K-1 MMA, Stand-Up Fighter Tryouts Head To Vegas This Month
K-1, the world’s premiere martial arts fight promotion, will offer a one-day open tryout at Las Vegas, Nevada’s Mirage Hotel and Casino on Friday, April 28th, one day prior to its “Mayhem At Mirage II” star-studded fight card.
The trial will be open to those who wish to compete in K-1’s mixed martial arts contingent as well as to those who meet the requirements of the organization’s two stand-up fighting weight divisions – the 154-pound limit “Max” class and the 200 pounds and above, super heavyweight group.
Participants will partake in various exercises that test a wide array of skills including speed, power, coordination, flexibility, and knowledge of the sport. They will also engage in sparring sessions with one another.
The tryout session marks the third consecutive year that K-1 has offered such an opportunity to fighters who desire to join its roster. Last August, K-1 played host to over 200 contestants who hailed from various regions of The United States and whose combat sports training background included experience in a wide range of disciplines ranging from kickboxing to western boxing to wrestling.
Finalists from the two previous tryouts have since been enlisted to compete in K-1 events held in Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Japan. Last August, 2004 K-1 heavyweight tryout finalist Patrick Barry made his debut during a “Mayhem At Mirage” tournament reserve fight and scored a first round technical knockout on Mark Selbee. Utah’s Dan Green, a finalist in last August’s auditions, will make his K-1 debut in a tournament reserve bout during the April 29th “Mayhem At Mirage II” event.
K-1 USA Fight Coordinator Sven Bean will oversee and direct all activities during the trial. A group of judges as well as executives from K-1 Japan and K-1 USA will observe the action and make recruiting decisions. Past judges have included legendary K-1 competitor Sam Greco as well as three-time K-1 tournament champion, Michael McDonald, and 2005’s K-1 “World Grand Prix in Hawaii” tournament winner, “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge.
Those who wish to register for the tryout should contact Mr. Bean via email at beanz4@msn.com or should fax a request for an official tryout application to 303-400-1756. Candidates will be required to make their own arrangements for travel and stay in Las Vegas during the tryout period.
Leading martial arts equipment supplier, Fairtex, will provide all gear necessary to conduct the tryout sessions.
K-1 is a martial arts fighting sport that derives its name from its inclusion of a wide array of combat disciplines, including Karate, Kung-Fu, and Kickboxing (“K”), and its intent to determine one champion in one ring (“1”). After being staged for the first time in Japan in 1993 under the direction of founder Master Kazuyoshi Ishii, it later evolved into the country’s most popular sport and achieved popular culture status there as its athletes turned into larger-than-life celebrities.