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Staff Reporter
Another former ssirum champion Kim Young-hyun will make his K-1 debut at the K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16 to be held in Seoul on Sept. 29.
FEG Inc., the parent company of the fighting organization, announced Tuesday that the 31-year-old South Korean giant, who stands 2.17 meters tall and weighs 156 kilograms, will face Japan's veteran fighter Ryushi Yanagisawa.
Initially, Kim was going to fight against American Sentoryu but due to an unexpected injury, the governing body had to turn to the Japanese fighter.
The large framed Ryushi, 191 meters tall and 100 kilograms, is a pro wrestling and kick boxing-based fighter.
Since making his debut in 1993, the 35-year-old has had 55 of the mixed martial arts bouts, compiling a record of 24-22 along with nine draws.
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He defeated defending K-1 champion Semmy Schilt by a submission and also had matches with Mirko Fillipovic, Emelianenko Fedor and the current Ultra Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Randy Couture.
The veteran was also involved in boxing and faced former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.
``I checked his career and profile after the match had been announced. As he has vast experience, I would like to take advantage of my first duel as a chance to learn,'' said Kim, who trains in Phuket, Thailand.
``I have prepared for it so much in Korea and Thailand. Whoever I face, I will demonstrate what I have learned. I will try to be rated a fighter of promise in my debut.''
Kim will arrive in Korea Saturday from Thailand.
Meanwhile, South Korea's winless grapplers Kim Kyoung-suk and Randy Kim will also step into the ring to seek their first career win.
Former ssirum Kim Kyoung-suk and former shot-putter Randy Kim meet Japan's rookie Kyoutaro Ranger and Korea's Park Yong-soo, respectively, in their opening matches of the Grand Prix.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
