K-1 World Max Eliminations 07 – Drago vs. Zambidis
June 29, 2007 by nopstar
Wow I would have hated to have been a judge for this match. What a brawl… It has to be frustrating as hell to fight Zambidis, the guy is so compact it’s really difficult to get body and head shots off on him. Many thanks to WeLoveKamatari for keeping us informed and entertained.
Part I
I’ve got to go back and watch some of his old fights; I’m curious how others got around that. I think Buakaw just kicked and kicked “breaking Mike’s Shell” This fight was definitely tight. I think Zambidis stole it when he dazed Drago for that sec. in that last round. I think he just barely gets the better of the last few exchanges
Part II
zam fights like anuwat
Zam is the man! His power is scary and he’s fast too. I think his rock head helps. He rarely is hurt even when he is loosing. Drago is one crazy mofo- this was a give and take type fight. You can see how tough these 2 guys are.
It was an impressive fight especially for Zam as a shorter fighter. Zam made it appear to be advantageous to be a smaller fighter. You have to be good to be fighting a taller fighter. I concur that it was a close fight, but very entertaining!
I o not think that it is clear at all that Zambo won that fight. But that being said nice fight.
Zambi deserved that win, Drago had a nice plan goin into the fight (throwing high knees against a shorter fighter) but Zambi is so compact as Nop stated above that it’s near impossible to get a hit off him. Zambi is a great fighter, However I disagree with an above comment comparing him to Anuwat….sure Anuwat punches a lot but their style is different (IMO). I’m glad to see Zambi qualified as well as Krauss….should be a very interesting world max this year.
zambidis kinda remids me of smeagle from lord of the rings. hell of a fighter though
I gave this to Drago!
At the end, Drago looked like he just got off a treadmill but Zam had serious facial damage, he wouldnt have made it another round…..
The Japanese GIRL I watched the fight with thought the same thing and said to me in Japanese ” a name is important in Japan, even for the judges”…..YEP!
I just watched this AGAIN…CLEAR that Drago won.
He pushes the action the whole fight. Hes connecting with heavy power shots, low kicks, spin kicks and knees, even decent punches.
All Zam is doing is punching. Mostly out of desperation.
You want to see an example of a name meaning something? look at how the K1 staff edited the between round slow mo bits….all Zam hitting drago but guess what? thats not how the round went at all.
Its clearly one sided.
In thailand Drago would have won by a land slide.
I give it to drago all the way.
In Thailand Drago would have won, because punching techniques over there are considered inferior to kicking and kneeing techniques, so I do agree. However, in Japan it’s obviously different or else people like Zambidis, Masato, Kalakoda and Krauss would lose all their fights unless they KOed their opponents. I do agree that a “Name” is very important in Japan because I keep being reminded that “Names” sells tickets. I think it was a good fight and Drago threw more techniques, but it doesn’t matter if they hit ur target, those knees weren’t getting through…but Zambidis body shots were. I agree with the decision.
It’s not Japan per say, it’s K-1. The scoring is inconsistent and that’s where the problem lies. You have to remember that ouside of K-1 most events are held under MT rules. Zambidis’ shots were impressionable and it’s not like you can scream robbery. He made it count in the extension round.
“K-1″ turns into “Japan” way too easily in the mind of a viewer.
I disagree.
“It’s not Japan per say, it’s K-1. The scoring is inconsistent and that’s where the problem lies” The scoring system in K1 has been created in Japan. However you’re right, “K-1 turns into Japan way too easily in the mind of a viewer”. Maybe I should have gotten more accurate and said “Japanese” K1 Officials and Promoters.
“You have to remember that ouside of K-1 most events are held under MT rules” Most events held outside of Japans are either “modified” Muay Thai rules, K1 rules. I live in the U.S and 95% or events out here bans the use of elbows. (by the way everyone wish me good luck, I might be fighting in 6 weeks….lol). Real Muay Thai rules are in Thailand and also more accepted in certain events in Europe.
I found these two links to expound upon muay thai rules (not neccessarily k-1 rules). The second one is a pretty good and interesting knees.
Rules such as no elbows totally impact how you fight. For example, in amateur fighting you’re not allowed to knee to the face (nor elbow) so a lot of the time fighters will cover their bodies with their arms when in the clench in order not to be kneed. The person being kneed doesn’t ha ve to worry about devastating elbow blows, nor knees to the head in this position. Additonally the person being kneed can wait and uppercut the person with inside control. This rule makes punching much more valuable as some of the effectiveness of knees is taken away (no knees to the head).
Its surprising how much small rules can end up changing a fighter’s strategy.
http://www.muaythai2000.com/muaythai2000/ruleen.php
http://www.muaythaionline.org/features/muaythaijudging.html
Again, I think the sheer amount of Damage on Zams face should have counted for more.
I know in Pride, visible damage gets you more points. It makes a big difference with judges in Boxing as well.
Drago was clean as a whistle, Zam was badly beat up. Those knees were getting through.
Drago should have taken that.
And yeah K1 turns into Japan quickly because at almost all the televised events alot of the staff are the tried and true (so to speak) K1 staff. referees and judges etc….making the same bad calls they always do.
Look at all then egative feed back in holland about alot of the calls the Japanese referees were making.
Mr BlackMagic…I thought Zambis won the fight fairly…but I guess all of our disagreement proves how close this fight must have been…lol. I totally agree with your last 2 paragraphs though.
Matt Lucas, You are right, when thinking about it, even making a slight change to the rules switches a fighter’s strategy completely and it become very apparent when you watch certain fighters having problems while fighting outta their rules.
Prime example, remember Buakaw vs Mourad Sari??…under M.T Rules, K-1 rules and even modified MT rules Buakaw would have obliterated him, but under Full contact rules, he could only pull a “DRAW”.
one pic worth of thousand words!
The main pic zambidis-drago together in http://www.gagodrago.com
You can see who is the winner!
I went to that site. I can see who’s face is the lumpiest….other than that…nothing else indicate the winner…..oh actually yes….somethin does indicate it……the judges but I don’t see them in that picture.
Drago won that fight. 2-1 split. Yes, Drago won tha fight.
It was a good fight. I don’ think Drago will go home thinking he did not do a good job,and I don’t think Zambo Will think Man They gave me that fight I did not really win. The only person that might be allowed to say somethign DRAGO he is not saying anything like that.THey both put in work noone really loss but the judges saw it in mikes favor that day that all .
“The main pic zambidis-drago together in http://www.gagodrago.com
You can see who is the winner!”
True, Zambo looks busted up, but I bet that Drago will be pissing blood for a week or two from the volume of liver shots.
Fights like this are why I love this sport. A total barn burner all the way through. Both are Tuff S.O.B.s
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