Lengthy article on the K-1 website handicapping the field at the World GP Final tourney. Their verdict? Peter Aerts is the man to beat:

In the book “Principles and Practice of Sports Management,” University of Massachusetts Professor Lisa P. Masteralexis estimates the career of a professional athlete at less than five years. Apparently, Dutch kickboxer Peter Aerts has not read that book.

Aerts, 38, has participated in each and every K-1 World Grand Prix Final in a glorious career spanning the sport’s 16 year history. The “Dutch Lumberjack” has taken the crown three times, and in Yokohama on December 6, will endeavor to do it again. Incredibly, Aerts is not coming into the grueling eight-man elimination tournament as a nostalgic icon, but as the clear favorite — a position he cemented by eliminating 2007 World GP Champion Semmy Schilt at the September 27 Final-16 tournament in Seoul.

The K-1 World GP Final is the world’s most prestigious fightsport event. Culminating 12 months of qualifying and regional elimination tournaments, it kicks off with the year’s top eight fighters clashing in quarterfinal bouts. Winners there advance to the semis, from which a pair of warriors emerge for the final showdown, the victor earning the K-1 World GP Championship.

In advance of the event — which will be broadcast live on five continents — we circumnavigated the globe to get the predictions of international sportswriters and K-1 experts.

The first quarterfinal matchup pits Aerts against K-1 Heavyweight Champion Badr Hari. Many believe Aerts’ toughest challenge of the night will be getting past the 23 year-old Moroccan dynamo.

“The first match will be crucial for the tournament, says Jeroen Winters of Holland’s Mat Magazine. “But the ‘Old Master’ Aerts is in great shape and will never allow a ‘newcomer’ like Hari to keep him from his 4th title.”

“The favorite is clearly Peter Aerts,” says Alexis Del Castillo of Spain’s K-1Fans. “Aerts was the only fighter able to defeat Semmy Schilt and he is again at one of the best moments in his K-1 career.”

“Peter Aerts has an 80 % chance to win against Hari,” says Kasra Ashhami of K-1 Scandinavia. “Aerts is too experienced, heavy and strong for Hari, an upcoming fighter who could be tomorrow’s champ but is still not strong enough and not heavy enough to defeat an opponent such as Aerts today. If Peter is not inured after the semifinals, he will win the Grand Prix for the 4th time!”

Aerts the favorite at K-1 World GP 2008 Final @ K-1 Official Website