BigBlog

I'll be bringing you plenty of action on Fox Sports over June and July.

Make sure you don't miss such shows as:
* The King's Birthday from Thailand

* A1 World Combat Cup from Turkey

* Evolution 10 from Brisbane

* Code Red from Sydney

* Better Than Ever from Sydney

* Muay Thai Battleground from Thailand

Check out www.myspace.com/foxkickboxing for all broadcast details

I recently returned from Honolulu, Hawaii where I commentated the K-1 World GP Hawaii at the Neal Blaisdell Arena.

The event was an action-packed one. It wasn't the strongest K-1 card on paper but what played out was a night of solid action with some cracking knockouts. This is now two fantastically action-filled cards K-1 GP has staged this year, firstly in Yokohama on March 4 where I witnessed Mighty Mo KO Hong Mann Choi and Semmy Schilt KO Ray Sefo; and now April 28 in Hawaii with Mo taking the tournament over Alexander Pitchkounov in a thrilling final.

I had tipped a Mo vs Pitch final all the way, with Mo for the win -- just a pity I didn't put my money on it! Pitchkounov is all class and being groomed well by trainers Faii Falamoe and Jayson Vermoa out of Team Ichigeki. This was the first time Alex had really fought a true heavyweight slugger and he will learn a lot from the experience. Don't forget he had Mo almost gone in the first round when he dropped and cut him open with a spinning hook kick... just couldn't execute the kill, but that's just a lack of experience.

I commentated the event with Ernesto Hoost and Ray Sefo, both who did great jobs as my colour men. This was the fourth show I have commentated with Ernesto and he becomes more relaxed and looser every time. It was the first full show I have commentated with my great mate Ray Sefo, and he's as slick on the mic as he is in the ring.

So what's next for "The Voice"? Well as far as K-1 scheduling I have Macau/Hong Kong on July 29; Seoul September 1; Tokyo Dome December and Osaka NYE for Dynamite.

Around that schedule there's plenty happening with Fox Sports... for a full list of Fox Sports shows and broadcast dates check them out on my MYSPACE page www.myspace.com/foxkickboxing

If you want to contact me please do so at: foxkickboxing@gmail.com

Well so concludes a busy year for me after doing twelve international commentary gigs in 12 months!

This year saw me travel to AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND four times for K-1, to LAS VEGAS for K-1, to SEOUL for K-1, to SAPPORO, twice to OSAKA and twice to TOKYO for K-1, and to MACAU, CHINA for XPlosion.

Bring on 2007`s line up!

Big thanks to living legend ROYCE GRACIE who co-commentated the main events with me at K-1 DYNAMITE NYE spectacular at the Osaka Dome.

Also big ups to my co-commentator for the entire card, BAS BOON of Golden Glory, who did a stellar job.

US Viewers can check out all the fantastic DYNAMTE Mixed Martial Arts action on InDemand Pay Per View starting January 12.

There were some wicked fights, killer KO`s and awesome submissions, including in the Mega Giant Match between Akebono and Giant Silva... and the main event between Akiyama and Sakuraba.

Look out for two great documentaries airing on FOX SPORTS over Christmas.Check out the Fox Sports Kickboxing teleguide at www.myspace.com/foxkickboxing (in the pictures section) for details of AUSSIE KICKBOXING'S BEST BATTLES and AUSSIE KICKBOXING'S BEST KNOCKOUTS -- two doco's I will be hosting for Fox Sports.These are the best fights and best knockouts (2 x 2 hour docos) as chosen by Australian fight fans over the last ten years of bouts seen on Fox Sports.

I'm heading to Tokyo this weekend to commentate my fourth K-1 World Grand Prix final.A capacity crowd of 80,000 is expected at the Tokyo, with our broadcast going out to over 95+ countries.USA Viewers will be able to book the event through InDemand pay per view, Canadian viewers through Viewers Choice, New Zealand viewers free to air on TV2 (Dec 9).This will be my tenth trip to Japan.

Well, it's becoming about as predictable as a Britney Spears / Kevin Federline split these days... but YES we TOPPED THE NEW ZEALAND TV RATINGS yet again in our time slot on TV2 last Saturday night with the broadcast of the K-1 Kings of Oceania final round.

It was a fantastic night of action from the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere.

Thanks to my verbal sparring partner Mike Angove and the lovely Lavina Good.

You can view the fights online at www.tvnz.co.nz keyword: sport

I head to Brisbane this weekend, November 25, to commentate EVOLUTION 9 at the Chandler Arena for Fox Sports.

The main event features the grudge rematch you have all been waiting for between JOHN WAYNE PARR and BRUCE MACFIE.

This will be the show of the year with a capacity crowd expected.

See you in Brisbane!

I'll be heading to Tokyo to call the shots for over 95+ countries for the event of the year: The K-1 WORLD GRAND PRIX FINAL at the Tokyo Dome.

A capacity crowd of 80,000 is once again expected to attend, with all K-1 stars on the show including three super fights and the eight-man Grand Prix final.

I've just been locked in to commentate the Xplosion Fight Card from the Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino in Macau (near Hong Kong) on November 11.

The event will go love on Fight1.TV via Pay Per View... log in to check it out.

Main event is a WMC world title rematch between Nathan Corbett and Clifton Brown.

Check out my Myspace profile... keep up to date with all Fox Kickboxing action... become a friend and join our growing community.

www.myspace.com/foxkickboxing

Enjoy!

 A reminder for all US fight fans that starting OCTOBER 27 you can book the K-1 OSAKA FINAL ELIMINATION EVENT on PAY PER VIEW through In Demand.

Join myself and Mike Bernardo for all the action of this mega event, including the monster match between HONG MANN CHOI (7' 3", 160kg) and Jerome LeBanner.

On October 28 I'll be in Queensland for Fox Sports to call the shots on WAR ON THE SHORE 3 at the Southport RSL.

Queensland is Australia's hotspot for Muay Thai and this show will be no exception.

Foxtel recently launched its newest station, FOX SPORTS 3, with yet another channel dedicated to 24/7 sports coverage.

This is great news for fight fans who will be able to watch EVEN MORE kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai and Ultimate Fighting on Fox Sports 3.

EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT IN NOVEMBER you can watch THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER reality TV series on Fox Sports 3 at 7.30pm... followed at 8.30pm by KICKBOXING and MUAY THAI shows from across Australia and Thailand as we hit prime time!

Join myself and my verbal sparring partner, Mark "The Hammer" Castagnini for more kickboxing action than ever before on Fox Sports 3... all part of our TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY commentating on Fox Sports!

Tuesday 7 November
Fox Sports 3
7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
"Ultimate Fighter"
(Reality Series)

Tuesday 7 November
Fox Sports 3
8.30 pm - 10.30 pm
"Adrenalin"
(Penrith)

Tuesday 14 November
Fox Sports 3
7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
"Ultimate Fighter"
(Reality Series)

Tuesday 14 November
Fox Sports 3
8.30 pm - 10.30 pm
"Xplosion"
Corbett v McKinnon
(Sydney)

Tuesday 21 November
Fox Sports 3
7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
"Ultimate Fighter"
(Reality Series)


Tuesday 28 November
Fox Sports 3
7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
"Ultimate Fighter"
(Reality Series)

Tuesday 28 November
Fox Sports 3
8.30 pm - 10.30 pm
Muay Thai BattleGround # 19
(Hong Kong)

There are ads running on NOVA in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney promoting Evolution 8 from the Gold Coast with the main event between Wayne Parr and Soren Mongkongtong.

Listen here for the radio advertisement featuring myself and my verbal sparring partner, Mark "The Hammer" Castagnini.

 http://www.sportzblitz.net/international-kickboxer/forumpics/foxsportsad.mp3

Just returned from Osaka, Japan where I commentated the K-1 Final Elimination round at the Jo-Hall which is next to the Imperial Palace.

My verbal sparring partner on the night was former WBF World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and K-1 superstar, Mike Bernardo from South Africa.

TVNZ Viewers can see the action on TV2 on October 27 (check guides).

US viewers can book the Pay Per View through IN DEMAND starting October 7 (check guides).

CANADIAN viewers can book the Pay Per View through Viewers Choice (check guides).

The event was broadcast to over 95 countries.

Thanks again to all viewers in New Zealand who tuned into a massive night of K-1 action from the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere on Saturday September 16.

The night saw plenty of knockout action and made for great viewing on TV2. Also thanks to all worldwide who tuned into TVNZ's live webstream of the event - a first ever!

All in all a fantastic night and it was great to work again with the flawless Lavina Good (pictured) for the first time since the Commonwealth Games last March.

I will be in OSAKA, JAPAN on September 30 to commentate the K-1 Fields Final Eliminations for InDemand US Pay-Per-View, Viewer's Choice Pay-Per-View Canada, TVNZ and other selected broadcasters.

The final card has been announced with some awesome matches including: RAY SEFO vs STEFAN LEKO ... BADR HARI vs RUSLAN KARAEV ... PETER AERTS vs REMY BONJASKY and JEROME LeBANNER (fresh off filming the new Asterix movie) against HONG MANN CHOI.

The OFFICIAL TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT for the Osaka event - "The ring makes dreams come true" - can be viewed here

http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top741.htm

In addition to my regular verbal sparring partners Mark "The Hammer" Castagnini on Fox Sports and "Lightning" Mike Angove on TVNZ, I've had the pleasure of sharing the microphone with some colourful commentators over the last ten years...

ERNESTO HOOST - 4 x K-1 world champion (pictured below, commentating 2005 K-1 World Grand Prix for InDemand, Viewer's Choice, TVNZ and others)

ROYCE GRACIE - UFC champion, UFC Hall of Famer

AKEBONO - former Sumo Yokozuna

RANDY COUTURE - UFC champion

FRANKIE LILES - Former WBA super middleweight world boxing champion

MARK HUNT - Former K-1 world champion, # 1 PRIDE heavyweight contender

BARRY MICHAELS - Former IBF world boxing champion

RAY SEFO - K-1 super star

MIKE BERNARDO - K-1 star, former world heavyweight boxing champion

SAM GRECO - K-1 star, former WCW wrestler

STAN LONGINIDIS - former world heavyweight kickboxing champion

SOUL POWNCEBY - New Zealand Olympic boxer

WAYNE PARR - S-1 Muay Thai Champion

PAUL BRIGGS - former world Muay Thai champion, Number # 1 Boxing contender

JAN NORTJE - South African heavyweight boxing champion, K-1 fighter

Fans have posted some of their favourite fights on YOU TUBE... you'll find plenty of gems on there featuring my commentary including John Hopoate's pro boxing debut as seen on Main Event (Mundine vs Green undercard); Wayne Parr vs Magnum Sakai as seen on Fox Sports; Peter Graham vs Badr Hari (as seen on TVNZ); Mike Zambidis vs Pete Spratt (as seen on Fox Sports).