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MLS · 01-01-2009, 01:06 PM

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Oh how the mighty fall. In a spectacular and cruel turn of events, K-1 ‘Golden Boy’ Badr Hari kissed canvas- falling victim to a brutal knock out. He was a shade of his usual self and brought back, down to earth with a crushing KO, made to look a mismatch as Alistair Overeem annihilated the Moroccan who earlier this year escaped serious punishment for misconduct. There was no escaping the ‘Demolition man’ however, as a combination of lefts- left him worse for ware.

Hari looked like he had left his venom at home or was it Overeem who was disciplined and calculated in his approach, waited for his moment and unleashed two hard left hooks. The first which staggered Hari who recovered but a second which dropped him in a twisted heap…

Ironically referee Kakuda, the same man who red carded him less than four weeks waved his hands as Hari was dazed and knocked out in spectacular style. Thus bringing an end to his impressive run of form bar the ugly DQ foul up against Remy Bonjasky…

Coming out with his guard and powerful outside thigh kicks, Hari seemed to have things under control. However the Dutch star looked ominous as Hari’s toe to toe style suited Overeem who found his range and counter punches landing cleanly on Hari’s chin. Not surprisingly, it looked soft as rockling force met the ‘Golden & bad boy’. In highlight reel style amidst applause of a sell out crowd, Hari had seemingly copped a punishment which has eluded him in a strange sort of way. Overeem had delivered that missing bit with his fighting and stopping an otherwise rampant and outspoken man.

It was justice done for most fans in a funny sort of way, as Overeem retreated to a neutral corner on both counts as the second ended proceedings. He hopped a turn buckle and celebrated in style, ending an already impressive year where his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) had seen him soar to tremendous heights. This result meant that Hari had no time to pull off any of his stunts. There was a slight feeling in the air as to whether Hari would resort to this, there was none of it.

‘It was great win for me and very good way to end the year. I am really happy about this win, especially under K-1 rules. I wish everyone a happy new year!’ said Overeem on his win.

Hari wasn’t available for immediate comment, feeling the effects from a forceful hand which was dealt to him.

This KO may put to rest and bury the cloud which hung over many a fan, where Hari’s moment of madness where he lashed out at Bonjasky in this years K1 WGP final. Ironically it was a fellow Dutchman who ended Hari’s night, assuring a size ten headache as he welcomed twenty-O-nine.

There was a sense of expectation from Hari who would have gunned for a good result against Overeem. It wasn’t to be.

Moving in for a KO and trading shots eventually led to his downfall as Overeem out did him with power and finesse. It was Hari’s very strength and exciting style which caused his downfall, where a tactical accumulation would have saved his grace. Instead, he was floored by an intelligent and powerful think tank that beat him at his own game.

Trading punches with Overeem would classify as unwise and with this defeat would dent Hari’s viability and asking price, further hurting his bank balance which didn’t see any dollars flow after his last escapade.

Ending the year sprawled on the floor is not what K1 had hoped for after a trying period with many a critic wanting Hari suspended. This further vindicated Overeem as a true contender and muddying the reality of what Hari’s prospects would be against Sem Schilt. Crucially, Overeem is Schilt’s Golden Glory team mate from Holland. Thereby denying ‘the best contender’ status as opposed to a wild child in Hari, who’s antics and ring presence make for better ratings and interesting viewing.

The Moroccan bad boy has been slotted in a line up which includes Schilt, next March in Japan.

Defeat sends Hari backwards for the moment and he will have to regain his credibility. Given that he is the most exciting entertainer in K1 it will only be a matter of time that he is back. When he does he would probably need a big win, maybe a re-match against Overeem and return the favour.

It was a Shakespearean day where the ‘golden’ touch had deserted Hari who met his waterloo in acrimonious form.

Mark Hunt V Melvin Manhoef

Re-defining the term and formula of Dynamite, Manhoef made shockingly short work of the man who laid claim to the toughest chin in K1 and MMA. Mark Hunt was knocked out with surprising ease as a pair of hooks by Manhoef dropped Hunt to the canvas only to be saved by the referee as the follow up ground and pound found the mark on Hunt.

As the bell rung, in an imposingly short eighteen seconds, a pit bull like Manhoef generated some awe inspiring power to condemn Hunt to his second defeat in a row on his FEG re-entry. This may signal an end of an era where a reputation built on toughness and ability to soak up punishment is seemingly fading away.

Hunt dropped with freighting speed and looked to be out, something no one had done to him before. Given the near thirty plus kilo weight difference, Manhoef firmly sent a message to everyone watching that he was all business.

As Twenty-O-eight ended and we were about to welcome Twenty-O-nine, it couldn’t have come on a more explosive note. Dynamite lived to it’s name in every sense as we bore witness to a knock out fest, where some pleased us for it’s sheer intrinsic value, lessons learnt at the ‘school of hard knocks’.

On that note we would like to wish our readership a safe and prosperous new year and look forward to a smashing year!

http://www.roguemag.com/index.php?op...=584&Itemid=84

Aaronyman · 01-01-2009, 01:39 PM

i hope overeem's domination of badr puts to rest all of this mystique of k-1 fighters being godlike strikers....alistair isn't even the best striker in mma and he took one of (if not THE BEST k-1) the best to school

MLS · 01-01-2009, 01:41 PM

You do realize that Hari trained for like a week for this because he didn't think he was fighting until February? That was about as flat as I have ever seen Hari.