» Fighter: Sergei Kharitonov

Former top ten PRIDE heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov (15-4) of Russia will make his professional kickboxing debut versus Romanian veteran Daniel Ghiţă at K-1 World GP 2009 Final in Yokohama December 5.

Read More About Former Top Ten Heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov to Make K-1 Kickboxing Debut…

“Mighty Mo” Siala Siliga’s (3-0) late replacement “Titan” Jimmy Ambriz (13-10-1) did not last long in his DREAM heavyweight debut versus Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked Sergei Kharitonov(16-3) Tuesday night in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

Kharitonov knocked down Ambriz almost immediately, snapping back Armbriz’s Arthur Fonzarelli ’do, and although he got back up, Ambriz was never really in the fight.

Even a yellow card to Kharitonov for holding the ropes didn’t help Ambriz.  Every hit staggered him, and Kharitonov was relentless in his assault, throwing straights, hooks, and knees.

Ambriz finally tapped from his hands and knees at 2:29 of round one as Kharitonov pummelled Armbriz’s ribs.

Two days after cracking Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Top Ten, Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) has been added to the DREAM.6 card in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 23 September versus “Mighty Mo” Siala Siliga (3-0).

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic’s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

“Mighty Mo” TKO’d “Warpath” Ruben Villareal (13-14-3) in Los Angeles in June 2007 to remain undefeated in MMA; but, after, returned to kickboxing for a 1-5 run in K-1.

Elusive Russian Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) breached Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Top Ten in September without having fought for a year.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic’s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches.

A spot opened for Kharitonov when “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank.

Read More About Fighters.com’s September Heavyweight Rankings…

Affliction Veep Tom Atencio wants “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) to fight “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) at Affliction’s October sequel if Couture can get a judicial nod to fight; but, if not, Emelianenko will be matched versus either “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (26-5) or “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5).

If Atencio can make Emelianenko v Couture, Barnett and Arlovski will fight for the right follow-up Couture versus Emelianenko, since Couture has intimated his intention to retire win, lose, or draw versus Emelianenko.

However, the more intriguing matchmaking question in the heavyweight division after Saturday night is what to do with “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) after their losses. They present two very different matchmaking problems.

“Big” Ben should get no rest after his gutsy brawl versus legit heavyweight stud Arlovski. Rothwell took everything Arlovski dished and dished back until the end.

Rothwell closed distance despite Arlovski’s superior footwork, rolled out of the “Pitbull’s” leg locks, and worked Arlovski over from the top position on the mat.

As soon as Rothwell is healthy, he should get another challenge just a little less monumental than Arlovski.

Read More About Monday Morning Matchmaker: Sylvia and Rothwell…