Ruslan Karaev
Ruslan Saweljewitsch Karajew (Russian Руслан Савельевич Караев, Ossetian Руслан Хъараты; born May 19, 1983 in Ordzhonikidze, North Ossetia -Alania, Russia) is a professional North Ossetian kickboxer. He is the winner of K -1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas and K -1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei. He currently lives in Tokyo, Japan.
K-1 career
On August 13, 2005 Karajew made his K-1 debut at K -1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas than virtually unknown fighter. In the quarterfinals Karajew met Freddy Kemayo from France and defeated them in the first round ko He met Kemayo with a spinning back kick in the stomach area. The semi-final played Karajew against the Muay Thai fighter Azem Maksutaj from Kosovo, which later entered as one of the most spectacular battles in K- 1 history. He rose once more against the American Scott Lighty in the final, which he then won on points by a unanimous decision of the jury. Thus Karajew emerged as the tournament winner.
On 23 September 2005 Karajew joined the K -1 World Grand Prix Final Elimination at the Osaka Dome. His opponent this time was the Swede Rickard north beach, which stepped in for Ernesto Hoost, who had to adapt because of a leg injury. Karajew again won on points by a unanimous decision of the jury and thus qualified for the first time for the World Grand Prix Final 2005.
At the World Grand Prix Final 2005 on November 19 at the Tokyo Dome was Karajews quarterfinal opponent Musashi (武 蔵) from Japan. He was defeated in the first round after extra - point decision of the Jury.
In 2006 Karajew again reached the final after he could knock Badr Hari from Morocco. On December 2, 2006 at the K -1 World GP 2006 finals but he himself was knocked out by Brazilian faith Feitosa in round one. Feitosa met Karajew with his dreaded Brazilian high kick which Karajew brought enormous reeling. Then the referee ended the fight.
In 2007 Karajew played only two matches and could not qualify for the World Grand Prix 2007. The first battle took place in Yokohama on March 4. It was the rematch against Badr Hari, who is also regarded as one of the most spectacular battles of the K -1. Karajew it went all-in in the 2nd round The second fight was on 23 June in Amsterdam where Karajew against Dutchman Melvin Manhoef after only 31 seconds hard ko went. Karajew missed the upcoming fight against Frenchman Jérôme Le Banner on 29 September 2007 at the Final Elimiations in Seoul, South Korea, due to a traffic accident, he suffered days before the fight.
After almost a year off, in which he took care of his sick mother, Karajew returned on 13 July 2008 an impressive return to the K-1 stage. He won the K -1 World Grand Prix in Taipei. First Karajew Tatsufumi Tomihira beat from Japan by ko, then the Korean giant Young Hyun Kim by ko and in the finals he knocked out his fellow countryman Alexander Pitschkunow. Thus Karajew qualified for the K-1 Final Elimination 2008. At the K -1 World GP 2008 Final Elimination is Karajew secured a place in the K-1 Final 2008 by the German mixed martial arts fighter Khalid Arrab in round two ausknockte.
On December 6, the K -1 World GP Final 2008 in Yokohama Karajew came back not go beyond the quarter-finals. He defeated Gokhan Saki from Turkey to points by unanimous decision of the jury.
Karajew defeated 26 September 2009 the Japanese Keijiro Maeda at the K -1 World GP 2009 Final 16 in Seoul, South Korea and thus stood in the K- 1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final.
In the K -1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final he met in the first fight of the night on his rival Badr Hari. Karajew and Hari fought an open slugfest. Karajew lost the fight after just 38 seconds when he was hit by a sharp blow of Hari.