The perception of danger and sense of mystique associated with K-1 martial arts fighting's catchphrase is, in large part, what drew over 3,000 fans to the premiere Las Vegas event at Bellagio six years ago.

Since then, it has been the sport's lightning quick pace, which triggers knockouts in 80% of K-1 fights, that has consistently filled arenas at both The Mirage and Bellagio, and will most certainly do so again for "Battle at Bellagio V" on August 12.

"K-1 has been a great thing for our company," said Bob Halloran, Director of Sports for Mirage Resorts, the parent company of both The Mirage and Bellagio hotels. "It has become a great marketing vehicle for our customers from Japan. We get very few people from Japan who come for our regular fights so I think we really hit a home run with this and I think it's now ready to expand."

Conceived by Karate Master Kazuyoshi Ishii in Japan in the early '90s as a way of determining the best of the best in combat sports, K-1 pits combatants from all of the fighting arts - many of which begin with the letter K, such as Karate, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, and Kenpo - against one another in one ring, hence the number 1. The rules of K-1, permitting punches, including spinning back fists, kicks both above and below the waist (no strikes to the groin), and knee strikes to the body and head offer the fighters the opportunity to use the skills they have honed.