All looking fit and ready, the fighters shared their thoughts with the assembled international media. Due a hand injury to Chalid "Die Faust" of Germany, there was some last-minute adjusting of the tournament brackets.

In the first fight, Defending European GP Champion Alexey Ignashov and Japanese fighter Noboru Uchida will do battle.
Said Ignashov: "I hope to make the most of my time in France."
Uchida: "I will give my all."

In the second matchup Aziz Khattou of Belgium will meet French fighter Naoufal Benazzouz, who is the substitute for Chalid "Die Faust."
Said Khattou: "I want to put on a display which will make the crowd enthusiastic."
Benazzouz: "This is a great chance, I will prove myself."

The third pairing will see Semmy Schilt step in against Petr Vondracek of the Czech Republic.
Said Schilt: "I'm very glad to fight for my gym and also for Seidokaikan in this tournament."
Vondracek's comment was that he had "No comment."

In the last of the tournament matchups, Japanese fighter Nobu Hayashi will take on French fighter Freddy Kemayo.
Said Hayashi: "It's great to be back here in Europe, I'll do my best."
Kemayo: "I hope to do everything I can to represent France well."

The reserve fight will be Petar Majstorovic of Switzerland vs Gregory Tony of France, and a 70kg weight class open fight will see talented Frenchmen Samir Berbachi and Karim Mahri go head to head.

In a much-anticipated Superfight, Jerome LeBanner will meet Cyril Abidi. The two stood on stage together, but never looked at one another.

Said LeBanner: I'm happy to be here, I wish good luck to all fighters."
Abidi: "This is just another fight, I'm happy to be here, and I'll be happy to pick up the winner's purse."

The second Superfight will feature Mavrick of Germany and Japanese legend Nobuaki Kakuda.
Kakuda, speaking carefully but flawlessly in French to the delight of the crowd, promised "I will show France the Japanese Karate spirit tomorrow, I hope you will enjoy it."
Said Mavrick: "It is an honor for a streetfighter like me to fight Mr. Kakuda."

The K-1 European Grand Prix 2005 will be a classic eight-man tournament with the winner advancing to the World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome this September, and kicks off at 8:00 p.m. Paris time on Friday May 27 at the Palais Omnisport Paris Bercy. The event will be broadcast in Japan on the Fuji Television network; on the pay-per-view network inDemand across North America; and on Eurosport and TPS Star in Europe. There will also be broadcasts on a delayed basis in dozens of other countries, check with your local network for details.

See the official matchups here: http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top661.htm and as always, visit the K-1 Official website for complete coverage soon after the final bell.