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Interview with Semmy

1K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  Zemelya 
#1 ·
Sem Schilt is angry. The three time K1 champion will be sitting at home this Saturday when the K1 Final is being held in Japan. The organization doesn't want the 2.12m Drent (Dutch province) to attend.

Why aren't you there this Saturday?
"
That's a mystery for me as well. In the final elimination, I didn't lose to Peter Aerts, I lost from the judges. Sure, I could've done more, but there should at least have been an extra round. "

You're not even in one the reserve fights."

They've eliminated me from the tournament and don't want to give a reserve spot. I understand though: the Japanese want a new champion and they've done everything to stop me from getting into the tournament as a reserve fighter. This confirms the fact that they see me as a great champion, but it in sportsmanlike terms it's nonsense."

Do you feel ripped?
"Yes, of course. The K1 Final without me is like the soccer World Championship without Brazil or the Tour the France without Lance Armstrong. That's how I feel about it. It's a bitter pill to swallow."

And now what?

"I've always seen K1 as sport, never as work. But that has changed now. It's turns out to be too commercial. The organization thinks money is more important than the sport itself. Maybe they just ought to give me a big bag of money, perhaps then I will keep my mouth shut about the whole thing."

Will you be there in the Yokohama Arena?

"They haven't even invited me to Japan as the reigning champion. They don't want me there, because they are afraid that too many journalist will start asking me all sorts of questions concerning the situation."

Who do you think will be your successor?

"I have to admit it's a very close tournament with me not competing this time. The field is open to any of them. The K1 organization has done a great job in that, but again in sportsmanlike terms it's a disillusion that I'm not even there. If I have to name someone, I'd go for Errol Zimmerman. He's young and new and therefore very eager. That's important."

Will you be going for your fourth title next year?

"I don't know yet. It all hangs on a very thin wire. I have to admit the fun is starting to disappear for me this way. Maybe I'll go in a different direction, MMA for instance. I don't know if I'll even get the chance to get back in K1. At the moment they'd rather get rid of me than have me fighting. "

Do you still like K1 after all of this?

"Yes, that feeling still remains. The fans are who make it a great for me and of course the sport itself. It's a game which fits me very well. A man-to-man fight involving punching and kicking. You know exactly what is allowed and what not. It's a very straightforward, fair and honest sport. As long as there aren't other interests involved..."
http://www.mixfight.nl/
 
#2 ·
You've got to feel for Semmy, the fact he's been so dominant, yet he's so unpopular. I'd be gutted.
 
#5 ·
Aerts was doing better IMO in that fight

Although it looks and is unfair with all Japanese trying to get rid of him.. it will be better for the sport itself - most of his achievements come from gigantic size while skill is not that great comparing to say Badr and Remy.

But it sucks that Japanese are manipulating again, WTF ??
 
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