December 11^th, 2024

K-Jee (Japan/K-1 Gym Fukuoka Team Beginning) will face Errol Zimmerman (Curaçao/Hemmers Gym) in the quarterfinals of the K-1 WORLD GP 2024 Openweight Championship Tournament on December 14^th at Tokyo National Yoyogi Studium 1^st Gymnasium.

K-Jee won the inaugural Krush Cruiserweight Championship Tournament in January 2019. He later seized the K-1 Cruiserweight title in November 2020 by defeating reigning champion Sina Karimian with a spectacular KO. In September 2023, he lost via KO to former Kyokushin World Champion Mikio Ueda. In March 2024, he suffered a decision loss to Mattia Faraoni in Italy. In October 2024, at the K-1 WORLD GP 2024 Openweight Asian Qualifiers, K-Jee earned his place to the final by delivering a stunning KO via high kick against legendary Jérôme Le Banner.

Zimmerman, a kickboxing legend from Curaçao, known as the ‘Bonecrusher’ for breaking opponents’ bones, has been competing since the old K-1 era. He made his return to K-1 after 14 years at K-1 FIGHTING NETWORK ROMANIA 2024 in June 2024, Zimmerman demonstrated his power by knocking out Greece’s Michail Karamousketas in the first round. He continued his success in October’s Asia Qualifiers, defeating Shota Yamaguchi via KO to secure his place in the main tournament.

K-Jee’s Pre-Fight Interview

—You seem to be training with Shota Yamaguchi.

“Yes, I’ve been traveling from Fukuoka to Osaka to train together. Sharing information has made it a good practice.”

—In the Asia Qualifiers, you knocked out legend Jérôme Le Banner with a right high kick. It was brief, but how do you reflect on it?

“It ended sooner than I expected.”

—Did you anticipate a longer fight?

“The plan was to hurt him with low kicks. I aimed to connect low kicks following punch combinations, but as he was lower than expected, I switched to a high kick, which landed.”

—So, it landed unexpectedly (laugh).

“I wanted to target his back leg with low kicks when he countered, but since he got lower than anticipated, I switched to a high kick. Earlier, I had landed a crescent kick to the body, so he might have lowered his guard, thinking it was a middle kick.”

—With Le Banner’s experience, one might think he’d anticipate a body-to-high kick combination.

“Perhaps ten years ago, he would have countered. That’s likely the difference now,he might have been more aggressive back then.”

—Nonetheless, Le Banner has been fighting consistently. It’s hard to believe he’d decline suddenly.

“I can’t speak for his overseas matches, but based on his recent fight in Kumamoto, I had some doubts about his level.”

—While Le Banner’s reactions may have slowed, your performance seemed particularly sharp.

“I approached the fight thinking that losing would mean the end of my career. That determination might have made a difference.”

—After the match, you seemed disappointed that the news focused more on Le Banner’s loss than your victory.

“Well, that’s how it is. I just focus on giving my all in the next fight.”

—Zimmerman has stated he’s avenging Le Banner.

“I felt lucky. He’s a big name, and I’d rather face him than someone like Liu Ce in the first round, who could drain my stamina.”

—What is your impression of Zimmerman’s fight against Yamaguchi?

“I think he has declined. He used to have more explosiveness and speed. However, he improved as the rounds progressed, so I’ll prepare for an even better version of him. His social media shows he’s in good shape, so I can’t be complacent. He often uses right-sided combinations, so I’m preparing for that.”

—Did Yamaguchi’s advice help you find a strategy?

“I’m still thinking about it. Our fighting styles are different, so I’ll keep thinking it over until the fight.”

—With Liu withdrawing due to injury, Feng Rui will face Mattia Faraoni, whom you fought in Italy.

“I wanted to fight Faraoni. His style is cheap.”

—Cheap? Faraoni has fought UFC champion Alex Pereira in Brazil and recently won with a flying spinning back kick.

“He’s not that impressive. When I fought him, the rules were different, and I only lost by hometown decision. Under K-1 rules, I’d definitely win. That spinning back kick landed because he was already affected by low kicks, it was a fluke.”

—So, you think he uses evasive spinning techniques.

“Exactly! He’s cheap. He only wins in Italy with hometown decisions.”

—You seem to have a grudge.

“I really wanted to fight him! He avoided a fair fight back then, but I’d definitely win now.”

—If you face him, it would be in the finals.

“He’ll probably lose in the first round. He’s not strong. Yet in Italy, girls swoon over him, which annoys me.”

—He’s quite the ladies’ man.

“Not at all! He just acts like a star without backing it up. He avoids real fights and hides behind rules to win. It’s infuriating.”

—In the semifinals, you’ll face the winner between Machado and Brudenell. What’s your prediction?

“I think ‘Blue-something’ will win (laugh).”

—’Blue-something’? (laugh)

“He seems stronger than Machado.”

—Brudenell won the qualifiers with all KOs.

“That’s concerning; he seems tough. Considering I’ll be worn out from the Zimmerman fight, it’s something to think about.”

—On a different note, in the Asia Qualifiers, Sina Karimian claimed Claudio Istrate’s punches to the back of his head were fouls. What are your thoughts?

“I felt like saying, ‘What are you doing?’ I don’t think he was really hurt, and he’s committed fouls himself. Maybe he shouldn’t come to K-1 if that’s his approach. It’s not entertaining for the audience or fair to his opponents if he makes a fuss over such things. There’s no demand for that.”

—As someone who fought him, are you disappointed?

“It’s disappointing, but he probably thought he’d lose and had no other option. If I thought I was going to lose, I’d still fight bravely and accept defeat. I don’t want to live dishonorably. If that’s the case, there’s no point in stepping into the ring.”

—You can’t tolerate evasive behavior.

” Isn’t this a sport where you have to fight with determination and not run away? If you can’t do that, you don’t belong in the ring. Nobody likes pain or losing, but we fight despite that. I don’t respect fighters who can’t compete honorably.”

—You have a passionate spirit. Are you approaching this WORLD GP Openweight Tournament with that resolve?

“Of course. I’ll aim to finish every fight from the first round. I’ll do that three times. I’m not skilled at strategizing over three rounds; I just go for the finish from the start.”

—With 19 KOs in 22 wins, it’s clear you live by ‘knockout or be knocked out.’

“That’s all I can do. I’ll get 3 knockouts!”