Well folks, it's that time of the year again, not quite Christmas, but even better, The K-1 Grand Prix 2003. When I first wrote this article there were different cards, but leave it to master Ishii to screw up my poetic MA flow.

It looks like a full-blown field of competitors. Bob "The Friendly Beast" Sapp will be taking on the K-1 Las Vegas champion "Flying Dutchman" Remy Bonjasky. Francisco Filho is back on the scene facing a very tough German Stefan "Blitz" Leko, who is still in his prime and dangerous. Four time champion Ernesto Hoost will be facing the "nut sack striker" Cyril Abidi, who was very quickly disqualified after seriously damaging the Hoost "family jewels." Cyril is being spared the pain and instead a man named Graham is negotiating to take on Ernesto.

Another exciting match up is the debut of the "White Buffalo" Francios Botha whom you might remember being decimated by yours truly, Mr. Mike Tyson once upon a time. He is being fed to the French Lion Jerome "Geronimo" LeBannner, who is said to have a special taste for white buffalo meat tar-tar. Okay, so here is were Cyril steps in, he is replacing his "camarade" Jerome in this one because Jerome’s rehabilitated elbow didn't fool mother nature after all. I wonder if Cyril will be able to concentrate on Botha, knowing that "Geronimo" is lurking about and his girl is in the audience.

Probably the most dangerous young man in the tournament (my main man's pick) will be the "Scorpion" Alexey Ignashov who is taking on the K-1 torchbearer Mike Bernardo. If Bernardo can get through this match it will have to be a KO punch, if not Ignashov will either chop Mike down or strike at the head with a high kick.

This will be a true test for both fighters. This could be the dawning of a new era, either the new school will take over, or the old dogs will run the classroom for another school year.

The thing that stands out the most is that Peter Aerts has no opponent yet, and Mirko Cro-Cop is nowhere to be found, perhaps because he is fighting Mexican Greco Roman Wrestling Champion Dos Caras Jr. So maybe if Cro-Cop gets the golden egg cracked quickly, could he become Peters dancing partner? I personally don't think Cro-Cop can take the K-1 Grand Prix tournament, he is a one hit wonder in MMA, but he can't seem to get it together in his own roots. Also MIA is the least convincing K-1 champion Mark Hunt. I say this because he was defeated by Ray Sefo in the 2001 GP tournament, but was allowed to go on since Sefo could not. It's kind of like when that cop Steve Jennum, an alternate, won the UFC that year that Royce couldn't go on after having fought Kimo. A bit of a fluke I'd say, although Hunt was much more worthy, and fought the entire tournament instead of just stepping in at the last minute. Hunt has not done much since, and has lost a few times since. The latest word is that Mark Hunt has a left knee injury and will be out for six months. Cro-Cop is getting ready for his shot at the Pride Championship against Fedor Emilianenko.

Speaking of Sefo, this pool sharking New Zealander will be taking on the U.S. K-1 hopeful Carter Williams. Carter will have to truly prove himself after his very shaky victory over Dewey Cooper, and the controversial win over veteran "Black Sniper" Michael McDonald, who I believe is a higher caliber warrior. Maybe Michael will get the wild card against Peter Aerts, who is looking kinda lonely and looking for respect. After all he has been Grand Prix Champion on Three occasions already. Maybe Master Ishii has another trick up his sleeve and will send in Mike Tyson for a warm up fight against another former champ?

Needless to say, this upcoming tournament will have at least one surprise for certain, there is a man missing. Perhaps it will be Japans own Musashi? The missing man is, an invisible man named Veneetian, but Peter is not holding his breath. Or maybe it will be my favorite still, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, making his K-1 debut. I guess what I'm really trying to say by this last comment is that I would like to see Cro-Cop fight Nogueira, any rules. "Marquee De Queensberry?"