The K-1 World Grand Prix reaches the business end of the year in Osaka on Saturday.
Sixteen of the world's best K-1 fighters face off in one-off bouts for an invitation to contest the multi-million dollar World Grand Prix final in the Tokyo Dome in November.
Last years eight finalists compete against regional tournament winners from around the planet including the champions we saw win on TV2 from K-1 USA, K-1 Paris and the K-1 Las Vegas repercharge.
New Zealand's Ray Sefo is rated a good chance of making the finals again as he is facing Kaoklai Kaennorsing from Thailand.
The 80-kilo giant-killer KO'd US Champion Mighty Mo Saliga in last year's finals before running the tournament runner up Musashi extremely close.
But he faces an entirely different prospect in Sefo, who is regarded by many as the best fighter never to have won the Grand Prix final.
Sefo is known as a puncher but he is a much more versatile fighter than his highlight reel suggests. He can be a powerful kicker and defensively is the most skilled fighter in the league.
Kaoklai may be slippery but he will need more than evasion and sporadic kicks to defeat Sefo.
The other Kiwi connection appearing is our resident Belarusian, Alexei Ignashov, who matches current Grand Prix champion Remy Bonjasky.
Ignashov has suffered a horror 18 months plagued by injury and illness.
He has been back in Europe recovering from an operation on his damaged right knee and is hoping for a strong comeback performance against the aerial Bonjasky.
Other fighters on the card include:
Seven foot K-1 Paris conqueror Semy Schilt vs. Las Vegas victor Glaube Feitosa from Brazil.
French behemoth Jerome Le Banner will be looking to put away K-1 Hawaii champion Gary Gooderidge.
Ruslan Karaev who stormed through last months K-1 Las Vegas repercharge is hoping to do the same to tough new comer Rickard Norstrand from Sweden.
Norstrand was named as a late substitute when four-time K-1 WGP champion Ernesto Hoost who withdrew because of injury.
Three-time winner Peter Aerts will be looked to close the book on K-1 USA champ Mighty Mo who is coming off a KO victory against former WBC World Boxing king Francois Botha.
