Badr Hari lands an uppercut on Gokhan Saki. Photo via It's Showtime.
Last weekend was a great day for fans of combat sports. For most fans, the big event of the day was the UFC on Fox 2, with Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping, and that one other fight that we don't want to speak of. But for many sports fans, the UFC stood in the shadow of another major event - the retirement of Badr Hari.
In the main event of an It's Showtime event on Saturday, Hari retired from the world of kickboxing. And he did it in style. Hari said farewell to kickboxing with a brutal one round KO of top ranked Gokhan Saki, blasting an uppercut through Saki's defenses midway through the first round. The tough Saki never had a chance after that, and soon after, he was done - the final victim on Hari's 10 year path of destruction through kickboxing.
As I outlined in the lead-up to Saturday's fight, Badr Hari is a man who has made a career out of spectacular moments - many good, many bad. It's fitting that he end his career with one final moment, and I for one am glad it was a moment of Hari at his finest. The last image he leaves us with is his hand raised, his opponent vanquished. That's the Hari I am a fan of, and it was good to see him one last time.
Hari's dynamite KO and emotional farewell capped off a great show from It's Showtime - one that featured other fast and impressive stoppage victories from the likes of Daniel Ghita and Errol Zimmerman.
Watching the UFC show later that night, it was hard not to draw a parallel between the two. Both organizations put on major shows, both looked to draw in new audiences. But the differences in the action each delivered were clear. While It's Showtime had a card filled with fast action and some of the best stand-up fighting in the world, the UFC ended up with a slower paced, decision heavy card that turned off a lot of viewers. After the UFC card, the most talked about highlight was a few seconds of post-fight talk from Chael Sonnen - one of the few moments that night to catch fire and give a real feeling of excitement to fans everywhere. Watching the UFC show and thinking about the earlier It's Showtime event did not do the UFC any favors. Despite the quality technical battles of Sonnen vs. Bisping and Davis vs. Evans, the UFC on Fox show lacked a certain spark - one that was on display throughout It''s Showtime's event, culminating in Hari's big win. From a pure action and excitement perspective, one card was superior on Saturday, and it wasn't the one on network TV.
But while It's Showtime may have trumped the UFC in action on Saturday, Dana and company triumph in perhaps the area that matters most - building for what comes next. Walking away from the UFC show, we have Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen and Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans both lined up - two fights fans have been eagerly anticipating for some time, now both on the way. It's Showtime fans walked away having seen the last fight (for now) of the undeniable greatest star of this sport's era. Yes Ghita and Zimmerman looked good, but a future without Hari is simply less exciting. And as much as I enjoyed watching the kickboxing action on Saturday, I couldn't help but wonder what the future will bring for the sport.
But thoughts of the future can come later. For now, I encourage you to join me in reveling in the moment we were given on Saturday. Check out Hari vs. Saki if you haven't seen it, and stick around for the complete It's Showtime show. If you don't watch it, you're missing out on the weekend's best action combat sports had to offer.
0 recs | 60 comments
Only saw the top of the card but oh man Ghita's finish was awesome
right hand to the spleen and a thunderbolt of a left hook to the face. so good.
Pyrgz Krum - January 31, 2012
DVR'd it.
There seemed to be a lot of techno and girls dressed in ways that make Arianny and Chandella look classy.
In short, looked like a rave.
Paulo Filho's Psychiatrist - January 31, 2012
That's Dutch kickboxing for you.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
Don't you talk bad about the It's Showtime girls.
Brent Ducharme - January 31, 2012
It's Ho-time.
Paulo Filho's Psychiatrist - January 31, 2012 via mobile
They are classy women.
Brent Ducharme - January 31, 2012
ElliotMatheny - February 1, 2012
I thought it was a great card overall.
Was so pumped when Ghita got that KO.
NickaG - January 31, 2012
It was a great card.
Ghita’s finish was amazing.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
Doesn't it seem a little silly..
… to compare a European kickboxing show to a North American MMA show?
Seems like apples and oranges to me…
Worldisart - January 31, 2012
He's just comparing the excitement delivered by the two shows.
I’ve watched the two back to back and It’s showtime was definitely more exciting.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
it just seems obvious that the kickboxing card would have the most non-stop excitement...
when you consider that the UFC’s show consisted of mainly ground fighters (i.e. even when they stood & traded shots, it wouldn’t be nearly as technically sound or exciting.)
That said, I can’t wait to actually see the fight.
The Hamburger Pimp - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Grappling can be as exciting to me as kickboxing.
But I see your point, I was not shitting on the UFC event in any way I enjoyed it too. That said the kickboxing card was damn good even by kickboxing standards.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
It's a bad comparison
He’s presenting it as an apples to apples comparison and it’s not. It’s two different sports catering to two different audiences.
Worldisart - January 31, 2012
The kickboxing bouts delivered for their audience, the UFC's show didn't really do that.
lolumad - January 31, 2012
Precisely
Every fight on the It’s Showtime card was awesome. That’s the result of smart matchmaking and good luck; the UFC’s was necessary if not genius matchmaking and bad luck.
Patrick Wyman - January 31, 2012
The UFC brass gambled quite a bit , but they also had injuries and the resulting card re-shuffling to deal with. As it was originally billed, the Fox show probably would’ve been a lot more entertaining.
Chael vs. Munoz would have been awesome.
lolumad - January 31, 2012
Yeah
Hope we get to see that one at some point. They did as well as could be expected under the circumstances, but I don’t think anybody really expected fireworks from Evans-Davis or Bisping-Maia. At the same time, though, they were fights that absolutely had to be made.
Patrick Wyman - January 31, 2012
UFC on FOX 2 = one of the worst events ever
but since UFC is on FOX now, maybe they have to cater to a whole different audience now. So stupid. Looks like the beginning of the end.
Haisenberg - February 1, 2012
especially when the MMA event featured five guys that started out as grapplers.
The Hamburger Pimp - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Where can I view this wonderfulness?
AHutch - January 31, 2012
Should be on Youtube
HeartbreakShot - January 31, 2012
Also will be replayed on HDNet I’m sure.
Fraser Coffeen - January 31, 2012
Man, been lurking this site for about 2 years, finally nice to comment
But yeah, Hari’s retirement was much more exciting, but i think that’s because it’s a one off thing, how many times does the most exciting fighter from an organisation retire? It isn’t something that happens every year. As one commentator pointed out whilst Hari fought Saki, the atmosphere was one of the best he’s seen in a while, because it’s a one off. It’s Showtime did well though, and this highlight tribute vid is simply fantastic
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut6LvCqE1TM[/url]
What a fitting song as well
HeartbreakShot - January 31, 2012
Yeah, I agree that it’s not a feeling that can be maintained, which is why I worry for the future. But for the moment, it was incredible.
Fraser Coffeen - January 31, 2012
Is Hari going into Boxing now?
I thought that was his plan, to make a go of a pro boxing career.
KJ Gould - January 31, 2012
Yeah he is.
Foolishly the commentator for It’s Showtime was bellowing about Hari becoming Heavyweight champion
Nothing’s impossible ofcourse but i kinda doubt it
HeartbreakShot - January 31, 2012
What’s the deal with Hari’s hairy back patch? I had people over for UFC, and they were bored, of course, so I showed them the It’s Showtime fights, and they were fascinated by his back hair.
sexysassytravismmafan - January 31, 2012
Some sort of insane birth mark.
Brent Ducharme - January 31, 2012
Not a birth mark in HD
sexysassytravismmafan - January 31, 2012 via mobile
It's a birthmark that grows hair.
lolumad - January 31, 2012
Werewolf patch!
Horselover Fat - January 31, 2012
That's not fair
What type of viewership did the It’s Showtime show attract?
I think some of the mma media are being too critical of UFC on FOX 2. The Weidman/Maia fight was undeniably awful, but the the Sonnen/Bisping and Evans/Davis fights were both entertaining. The event gained viewership from fight to fight, and is the second most watched UFC event in history. In terms of great stand-up fights and knockouts, of course the It’s Showtime event has an edge. However, in terms of significance to the divisional standings and seeking newer, larger audiences, UFC on FOX is much more exciting
Robert V-U - January 31, 2012
I wondered about this too
Data point: I live in Amsterdam and was unable to find a single bar (out of something like 30) showing even the actual Badr Hari fight, much less the rest of the card, but I was able to find a few that were going to be showing the UFC fights even though they began at like 2am.
mollcutpurse - January 31, 2012
MMAJunkie is reporting that the Evans/Davis fight averaged 6.1 million viewers. That’s a huge number more people than the number that turns into a PPV. From the standpoint of exposure, UFC on FOX2 is definitely some sort of a milestone
Robert V-U - January 31, 2012
Visualz
Damon O. - January 31, 2012
Ghita looked bummed that he went down so quick.
Ak.Death - January 31, 2012
He looked down at Hesdy’s legs, saw they were rigid as a board, and instantly knew the fight was over. Awesome.
lolumad - January 31, 2012
78th KO of Hari’s career, that is just ridiculous.
Ak.Death - January 31, 2012
That was about the best left hook KO i've ever seen
ElliotMatheny - February 1, 2012
Pretty badass
for sheer technical prettiness, may I humbly recommend this one.
Dave Strummer - February 1, 2012
This card was great.
I’ve rewatched it a couple of times now, much more entertaining than the Fox card, which wasn’t all that surprising to me given the fighters on each respective card. Aside from the obvious awesomeness (Zimmerman/Ghita/Hari finishes) that Direkci vs. Roosmalen fight was really fun to watch, Roosmalen hits like a fucking truck.
Ak.Death - January 31, 2012
I love Direkci, but Roosmalen is just on fire right now.
Fraser Coffeen - January 31, 2012
He's the perfect counterargument
To anybody who thinks that smaller guys can’t have real power. The Kyshenko KO was a thing of beauty.
Patrick Wyman - January 31, 2012
Wish that fight would've gone to an extension round.
ElliotMatheny - February 1, 2012
Roosemalin fan?
Snatchl - February 1, 2012
Yeah, he's an animal.
ElliotMatheny - February 1, 2012
Was a great card.
I had my buddy over and we watched the It’s Showtime!, UFC on FX2 and UFC on Fox2 all in a row and the Showtime card was the best of the three easily. Awesome day in combat sports.
BWV988 - January 31, 2012
All that hugging and shit really was nothing last Saturday compared to this.
Rob Young - January 31, 2012
Daniel Ghita is a motherfucker.
Derek Suboticki - January 31, 2012
His leg kicks are ridiculous, holding pads for that guy can’t be fun.
lolumad - January 31, 2012
His hands have gotten so much better, too.
ElliotMatheny - February 1, 2012
Public Acceptance
UFC had his second show on Fox, one step closer to mainstream.
The It’s Showtime event was also raided by Dutch police and IRS. They impounded 18 cars, booked 98 people for back taxes and issued a whole lot of citations. The next It’s Showtime event has to move venue because the public opinion is that these events are basically organized crime get togethers. (Source: Dutch newspaper Telegraaf).
TheFirstEmperor - February 1, 2012
Im very glad for this article because it was really a great event!
The loss of Badr Hari for Its Showtime almost equals the loss of Brock Lesnar for sure. I wonder how will his boxing career be, he is one superstar all over the world, maybe with the exception of the US but he gains lots of fans there too. He will train in Las Vegas for the same promotion as Amir Khan. I wonder when we can see something of him but i doubt it will be this year. I m very sad he retired but Its Showtime rules kickboxing in Europe as much as UFC does MMA in the US only with lot less fighters. It was definitely boring to see the same bunch of fighters these years without much change so kickboxing reall waits for a new generation to come. I hope Badr returns to kickboxing if K-1 ever rises again.. but he s had 10 years of great fighting in kickboxing which now awaits for new talents to come.
szanpan - February 1, 2012
I wonder....
If putting guys with pillow hands on the same card on Fox was done purposely? Cut down on brutality?
fightersvizion - February 1, 2012 via mobile
I think UFC wanted to put the whole success of that card in the hands of Chael and Evans
and it didnt prove to be enough.
szanpan - February 1, 2012
Also, let me say i was VERYYY happy for Zimmerman's great KO
Rico is one of the most overhyped fighters in Holland .. i guess because he is a good looking guy.
szanpan - February 1, 2012
For the past several years, the biggest Comcast annoyance
has not been the lack of Fuel TV, which I hadn’t even heard of before the UFC deal, but the continued absence of HDNet. I think I would be a much bigger kickboxing fan if I could, you know…watch it.
That said, kickboxing shares some of the same issues I have with boxing, which I also really enjoy watching, in that the lack fo strong promoting bodies really undercuts any sense of progression in the sport. Every fight seems like a one-off based on who happens to pick up the phone when the promoter calls. There are no meaningful belts or contender fights, so the whole thing feels kind of aimless to me.
Dave Strummer - February 1, 2012
+1
same with Cablevision, they don’t have HDnet and they have fuel with no HD for more money
biggant - February 1, 2012 via mobile
Relevance is more important than excitement.
Shnak - February 1, 2012
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