K-1 - Musashi, Hoost and Sapp Win in Saitama

The second bout pitted 33 year-old Dutch fighter Jerrel Venetiaan against Sergei Gur, 25, of Belarus. Gur knocked out three challengers to take the K-1 Marseilles this January. The underrated fighter's last K-1 defeat was way back in 2001, and came at the hands (and feet) of no less than Ernesto Hoost.

This was a good technical bout, both fighters light on their feet, guards high and tight, blocking well. In the second, Gur was the more animated fighter, showing fancy footwork and superior movement and positioning. Gur kept the initiative through the round, repeatedly tucking his head down and bulldogging in to throw punches against his taller opponent. Venetiaan woke up somewhat in the third, launching combinations which Gur answered by coming forward and throwing haymakers, most of which missed, some only just. Neither fighter did a lot of damage in this fight, and it might have been interesting to go to extra rounds. One judge did score the fight as a draw, but the others had Gur up by a single point each, handing the Belorussian a victory by the narrowest of margins.