Mike Zambidis Vs HINATA
After a very dynamic fight, the Japanese judges decided to give the result in favor of Hinata. The rising star of Japanese, after 4 improper kicks against the Greek Champion that led to time outs, with the tolerance of the judges and the referee, managed to get the win by decision.
Both fighters started the first round with low kicks that stopped on their tight defenses. After a balanced beginning, the second was characterized by 2 very strong and illegal hits "under the belt" of Iron Mike. Hinata, without any spirit of fair play, managed to kick Zambidis, while the referee had called for time out, and Zambidis was sitting on his knee from the last improper hit.
Mike's counter attack could not be accomplished, since for every big punch, Hinata's response was "hugging", trying to stop the rhythm of the fight and escape the difficult situations.
The 3rd round was more or less like the 2nd, since Hinata managed another illegal kick on Iron Mike's groin, which the judges counted as a point in favor of the Japanese fighter!
Under any other circumstances and in any other country, Hinata should gave lost the fight and get disqualified, because of the improper hits.
Mike Zambidis, after his arrival in Greece, stated: "For the first time, after 157 fights, I received 4 illegal low hits during the same game. My opponent, in any other case would have be penalized and disqualified. Those that will see the fight will definitely understand what I mean. Because of the powerful improper kicks I received, it was logical not to be able to reach the maximum of my performance".
It was a superfight for K-1, that the result was lost by decision, leaving a bitter taste of injustice to Mike Zambidis.
The focus now is shifted to the next big fight of the Greek Champion, on the 20th of November, in Melbourne, against Dzabar Askerov.