Mixfight exclusief: interview met Superkombat promotor Eduard Irimia
In Roemenie valt op dit moment de Superkombat op door het organiseren van leuke events die live op Eurosport worden vertoont. Verschillende Nederlandse toppers, waaronder Ismael Londt hebben acte de presance gegeven en vorige week donderdag waren ook Jantje Siersman, Leon Miedema en "Ibbo" live te zien in Boedapest. Superkombat is ambitieus en wil in de nabije komst sterk gaan groeien. Mixfight.nl contacte Superkombat promotor Eduard Irimia voor een aantal vragen over zijn concept;
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Story: Harmen Bakker
HB: Were is Superkombat at this moment?
EI: “I was at the beginning an boxing promoter since 1997, when I promote the first professional event in Romania, and in short time I was the leading promoter on national Tv Protv and continued until 2003 when it was the peak of my carrier. As I was promoting live on Eurosport . In 2003, by curiosity I put a few kickboxing matches in the undercard and I was surprised to see the reaction of the public for this kind of event. After that I proposed a pilot named Local Kombat who became in rating as important as football in Romania in less then an year. Because of that, all the matchmakers and promoters put their eyes on Romania, and started to work closer with my promotion. In 2007 I organized the first official K-1 World Grand Prix in Romania when Brecht Wallis was the winner and because of the good TV production the K-1 cooperation was happy and gave me other chances to work whit them”.
“In 2008, together with matchmakers and promoters from Europe, we established K-1 Collision, as the European circuit of the K-1, and I was the president for 2 years where we co-promoted events in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia , Bosnia and Romania. In 2010 I organized the last ever K-1 WGP in Europe with was broadcasted worldwide from Bucharest and I attracted the attention on different continents again, because of the good tv production and matchmaking”.
“At this moment K-1 looked weaker and weaker and as I worked hard for this events I realized that this was the moment to invest in my own international brand.On the media I was presented as the first Forbes cover in the world, promoting kickboxing and that helped me to guarantee the intention of an serious project for my partners and investors.From 2011 I started the concept Superkombat what until now succeed to attract the attention, as the only product Live fighting event on Eurosport, and also some of the biggest names fought already inside my ring. After 4 World Grand Prix of Superkombat we have growing ratings on tv , good reaction from the local public as we approached not only to expert in martial arts. We are trying to have mainstream, like in Romania creating local heroes”.
“The last step of 2011 is the final from Frankfurt - Darmstadt on 19 november where the four finalists Ismael Londt (SLAMM!! Suriname), Erhan Deniz (Turkey), Sergey Lascenko (Ukraine) and Pavel Zuravliov (Russia) will fight for the big price, including an Mitsubishi Lancer Evo “Superkombat edition”. In the same card the Superkombat will have heroes as Ruslan Karaev, the Stoica brothers, Morosanu, Albert Krauss, Benjamin Adegbuyi. Is very interesting that during the WGP qualification the K-1 veterans did not have any chance against the new blood, fighters as Leko, Mighty Mo and Poturak all lost.
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HB: The last show, which was seen live on Eurosport was another great show with some very good fighters. How did you experience the show yourself?
EI: “The last event was welcomed by the viewers as it was broadcasted simultaneously on three tv station in Romania and Europe, Eurosport, Sport.ro and Protv. Beside the qualification and super fights we got also an entertaining fight between Bob Sapp and Alexandru Lungu (an Pride veteran) I was risking a little bit as I expected not too much from Sapp, but at least it was a real KO and not a fake one !!!! I believe in the combination of sport with entertainment as k-1 did before with fights such as Akebono versus Sapp etc. But not more than 1 fight per event like that”.
HB: What are your plans for Superkombat in 2012?
EI: “For 2012 we are planning to become the product broadcasted in all continents. We reached the target of 83 countries, live in 4 continents. At this moment we do not have USA and Japan on TV, but for sure that will happen soon. Also we are trying to save the most of the best K-1 fighters available on the planet to keep them on stand up rules and to not migrate on MMA. For that I will have a pilot next year where I will bring also many fighters from MMA on stand up rules.
HB: What do you think of the Dutch thaiboxing scene?
EI: “At this moment the Dutch scene is the most professional one if I look at the fighters, trainers and school. Of course I work very close with all the specialists on the market, this year the most active for Superkombat were Milton Felter of Slamm!! , Denis Krauweel and also Simon Rutz, who helped me with providing good fighters. Beside Superkombat on 19 november I will promote live on Europort Fight club 17 november, exactly 2 days before the final. There will be an heavyweight tournament with some of the best names in Europe available, plus 1 superfight with K-1 fighter. I can name Hesdy Gerges in the superfight, Rico Verhoeven , Mourad Bouzidi,Bradock Silva, Roman Kleibl , Daniel Sam, Sebastien Van Thielen in the tournament. This concept of Fight club wil be broadcasted live and it will be a co-production between myself (Eduard Irimia Promotion) and Eurosport. We will be broadcasting exclusively on Eurosport at 20.00 cet on Thursday 17 november.
HB: Thanks you form the interview Mr. Irimia
EI: “Everyone, stay tuned on Eduard Irimia Promotions and Eurosport. Exclusively live fighting events”!
