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

The Alexy Ignashov vs Carter Williams matchup was one of the card's most-anticipated bouts, especially for K-1 purists. Could Williams, the explosive K-1 USA 2003 Champion, stand up to knees and kicks of Alexy "The Scorpion" Ignashov, who had lost just once in K-1 since October 2002? "I'm fighting a damn good fighter and I'm nervous," said Williams at the pre-event press conference. "But I fight best when I'm nervous, so I know it's going to be a damn good fight."

Williams came out with a high kick that just missed Ignashov. Setting the pace in the first, Williams also connected smartly with a right uppercut, and followed it up with a right hook that stunned his opponent. Throughout, Ignashov was looking for the chance to get inside and, using his seven centimeter height advantage, bring his knee up on Williams. Soon after getting through with a good right straight punch early in the second, Ignashov found Williams coming in low. The Belorussian directed his opponent forward from the nape of the neck, and swiftly brought his left knee up to score a down. A badly shaken Williams valiantly beat the count, but Ignashov kept up the pressure, and shortly afterwards got the knee in again to down Williams for good.