Friday, 30 November 2007.
Written by Stuart Tonkin, Images Courtesy of K-1
The way FEG markets the World Grand Prix is something that always fascinates me. Since the combat sports boom in Japan forced FEG’s focus on beating rivals with their New Year’s Eve show, the GP has suffered greatly. At times it seems like something FEG has to do, rather than it being the jewel on their crown. Plunging ratings have frequently been blamed on the bubble of interest in combat sports bursting, the reigning champion being slightly less than interesting, and the up-and-comers failing to conquer the veteran fighters they will one day need to replace. FEG are responsible as well though. Even now, a little over a week away from the biggest K-1 event of the year, most of the news surrounding the company is related to Dynamite and other end-of-year shows.
Perhaps as a result of this, the 2007 WGP will be held not in the esteemed Tokyo Dome as it usually is, but in the far smaller, and dingier Yokohama Arena. The catchphrase known by Japanese and foreigners alike, “All Roads Lead to the Dome” is a thing of the past. It appears as though the new slogan “There is Only One World’s Strongest” will be the replacement. It is not quite as high-impact, but far better than if they had of simply replaced “Dome” with “Arena.” In fact, I believe given some time this may well grow on me. Perhaps, about fourteen years.
Something else that has changed this year and something that gives me a little hope that FEG do still care about the GP, is the art work on the official brochure. In the Kakutougi forums we have often shared a laugh at the apparent lack of effort FEG have made when it comes to making graphics and posters for many of their events (other than for MAX.) They have gone the extra yard this year though. Although I am not at liberty to name the actual comic series or the artist(s) involved, I can say that FEG have collaborated with the artist(s) of one of the most famous comic series (manga) in Japan. This is a first for them, and the brochure may well become something of a collector’s item.
One thing FEG have done very well over the past few years is produce television commercials for the GP. In 2004 the Best 8 were all in an airplane with the fight attendant asking Remy Bonjasky to “sit down,” to which he would yell “no.” The other fighters were all also standing in various areas of the cabin, looking on menacingly. All refusing to go “down.” The commercial focused primarily on Remy, and rightfully so as he was the defending two-time GP champion. This seems to be a procedure FEG decided they didn’t need to follow the subsequent year.
Semmy Schilt won the 2005 GP in style, though unlike all winners before him other than Branko Cikatic way back in 1993, he was not lucky enough to have a figure made of him to be sold to his fans. In fact, until very recently he had absolutely no original merchandise fans of his could buy. Even now it is all Golden Glory clothing rather than Semmy Schilt gear. Whether this is because FEG hopes he falls from grace sooner rather than later, or because there is just no demand for it, I don’t know. What I do know is that I expected to see Semmy, the champion, in the commercial. You can actually see him. If you look closely. Don’t blink though:
As a long time fan of the sport, I can forgive them for giving the only four-time champion (as he will remind you at each and every opportunity) Ernesto Hoost the limelight on what was to be his final ever GP. After Semmy defeated him, as well as crowd favorites Jerome LeBanner and “Mr. GP” Peter Aerts in one night, surely he had earned the right to be a major player in this year’s commercial right? Well, I would have thought so:
At the 2006 Eliminations the theme used was something in the vein of “Stop the Semmy.” By the looks of this year’s poster they should have used “Find the Semmy” rather than the official line they are using, “Last Man Standing Wins”.
It looks like FEG feel “The Golden Boy’s” time has arrived. He has pole-position in the poster and seems to have more air time in that commercial than Britney Spears attained by flashing her…well, you know. As a matter of fact, they are so confident in Badr, that they are already selling his figure. To put that into perspective、neither Andy Souwer nor Buakaw Por. Pramuk have figures made of them, and they are both two-time MAX GP champions. Masato of course has two, as does KID Yamamoto. Remy had one made only after his two GP crowns. I guess if reports are true, signing a five-year deal with FEG gets you substantially more support.
An adult club owner, occasional rapper, often loudmouth fighter that has had brushes with the law and seems to enjoy spouting off foul words in a couple of languages to make sure he offends the maximum number of people possible. All at twenty-two years of age. He sounds like someone from a Spike Lee movie. Not the person FEG hopes will carry them through this rough patch. But he is interesting, and whether they love or hate him, people want to see his fights.
Within four months of entering K-1, he had produced two of the best knock out scenes ever caught on film. The first was him landing a beautiful spinning-back kick on Stefan Leko’s jaw. The second was him being hit by a “Rolling Thunder” thrown by the only man to successfully use them in K-1, Peter Graham. That is what is exciting about Badr. He appears to enter fights with the clear intention of knocking his opponent out, or being knocked out trying. There is no type of fighter the casual fan loves more.
After recovering from the loss to Graham, he wasted little time in wrapping his hands around the Heavyweight Champion’s belt, knocking out his two opponents along the way. Added to that is the fact that while he is abusive and abrasive pre-fight, post-fight he is unexpectedly respectful. He even helped Leko up and to his corner when he knocked him out, even though in a match they fought just 5 months earlier Leko reportedly spat on Badr after knocking him to the ground. He is no longer “The Golden Boy” though.
Badr has shed his prior nickname and taken up one that the Japanese bestowed upon him. “Akuma Oji.” That’s “Prince Devil” for those of you that don’t speak any Japanese. For Japanese nicknames, it is actually quite good. As long as he doesn’t start coming out to Purple Rain or My Name is Prince, I don’t mind. Truth be told, the new moniker is far better than some of the atrocious names that have been given to other K-1 fighters. Hyper-Battle-Cyborg and Black-Puma-from-the-Southern-Oceans are two that come to mind.
How he will deal with this new fame and pressure is yet to be seen. Being so insanely talented (Thom Harinck from the infamous Chakuriki Gym once said "Hari had more talent than Peter Aerts and Branko Cikatic together") and immensely self-confident, it is easy to forget he is barely out of his teenage years. He will certainly have his work cut out for him just making it past his semi-final opponent.
That opponent is Remy Bonjasky. A man that Badr feels has been avoiding him. In fact, Badr chose to fight Remy here. However Remy is a man that has never lost the opening fight of a WGP. And a man that will be fighting not only to win the GP, but for his very livelihood. Rumour has it that after Remy won his second title he had just two fights left on his contract. The final one of those he lost to Mighty Mo, and was therefore in a compromised position when it came time to renegotiate. He was supposedly under whelmed with the final deal, and no doubt will be doing his best to make sure he is never in the same position again. His current contract expires in December 2007.
This is one you just cannot afford to miss. For those outside of Japan you can watch it live by following the links below.
If you live in Australia you can watch this event live. See here for details: www.mainevent.com.au
Don't forget, if you want to try your hand at predicting the winner and possibly win some gear from Jerome LeBanner/K-1 in the process then click here.
The way FEG markets the World Grand Prix is something that always fascinates me. Since the combat sports boom in Japan forced FEG’s focus on beating rivals with their New Year’s Eve show, the GP has suffered greatly. At times it seems like something FEG has to do, rather than it being the jewel on their crown. Plunging ratings have frequently been blamed on the bubble of interest in combat sports bursting, the reigning champion being slightly less than interesting, and the up-and-comers failing to conquer the veteran fighters they will one day need to replace. FEG are responsible as well though. Even now, a little over a week away from the biggest K-1 event of the year, most of the news surrounding the company is related to Dynamite and other end-of-year shows.
me a little hope that FEG do still care about the GP, is the art work on the official brochure. In the Kakutougi forums we have often shared a laugh at the apparent lack of effort FEG have made when it comes to making graphics and posters for many of their events (other than for MAX.) They have gone the extra yard this year though. Although I am not at liberty to name the actual comic series or the artist(s) involved, I can say that FEG have collaborated with the artist(s) of one of the most famous comic series (manga) in Japan. This is a first for them, and the brochure may well become something of a collector’s item.
An adult club owner, occasional rapper, often loudmouth fighter that has had brushes with the law and seems to enjoy spouting off foul words in a couple of languages to make sure he offends the maximum number of people possible. All at twenty-two years of age. He sounds like someone from a Spike Lee movie. Not the person FEG hopes will carry them through this rough patch. But he is interesting, and whether they love or hate him, people want to see his fights. 
unexpectedly respectful. He even helped Leko up and to his corner when he knocked him out, even though in a match they fought just 5 months earlier Leko reportedly spat on Badr after knocking him to the ground. He is no longer “The Golden Boy” though.
This is one you just cannot afford to miss. For those outside of Japan you can watch it live by following the links below.