January 2, 2006 Observer Newsletter: K1 New Year's Eve lineup & history

K-1 finalized its line-up for the third Japanese New Year's Eve TV war and show from the Osaka Dome.

Some late injuries changed around several of the matches. Two major drawing cards are out, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Choi Hong-man. The big news was the surprise late addition of Masato, who was the biggest draw of all last year. He's coming back early from his broken ankle because they felt they needed him on what figures to be the most competitive night of all.

The Fuji Network has announced the Pride show will air from 6 p.m. to 11:46 p.m., nor nearly six straight hours. K-1 will air from 9 p.m. to 11:40 p.m. on TBS.

In fact, only three matches, all of which were expected to be major drawing bouts, have remained intact, Genki Sudo vs. Kid Yamamoto for the Hero's lightweight championship and comedian Bobby Ologun vs. Akebono in MMA rules, and K-1 Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt vs. the greatest K-1 fighter in history, 40-year-old Ernesto Hoost, under kickboxing rules.

Subscribers can click here to read this issue.