Ernesto Hoost: M-1Global.com asks the K-1 legend if he would consider MMA

M-1Global.com recently took the opportunity to speak with a living legend in the world from K-1, Ernesto Hoost.  The 23-year fight veteran has a sterling record of 93 wins (62 via knockout), 20 losses, and one draw. Additionally, the 43-year old Hoost has held titles too numerous to list, but his most notable belts won include the K-1 World Grand Prix championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2002.

Despite Hoost’s remarkable kickboxing career, a great deal of the conversation was dedicated to mixed martial arts. A transcript of that conversation is available below.

M-1Global.com: How do you see the development of MMA worldwide and as a K-1 fighter, what do you think of MMA?

Ernesto Hoost: Well you have to understand that I’m a fan of martial arts in general, if it’s judo, karate or boxing, I like it all. So for me personally, it’s a good thing that a martial arts sport is growing and if MMA is growing like that I only can support it and be happy as a fan of fight sports.

M-1Global.com: In Holland, where you from, there is a big following of K-1, that’s why you are so known in Holland. Do you think MMA in Holland can be more popular than K-1?

Ernesto Hoost: In the near future I don’t think so. You have to understand that the K-1 started at the same point as the UFC. Now in Holland people are starting to get to know MMA and K-1 is known for a while now, so K-1 has a advantage that won’t be turned around in a short period of time. Another thing is that we are very good in K-1, so for Dutch viewers it’s interesting to see a lot of fighters competing that you can support. K-1 is shown in Holland on public television where for MMA, you have to go the internet. So it’s very difficult to compete with those facts. But in maybe ten years or so and people like to see new things, then MMA can be a serious threat to K-1 in Holland. But I have to state that both sports can go hand in hand and both have different entertainment elements so comparing them is useless.

M-1Global.com: But there are a lot of fighters that made the transition to MMA from K-1 and vice versa. What do you think about that?

Ernesto Hoost: It’s good that they are trying but you take such a transition lightly. Most of the guys that do a transition are mostly likely to lose. Some fighters can make the transition because they have a background or train in a sport. So a good K-1 fighter with a little ground game can decide a match on his feet and a MMA fighter with good standup can survive on his feet and get the fight to the ground. So a transition can be done but you have to be prepared and you have to have a good opponent.

M-1Global.com: Would you consider a step like this?

Ernesto Hoost: No, not me. I’m not interested in fighting an MMA match. This is because I have zero ground game. If I had a judo background before I started Muay Thai I could have consider it because ground will not be a strange territory. But for me I only fought Muay Thai so I stick to things where I’m good at.

M-1Global.com: You train a lot of MMA fighters, such as Fedor, Antoni Hardonk and  Gegard Mousasi. Could you be an MMA coach?

Ernesto Hoost: No, not a full MMA coach. Because when you have an MMA coach, he has to know the game from A-to-Z. My knowledge of the ground is minimal. The fact that I train MMA guys like Fedor, Hardonk and Mousasi — it’s all about standup training. Making combinations and techniques that can be good in the stand up part of the fight.

M-1Global.com: Do you think that the standup skills have to be adjusted to an MMA fighter or can you rely on your Muay Thai?

Ernesto Hoost: Of course you need to adjust the training. The gloves are different and the rules are different. The fact that there is a ground game involved you need to be aware for takedowns. So your upper body movement or the way you kick or punch have to be different. You can’t use the same angles as when you fight in a K-1 or a Muay Thai fight. So you have to keep all those things in consideration.

M-1Global.com: You’ve been retired for a couple of years now, what do you think of the level of the K-1 these days?

Ernesto Hoost: To be honest, I don’t think the level is that good… Of course there are some solid fighters but the new talents tend to follow behind. The developing of new fighters is not growing. But I have to say that the last Grand Prix was very entertaining and very good.  The other thing is that there not very good heavyweights in the K-1 that aren’t from Holland and K-1 is looking for fighters elsewhere so all the fighters that are from foreign countries will lose very quickly to the established names.

M-1Global.com: If you would fight one more time out of retirement, who would you fight?

Ernesto Hoost: Bob Sapp!!! 100%, I dare to say if they offer me the fight I will make an exception and fight right away. He’s the guy that I still feel a lot of frustration over because he beat me. I know I’m the better fighter but I didn’t have the chance to show that. I still feel that it’s my biggest stain on my career as a fighter. I’m willing to step in the ring to avenge my loss.

M-1Global.com: And if you had to pick an opponent for an MMA fight?

Ernesto Hoost: No, I’m not going to (hesitating)… but If I had to choose I will say Fedor, just because it would be an honor to fight such a legend.

photo courtesy of  http://www.postproduktie.nl