McDonald, Mighty Mo, Goodridge, O’Haire, and Cooper amongst confirmed tournament competitors
K-1 will return to Las Vegas, Nevada’s Bellagio Hotel and Casino with an eight-man, single-elimination tournament and a collection of single “Superfights” on Saturday, April 30th. Three-time tournament champion
Michael McDonald (49-12 (23 KO’s), “Mighty Mo” Siligia (25-3 (20 KO’s), “Big Daddy”
Gary Goodridge (40-20 (29 KO’s), and former WWE wrestler Sean O’Haire (19-2 (10 KO’s) are amongst the seven martial arts fighters that will see tournament action during Battle at Bellagio IV, the K-1 “World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas,” which will air live on Pay Per View television.
Two-time world kickboxing champion and undefeated boxer Dewey “The Black Kobra” Cooper (42-7-3 (26 KO’s) will take part in the tournament as will Brazil’s Glaube Feitosa and Japan’s Yusuke Fujimoto (11-6 (6 KO’s). The final tournament participant has yet to be named.
At 40 years of age, McDonald is still going strong in the twilight of his career. Labeled by many critics as over the hill after he had been exiled from the annual single-elimination event in its opening round in 2003, “The Black Sniper” returned to Las Vegas with a vengeance last April and defeated three straight opponents, including championship round adversary Cooper, to take hold of his third-career tournament crown.
During what was only his second K-1 tournament start last August, the stocky, 280-pound Siligia put on a monstrous display of physical power. After gaining a unanimous judges decision over quarterfinal round opponent,
Sergei Gur, and stopping fellow American Scott Lighty in the semifinal round, the former college football standout and professional boxer utilized his big right hand to chop down 6 foot 4 inch, 255 pound Brecht Wallis in the championship round of battle.
Another hard-hitting brawler, Goodridge is a longtime veteran of the martial arts fight game who has tested his durability against the sport’s most accomplished icons, including three-time K-1 “World Grand Prix Finals” champion Peter Aerts and world Muay Thai champion,
Jerome LeBanner. After scoring an impressive first round knockout on New Zealand’s Toa during a “Battle at Bellagio II” Superfight last April, “Big Daddy” was brought back to Las Vegas for another single fight matchup during the annual, August K-1 event. There, he gained a split decision over Cooper.
O’Haire is the latest figure to cross over from another form of sport to the world’s fastest growing one. Following a stint in professional wrestling’s most prominent federation, the 6 foot 5 inch, 265 pound hulk enlisted in California’s Shark Tank martial arts center to pursue training in the art of Muay Thai. On November 20th, he demonstrated his newfound combat skills by pounding out Japan’s
Shungo Oyama during a “Rumble on the Rock 6” contest at Honolulu, Hawaii’s Blaisdell Arena.
Tickets for the April 30th K-1 event are on sale and are priced at $50, $100, $200 and $300, respectively. They may be purchased at the Bellagio’s box office or by calling 1-800-963-9634.
The live Pay Per View television broadcast of Battle at Bellagio IV, the K-1 “World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas” will begin at 10 PM Eastern Standard Time (7 PM Pacific Standard Time) and will be available on iNDemand, DirecTV, and TVN.
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