The Breakdown: K-1 ‘Premium 2008 Dynamite’

Co-Main Event
Joachim Hansen (19-7-1) vs. Gesias Cavalcante (14-2-1)

Power Ratings
Hansen
Striking : 3.0
Grappling : 4.0
Submissions : 3.0
Experience : 4.0
Total : 3.5

Cavalcante
Striking : 3.5
Grappling : 4.0
Submissions : 3.5
Experience : 2.5
Total : 3.4

Analysis: In a non-title affair, reigning Dream tournament winner and lightweight champion Hansen will take on two-time K-1 Hero’s grand prix winner Cavalcante. The two faced each other before in July 2004, when Hansen beat an inexperienced Cavalcante by majority decision inside the Shooto organization.

The Norwegian “Hellboy” has been one of the Cinderella stories of 2008, as he has bounced back from a three-year slump of mediocrity. Capped off with an emphatic knockout of Japanese standout Shinya Aoki, the 29-year-old Hansen won the Dream lightweight grand prix as an alternate. His war against finalist Eddie Alvarez in the quarter-finals emerged as one of the year’s best fights.

Like Hansen, American Top Team’s Cavalcante was eliminated from the 155-pound grand prix in the quarter-final round. His exit from the tournament was not without controversy, however, as Aoki needed a second attempt -- their first match ended in a no contest -- to find the right gameplan against the versatile Brazilian. Cavalcante’s year was cut short after he suffered a torn knee ligament in early May.


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Prediction: The outcome of this bout will depend on how well Cavalcante has recuperated from his injury and how much ring rust he has put on in the past eight months. The “JZ” the MMA world saw in summer of 2007 would be the favorite to win against Hansen. With Cavalcante’s health and shape uncertain, expect Hansen to grind out another victory on the judges’ scorecards.