Why would a great fighter go into K-1 when MMA or Boxing appear to be better options?

Question

If you look at Anderson Silva or Fedor those guys could have been top dogs in K-1 but why would they even try when they could have more fame and fortune in boxing or MMA?

Kickboxing probably had much more appeal before MMA grew up. People talk about MMA killing boxing but the truth is it is really killing any hope of kickboxing ever becoming a big sport.

Is kickboxing now officially a sport for those who can't cut it in boxing or MMA?

Answer 1

k-1 is not big in the U.S. don't be fooled.

the "game" called soccer that people try to pass off as a sport is not popular in the U.S. but for some unfathomable reason is popular all over the world.

(i find any "sport" questionable when the fans are tougher than the players, soccer hooligans are cool, soccer players are not).

Answer 2

Europe and Asia have a great Kickboxing followng and the fighters in K-1 are paid well.  I think there are many great kickboxers outside of K-1 as well, in fact theres another good question, who are the best Kickboxers outside of K-1because there are many.

Answer 3

The truth is that kickboxing is big, just not in the U.S.

Answer 4

Kickboxing is actually gaining momentum because of MMA.  It used to be virtually impossible to find K-1 fights or any other kickboxing on TV.  Now the World Combat League is drawing huge crowds and is on TV every week.  It's fast paced, lots of KO's and easy for average viewers to understand - remember grappling confuses and bores some less educated viewers.  KO's are easy to understand.

A lot of MMA fighters that are coming up in the ranks will fight kickboxing tourneys, jiu jitsu tourneys, or MMA events (Jeremy Horn claimed he was in dozens of fights per year before he was in UFC.) Kickboxing is not where a MMA fighters career goes to die. It can be a paycheck and some exposure for someone who is coming up.

  

MMA is hot right now and that's where the money is.  But the same money trickles down to other venues.