Enfusion 2011, ‘Quest for Honor’
The finals of Enfusion 'Quest of Honor' 95 kg will be held in prague on december 30.
Introduction:
Already anticipation and excitement is reaching fever pitch as word begins to spread about series two of ‘Enfusion’ (the brilliant new fight based reality television show) which only last week completed filming, on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand.
Last year saw K1 Max star and international fans favourite, Gago Drago charge his way through the first round and quarter final bouts in Thailand, booking his place in the Grand Final, 4-Man tournament.
It was some five months and six thousand miles later in Portugal’s capital city Lisbon, where after another two solid performances Drago was crowned the first ever ‘Enfusion’ Champion.
This year however, ‘Enfusion’ has set its sights on the often overlooked, but always explosive 95kg division and has drafted in eighteen fighters from all corners of the globe to go head to head in a series of challenges, tests and eliminations until only four contestants remain.
A $30,000 cash prize at stake ensures these four remaining contestants will have everything to fight for when they step through the ropes in a 4-Man Elimination Tournament in Europe later this year.
With the raw power that comes from heavyweight fighters, this is one tournament not to be missed and is sure to be all action with knockouts from the very start.
Thailand Report:
As clichéd as this may sound, drama really began to unfold immediately both in-front of and behind the cameras.
After the initial relief that all eighteen fighters and four team captains arrived safe and well at the world famous ‘Superpro Samui’ martial arts facility, the entire cast were given the following day off to acclimatise to the heat, new time zone etc.
Immediately, certain personalities amongst the fighters gravitated towards each other, breaking the group into much smaller two’s, three’s and four’s...some fellow countrymen, some new room-mates, some former stable-mates and even some former opponents.
Within a day however, these new friendships were to be torn apart again as the team captains took part in their first challenge, the winner being granted the right to select the first member of her team and so on until each captain had a team of four.
The first team captains challenge, a soccer penalty shootout, the off camp location...an Elephant Park!
This hilarious challenge, for the team captains to each have a penalty shootout against a five tonne elephant also served as a great ‘ice breaker’, bringing some much needed laughter to the entire cast.
Swedish team captain, Hanna Mjoberg stormed to early success, stopping both shots from the elephant and even chipping the beast when it was her turn to shoot against the elephant standing in goal.
As a result of this win, she was awarded first choice and so the teams were formed as follows:
White Team
Cap Hanna Mjoberg (Sweden)
F1 Ramazan Ramazanov (Russia)
F2 Frank Munoz (Spain)
F3 Arnold Oborotov (United Kingdom)
F4 Thiago Martina (Curacao)
Red Team
Cap Julie Kitchen (United Kingdom)
F1 Wendell Roche (Netherlands)
F2 Narcis Omeragic (Bosnia and Herzigovina)
F3 David Radeff (France)
F4 Martin Jahn (Germany)
Yellow Team
Cap Maria Bastasin (Canada)
F1 Ondrej Hutnik (Czech Republic)
F2 Fatih Cam (Turkey)
F3 Miika Kinnunen (Finland)
F4 Marc Vlieger (Belgium)
Black Team
Cap Aleide Lawant (Netherlands)
F1 Steve McKinnon (Australia)
F2 Mohamed Boubkari (Morocco)
F3 Hak Paparyan (Armenia)
F4 Bruno Lurette (Canada)
Reserve Fighters: Revanho Blokland (Surinam), James Smith (USA)
An interesting observation from inside the camp is just how fickle new friendships can be. Every fighter now instinctively gravitating toward their new team mates, knowing that they will only fight each other should they both reach the grand final in Europe later this year. For the moment, it’s safe only to be friends with your team mates.
Room-mates are now enemies and the atmosphere within the ‘Superpro Camp’ has changed for good as the fighters wake up to the fact that this is no holiday and from here on, it’s strictly business.
Day 3, another off camp location. This time perched high on a hill so steep, it’s accessible only by 4x4 vehicle. Koh Samui’s unspoiled natural beauty spot ‘Jungle Club’.
Today’s first challenge is for team captains only. The winning Captain will decide which other team hers will go head to head with in the first round of live fights next week.
The challenge itself is a test of stamina, endurance and desire…a one kilometre sprint, up a steep incline of no less than forty five degrees. A fast paced and even start saw Sweden’s Hanna Mjoberg take an early lead after the first hundred meters. This initial burst of effort however, was to lead to an early demise as she was soon passed by her three competitors. It was England’s Julie Kitchen who then took and would not surrender the lead, being constantly pushed on by Holland’s Aleide Lawant, the two captains then opened a large margin on Canada’s Maria Bastasin and the Swede who by now had fallen back into last place.
The first real test of conditioning and it is England’s multi world champion, Julie Kitchen who charges into a comfortable victory and ensures that her presence is known.
Task champion Julie has earned the right to select which other team hers will face in the first round of live fights next week. By making the decision personally, she would also be selecting which team captain she will face in the grand final event this autumn (back in Europe). Having now seen the three other team captains in training, this would of course give herself a definite advantage.
Instead however, a selfless and humble champion Julie, leaves it to her team to decide who they would prefer to face, a gesture which is certain to have earned her the respect and trust of her team...they choose to face Yellow team.
Therefore White team will face Black team!
Back to today and the second challenge. This time it was a team challenge and the first opportunity to bond and compete together.
Since Julie’s red team had opted to face Maria’s yellow team, they would now face off in a volleyball challenge. The winning team would then be allowed to do the match making...who would face who.
After fifteen minutes of playing, once again it was Julie’s red team who were victorious and the Red v Yellow matches are as follows:
RED YELLOW
Martin Jahn (Germany) v Marc de Vlieger (Belgium)
Narcis Omeragic (Bosnia Herz’) v Miika Kinnunen (Finland)
Wendell Roche (Holland) v Ondrej Hutnik (Chech Republic)
David Radeff (France) v Fatih Cam (Turkey)
Interesting observation is that Holland’s seasoned fighter and tournament motor-mouth Wendell Roche chose to fight former training partner, Ondrej Hutnik. Wendell has made clear that he has the psychological advantage over his opponent, telling anyone who will listen that he “used to kic his ass” in sparring.
Next up was the same volleyball challenge between White team and Black team. After the fifteen minute match, it was Aleide Lawant’s Black team that were victorious and so were able to match make against their White team opponents.
The Black v White matches are as follows:
Steve McKinnon (Australia) v Ramazan Ramazanov (Russia)
Hak Paparyan (Armenia) v Frank Munoz (Spain)
Bruno Lurette (Canada) v Thiago Martina (Curacao)
Mohammed Boubkari (Morocco) v Arnold Oborotov (England)
The McKinnon v Ramazanov match is a big talking point, arguably the two strongest contestants in the tournament facing each other in the first round. Australia’s McKinnon immediately moved to face Ramazanov despite having previously lost to him by knock out.
McKinnon when questioned about this bold move said
“I was hoping to face Ramazanov in the final but none of the other guys in my team fancied it. I still owe him from the last time. It’s the rematch I’ve been dying for”
For Australia’s Steve McKinnon it seems that revenge is a dish best served… immediately.
Every day now until fight night, each competing pair will be taking part in a challenge, some skill, some strength and some endurance. The winners of these tasks will be given luxury accommodation and a banquet fit for a King, while the losers will share very primitive accommodation (without air conditioning) and will be given a very basic meal of rice, water and perhaps some chicken prior to fight night.
The incentive to win is huge.
There have already been some confrontations between the competitors. Turkey’s Fatih Cam and opposing team captain, Holland’s Aleide Lawant have exchanged harsh words.
Spain’s Frank Munoz and Armenia’s Hak Parparyan had to be separated by a very nervous production crew as they came to real blows in training, this later lead to an incident between Frank Munoz and Hak’s best friend, Fatih Cam.
With weeks still left to shoot, it is certain that these exchanges are bound to further develop.
On the eve of first round fight night, Australia’s Steve McKinnon is experiencing breathing difficulties, extreme fatigue and is rushed to hospital. He later returns to the camp and is adamant that he will still face Ramazanov the following evening. Team captain Aleide Lawant is concerned and advises reserve fighter, Surinam’s Rivanho Blokland to be ready should Steve not make a full recovery.
The next morning, Steve begins very light training and again is nowhere near full strength. Still desperate to fight, Aleide allows him until six pm to rest and then convince her that his condition is good enough to fight. Shortly after the agreed time, Aleida has no option but to withdraw one of her strongest team members and insert a replacement to face Ramazanov.
Blokland, disappointed not to have been selected in the first place is delighted to be given a lifeline and in just three hours time, will step through the ropes to face the feared Russian.
The Phetch Buncha stadium begins to fill, both with tourists eager to support their fellow countrymen and with local Thai’s who are rarely able to enjoy heavyweight fighting.
The event has been well promoted and there is a real buzz on the island about ‘Enfusion’. By nine pm, the stadium is packed full. Locals and staff comment that “they have never seen Phetch Buncha so busy” and by the time the first fight begins, the crowd have been whipped into an excited frenzy.
The thermometer inside the stadium peaks at just under 50 degrees. The noise of the crowd is deafening, the smell of boxing oil is overwhelming. The ring lights come up, the outer lights go down, referee Joop Ubeda enters the ring, Parparya is introduced, then Munoz, the crowd fall silent...Ding Ding...Round One!
Buckle up folks, this is sure to be a bumpy ride!
