:26 +0000

Kamatari, I like your comments. respect.
But I still believe many Japanese fighters are privileged over Yod and non-Japanese fighters. Just by looking at the line-up at K-1 WORLD MAX 2008 World Championship event for example, there are a lot of Japanese fighters. They always are. To me they are totally unknown, while Yod is very well known internationally. He would probably also beat all these ‘unknown’ Japanese fighters. This year there were 3 Japanese fighters in final8. I understand K-1 is Japanese sport, but why, you have such a great fighters around the world adapted to K-1 fighting style. Why is Yod not given opportunity in K-1 MAX tournament, why he doesn’t attend K-1 Asia MAX tournament, I don’t know. But that’s another topic.

By: ShadyEskimo

ShadyEskimo — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:31:04 +0000

I just woke up, ive been in shock for a while, watching the Fight over and over again, (not that i didnt think it was fair or possible) But I think that Buakaw did panic cause of the last fight with Sato went the Xtra round even though he killed him, and like then Buakaw thought oh shit, if i dont knock him out or TOTALLY dominate him He will be given the Victory or the Draw. But I admitt Sato was better than he ever showed before, and had a gameplan, and beat all the odds. The knee was to the Liver wasnt it, not the Solarplexus.!? Buakaw DID look lazy and confident, and I wonder if thats was his Nemesis. The Hype, all the money, maybe he needs “The eye of the Tiger” so to speak. But I knew SOMEONE Would do it To him at some point, but I wasnt expecting SATO to be the one, props to Sato.

By: Kamatari

Kamatari — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:31:07 +0000

Seriously doubt that right now, Buakaw is the most popular foreign fighter in MAX. It was against Sato, but almost every girl was cheering for Buakaw and they’re a main part of the fanbase to this day. They know how valuable Buakaw is to them, would I put it past K-1 management? No. The unspoken one Thai rule speaks for itself. I hope he destroys whoever he fights next, because if he does go down like that again his K-1 career will be over.

“they’re other Japanese fighters who has privilege over Yod, heh”

Mochizuki still isn’t in K-1, Daiki is focusing on Muay Thai etc. It’s not that simple. Fact of the matter is that K-1 doesn’t give a lot of these Japanese fighters an easy entrance into K-1. They fight Muay Thai rules and are then expected to adjust in one fight. It’s no wonder there’s only three Japanese MAX contenders.

Kido has actually been around MAX for three years and needed to become more of a kickboxer. With Shin Noppadetsorn at Taniyama he can still grow as a fighter. Now even someone as good as Sato had to struggle – with the elite, mind you, but if the knees and clinching were allowed he’d make short work of a lot of people.

K-1 is very lucky AJKF and co. are around seeing as they can now pillage their 60 KG division and model their GP after AJKF’s awesome tournament last year.

By: treeman

treeman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:09:48 +0000

“make yodsanklai dispatch Buakaw” wow that blew me away as well but to be honest, if that’s what it takes to see the 2 go head to head i wouldn’t mind although i prefer to see it in full MT rules. Ideally I would love to see Buakaw return to winning form before going up against Yod who from recent fights seem to be in incredible form. Please let there be a Yod vs Souwer rematch as well.

By: Gusnark

Gusnark — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:54:45 +0000

“they’ll make Yodsanklai dispatch Buakaw”
Nop, you blew me away with this statement. Maybe this is the way, how they will switch places someday (since only thai is allowed?), but if Buakaw continues his work, they’re other Japanese fighters who has privilege over Yod, heh.

treeman,
right on spot with Buakaw concentrating on hands and neglecting his legs. I don’t know why that is. On one hand could be him changing his style, since the fighters adopted his previous muay thai style. On the other hand could be because boxing is more valuable than kicking?
His fights in the last two year were more or less unconvincing and uninspiring, winnings with extra rounds, etc.
Mike said, he’s getting too old, where he has 400 fights behind him. There may be some truth about that, but like you said treeman, something changed.
I understand he is not the same wild Buakaw, but if this fight won’t sober him/camp, we will see him go down in a painful way.

By: nopstar

nopstar — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:24:22 +0000

Treeman-

I agree with you, I think the K-1 organization likes to see Buakaw in decline. As I had mentioned in the past there has been issues with Buakaw’s camp and K-1 over money.

I think they will let Yodsanklai in… but the sick thing is I would be willing to bet big money on this… they’ll make Yodsanklai dispatch Buakaw.

By: treeman

treeman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:39:32 +0000

I’ve just watched the whole fight again and i notice buakaw was not blocking any knees in the clinch and rarely kneeing himself. Not sure why that is. He ate alot of knees until it caught up with him. Too much fighting in K1 where no one except Sato uses that much knees? Or has fame and fortune caught up with the man and he is just not training as hard… too many distractions ;)

I think Bryan is right about both the hubris and 1 strategy thing. I also think that there is a distinct difference in him… like i said not sure if its Buakaw himself that is just not training as hard, or his camp that’s at fault or the distractions but something is wrong and he is slipping and unless he does something dramatic to change we will probably see more Buakaw KO, unfortunately. Buakaw’s hands are probably not going to get too much better… his leg kicks and clinches now seems to be less effective… since concentrating on his hands… just my opinion.
I’m a big buakaw fan but I’m going to be a little critical here … to be honest maybe now Yod can get a crack at K1 Max! I’m betting K1 will continue to let Buakaw slip and just enjoy having more Japanese fighters get a win on him until they are done with him. Sad. It’s up to him to change that now and I hope he has it in him after this defeat. Hopefully this will knock the hubris out.
I guess it’s hard to see yourself as an underdog once you have been at the top? Maybe this is what Masato was talking about when he made that turn around and said he has to see himself as the challenger now. Although at the time, him being Masato I thought he was talking sht and it was just another publicity spin. But watching his recent fights starting as early as when he was fighting Ole Larsen the hubris during the fight itself seems to be gone and he seems to be just focused. Buakaw gives me the opposite impression in his fights… watch the look and body language whenever he trips and throws his oppopnents… anyway, just my 2 cents.