Image
Bruce Willis
LAS VEGAS - The euphoria of another great Mayhem at the Mirage card, which some are calling the finest staged in K-1 USA's eight-year history, was dampened by the stunning defection of its brightest star-Mighty Mo Siligia.

The "Throwin' Samoan," the man with the "Right Hand of God," the fighter who shook Japan from its very foundation with his knockdown of Remy Bonjasky, apparently has chosen to ignore his contractual obligations with K-1 and join the professional boxing ranks. Mo was expected to make his professional debut against Lamar Stephens at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Losing Mo is a blow of, well, Mighty Mo proportions and will be felt all the way to Tokyo. The sweeping right hook he delivered to K-1's kisser, like most of his punches, came from left field and knocked Executive Producer Scott Coker for a loop. Coker wasn't talking-neither was Mo's K-1 manager/trainer Eddy Millis-but Mo's refusal to honor his contract was met with equal parts sadness and anger.

Mighty Mo, a likeable 29-year-old with rudimentary K-1 skills, was considered the heir apparent to Bob Sapp, a former NFL player who captured the hearts of fight fans around the world with his unbridled ferocity in the ring. Never mind that Mo lost a Grand Prix match last year to a 177-pound lightweight or that his hunger for the buffet line superseded his desire to block a low kick. He was the poster child for a new breed of American K-1 fighter and Coker planned on riding him all the way to the winner's circle.

STARS ON PARADE: Among the notables at Mayhem at Mirage II were actor Bruce Willis, Seattle Supersonics All-Star guard Ray Allen, UFC great Tito Ortiz and WWE fave Brock Lesnar, who climbed into the ring, grabbed the microphone from Michael Buffer and suggested a K-1 date might be in his future. That's all we need: another thick-necked, non-martial-arts-trained former something else that will skip out on his contract when something better comes along. Just where is Mike Tyson's contract anyway?
Image
Brock Lesnar

DEJA VU? Three-time Grand Prix champion Peter Aerts just happened to be vacationing with his family in Las Vegas and watched the action with his wife and two children from the front row. On the card was K-1 veteran Stefan Leko, who lost a "Superfights" decision to 2005 Grand Prix Eliminations champion Ruslan Karaev. Aerts, you might remember, was on the receiving end of the greatest knockout in K-1 history, a mammoth Leko right hand that lifted Aerts off the canvas and deposited him 3 feet from takeoff point. The knockout punch came August 2001 in the same arena.

SMART MOVE: From the if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em department comes news that Jeff "Duke" Roufus is planning on bringing four-time Grand Prix champion Ernesto Hoost over for an American seminar tour in 2007. Roufus, who along with protege Patrick Barry spent a month training in Holland, the world's muay Thai training Mecca, hopes the tour will open the door for seminar tours with other K-1 stars.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: How Danny Steele keeps passing pre-fight physicals is anyone's guess. His CAT scan readouts have to resemble a Funky Winkerbean smile. Just how much punishment can a fighter take before someone has to say "enough?"... When you're a 7-foot-2, 355-pound Korean, is drawing more attention to you the wisest option? Korean K-1 Champion Hong-Man Choi, who lists his style as Korean Folk Wrestling, showed up with his hair dyed blond. I can only imagine how Lerch would have responded... Imani Lee took a step backward when he showed up 30 pounds overweight. He won his bout but looked sluggish and winded. A bit player named John James smacked him up side the head on numerous occasions but lacked the size and strength to hurt the bulkier Lee. Which begs the question: These guys are given the chance of a lifetime, so how can they justify eating themselves out of a shot at a million bucks? LaTasha Marzolla can't fight, but when you're a 26-year-old former Playboy centerfold with the best rap intro around, there will always be a place for you on every K-1 card.