K1 USA Press Release

K-1, The World's Premier Fighting Sport Takes Center Ring at the Bellagio for the World Semi-Finals on Saturday, August 11, 2001 to earn the title of "World's Best"


After a sold out fight the K-1 returns to Las Vegas on Saturday, August 11th, where eight of the top fighters from United States, Japan, Holland, Germany, Brazil, Europe, Belarus and Croatia will battle it out at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino to determine who will go on to the K-1 Tokyo Dome on December 8th for the K-1 Grand Prix in Japan. Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $250.00. The doors open at 4:00 pm, the preliminary fights begin at 4:10 pm. The K-1 World Semi-finals kicks off at 6:00pm. To purchase tickets, call the Bellagio ticket office at 1-888-488-7111.

Founded in 1993 by Master Kazuyoshi Ishii, K-1 has quickly become the world's ultimate fighting sport. Although the intense battle originated from Seidokaikan Karate, K-1 was designed to determine which Martial Arts (fighting sport) is the strongest of them all. The "K" comes from the first letter of the various styles of Martial Arts that make up K-1. KARATE, KICKBOXING, KUNG FU, KAKUTOGI, and TAE KWON DO. The "1" means there is only one weight class and the champion is truly "number one."

The premise of the K-1 Grand Prix is quite simple. This is where all Martial Arts will converge on one ring, under one rule, to answer these simple questions: Which Martial Arts is the strongest? Which fighter is the best in the world? The K-1 is truly a contest of survival of the fittest. In order to conquer the K-1 Grand Prix a participant must win three consecutive fights in one day. These fighters have been highly trained in the physical, mental, and technical aspects of Martial Art combat; they make the impossible possible. These highly trained and disciplined athletes are better known as K-1 fighters.

K-1 is quickly becoming a popular form of sports entertainment with boxing and wrestling fans as well as 250 million Martial arts practitioners worldwide. Internationally, K-1 is very popular in Europe and Japan. At the K-1 Grand Prix Championship final at the Tokyo Dome, over 70,000 fans attended the live event and 30 million viewers sat glued to their seats watching it on Fuji television (one of Japan's largest television networks). The August 11th K-1 tournament will be covered by E!, ESPN2, Canadian Pay Per View, and Live Fuji Television.

Don't miss K-1, the fastest growing form of sports entertainment in the world, Saturday, August 11th at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $250.00. The doors open at 4:10 pm, the preliminary fights begin at 4:10 pm. The K-1 World Semi-finals kicks off at 6:00pm. To purchase tickets, call the Bellagio ticket office at 1-888-488-7111. For more information or for sponsorship/ advertising opportunities contact Geoff Moss, K-1 USA (818) 787-4065 or e-mail Geoff211@aol.com.

Confirmed K-1 fighters with more to come: Peter Aerts from Holland, 3 Time grand prix

World Champion, K-1 Superstar Stefan Leko from Germany, K-1 North American

Champion Maurice Smith, and Brazilian Superstar Francisco Filho.



www.k-1.co.jp