It is something of an anomaly in ultra-modern Tokyo -- protected by a ring of towering stone walls and two heavy wooden gates, the proud old Nippon Budokan. Perhaps best known for its concerts (the Beatles made their Japanese debut here, and acts such as Bob Dylan and Cheap Trick have released "Live at the Budokan" albums), the arena was originally built for Judo events at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In English, "Budokan" means "martial arts hall."

The building has a special significance for K-1 as well, explains Event Producer Sadaharu Tanikawa: "The Budokan is where we started K-1, the Budokan is where Musashi and Jerome LeBanner made their debuts, it is where then-newcomer Mike Bernardo knocked out Andy Hug, a legendary Champion who is no longer with us. The Budokan is a spiritual place, it has a vibe. Something special will always happen at Budokan."

The "back to basics" theme of this year's K-1 World Grand Prix takes the world's premier fighting sport to the Budokan for the Final Elimination, a 16 man one-match tournament that will determine this year's eight finalists for the prestigious World GP Final, set for December 4th at Tokyo Dome.

In a standing room-only press conference at the Shin Takanawa Hotel in central Tokyo, the 16 participating fighters met the media.

Brawler Gary Goodridge of Trinidad and Tobago will try to build on his hot streak when he steps in against the also-hot American Mighty Mo in the first matchup. The stocky Mo won the Battle at the Bellagio III in August to earn a place here, and carries the American hopes toward the K-1 GP Final.

Said Goodridge with confidence bordering on cockiness: "I'm hoping for this fight to be done in one round, then I'm looking forward to watching the other matches!"

Replied Mo: "Well, like Gary said, hopefully I can give it to him in one round!"

Alexey "The Scorpion" Ignashov of Belarus may be many insiders' favorite to win the Final this year, but first he will have to contend with the talented Kaoklai Kaennorsing of Thailand. Kaoklai turned aside three challengers to win the K-1 in Seoul GP this July, becoming the lightest (78kg!) fighter to ever win a K-1 GP event. With two of the world's best kickers, this should be quite a fight.

Said Ignashov: "As everyone knows, Thai fighters are strong, very technical, we'll see tomorrow who is the strongest."

Kaoklai drew a laugh when he told the media, "As you can see, I am small, and so I ask all the Japanese fans to cheer for me!"

In the third bout, Dutch K-1 veteran Peter Aerts, who has won the World GP three times, will meet Canadian Michael McDonald. Aerts has smarts and experience, but so does McDonald, a fast fighter who keeps getting better, and is always dangerous.

Said Aerts: "It's going to be a good fight card and I wish almost everybody good luck"

McDonald: "I'm ready, I know Peter is as well, so it'll be a good fight!"

Thirty-nine year-old Ernesto Hoost, K-1's only four-time world GP Champion, will take on Brazilian Kyokushin fighter Glaube Feitosa in the fourth fight.

Said Hoost: "Tomorrow will be the first step on my road to a fifth championship"

Feitosa told the media: "For this fight, I trained harder than ever, and I am ready."

New Zealand's Ray Sefo is the consummate K-1 veteran. So dedicated has Sefo been to conditioning this year, for the first time in more than a decade, he weighs less (4kg less) than his younger brother Rony. Sefo has always been in the pack this time of year, and this time he means to win it all. His opponent here will be Hiromi Amada, one of the toughest Japanese K-1 fighters. Amada has won his last five bouts.

Said Sefo: "I have no doubt in my mind I will win, good luck to everyone tomorrow."

Amada: "I also trained hard for tomorrow, and I will show you my best."

In what is technically a Superfight (as Defending World GP Champion Remy Bonjasky has a bye to the Tokyo Dome Final), Bonjasky is will take on former Sumo Yokozuna Akebono.

With his flying knees and spectacular kicking attacks, the 28 year-old Bonjasky is the ne plus ultra of finesse in the K-1 ring -- if he were a car, he would be a Ferrari. Akebono, on the other hand, is the biggest fighter in K-1, standing 203cm and weighing in 215kg, all power, a veritable bulldozer. In close quarters, a bulldozer can mess up a Ferrari, and Bonjasky has to know that. Still, the Dutch fighter said that he would take the fight to Akebono.

Bonjasky: "I see Akebono as a fighter with a big heart," said Bonjasky. "Stepping into K-1 almost with no technique and experience and fighting with experienced fighters, this is not easy to do. But, business is business so I will KO him and show the K-1 fans a big guy falling down."

Akebono told the assembled that he has trained hard for this fight and will do his best.

Perennial Japanese hopeful Musashi will step in against enfant terrible Cyril Abidi of France in the penultimate matchup. Only Bonjasky stopped Musashi (in the title bout) at last year's Final, and the Seidokaikan fighter is undefeated this year. Plus, for the first time since the 1990s, Musashi has something that resembles a natural hair color, which may indicate he has spent more time on training and less at the salon.

Said Musashi: "I'm ready, I trained hard and I will do my best."

Abidi: "As I always say, I will do my best, and I hope it will be a good fight."

French powerhouse Jerome LeBanner has gone 3-0 since coming back from his arm injury, and is eager to go. Widely regarded as the best K-1 fighter never to win the World GP, LeBanner will step in Saturday against Francois Botha of South Africa, a 190cm/114kg boxer battling to make his mark in K-1.

"I will be on the front page the day after the fight," said LeBanner.

Botha just sat there in his mirrored sunglasses, and declined to comment. His message, presumably, will be delivered in the ring

Fans and the K-1 organization alike are bubbling with excitement in advance of the Final Elimination. Said K-1 Ring Director Nobuaki Kakuda: "We have come round now, like the Chinese calendar's 12 year cycle, and so we want to return to K-1's origins. We are going to be strict with the rules, so that there will be fewer stoppages in fights, we want to see strict and clear rules and clean and exciting fights tomorrow."

The K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final Elimination kicks off at 17h00 on Saturday, September 25 at the Nippon Budokan. It will be same-day broadcast nationwide in Japan from 21h00, and is set to be broadcast in some 95 countries on a delayed basis. Check the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1gp.net) for full coverage soon after the final bell.