Junk will get his kicks

Scott Junk doesn't care about rules. He just wants to fight.

K-1 USA Grand Prix Eight-man tournament and three super fights; tonight, 6 p.m.; Stan Sheriff Center.

Expecting to face Min Soo Kim in a mixed martial arts bout, Kailua's Junk will take on the Korean fighter in a kickboxing fight instead as part of tonight's K-1 World Grand Prix at the Stan Sheriff Center at 6 p.m.

"I was supposed to be the co-main event in an MMA match, but I guess somebody didn't follow procedure right and Stan Sheriff Center wouldn't allow it," Junk said. "Said it's got to be kickboxing."

All 11 fights will follow K-1's kickboxing rules.

The card is highlighted by K-1's signature eight-man tournament, with the winner receiving a bid to compete in the World Grand Prix tournament later this year.

Hilo's Wesley "Cabbage" Correira will fight Eric "Butterbean" Esch in one of the featured first-round matchups. Last year's tournament winner, Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga, is also back, looking to win it for the third time.

Junk is fighting for the first time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his UFC debut last September.

After needing more than six months to recover, he has spent three months training for the fight against Kim, an Olympic silver medalist in judo.

"It means nothing in kickboxing," Junk was quick to point out.