In an effort to make fights more exciting and aggressive, as well as increase the action during the 3 minutes x 3 rounds fight, starting from the FINAL 16 for both MAX and WGP, any attacks while holding an opponent with both hands will be prohibited. Fighters will be allowed to grab an opponent with one hand for a moment or grab the neck of the opponent from either outside or inside the opponent’s arm. Despite these moves being considered authorized, if referee considers these moves are defensive or passive and are bringing the fight to a deadlock, a caution or a warning maybe given to the fighter.

In order to give fighters sufficient time to adapt to this rule change, any events held before FINAL 16 will be conducted under the current rules. Yet referee will make notice to fighters clinching or holding opponent with both hands. If the referee deems these clinches or holdings to be ineffective in delivering offensive attack, a caution and or warning maybe given to the fighter, and such clinching or holding may affect the outcome of the fight if the fight goes to the judge’s decision
Even under current rules, continuous attacks are not authorized while holding an opponent with both hands. Fighters are allowed to grab an opponent following with a single attack.

[Current Rules]
Article 6 - FOUL TECHNIQUE
7. When a fighter is holding a neck of his opponent with both hands, the fighter is limited to kick or knee kick his opponent to only one time. Therefore, continuous attack is judged as a foul. Attacking the opponent continuously while holding the neck with one hand is authorized. However, referee may call a break if judges the attack does not give any damage to the opponent.

[New Rules]
7. Attacking an opponent while holding a neck of an opponent with both hands is considered a foul technique. A fighter is allowed to attack momentarily when grabbing his opponent with one hand. Referee may call a brake during a match if the one handed grab does not lead to an effective attack, and may give a caution or a warning if these ineffective single grabbing continues and or if such actions cause deadlock.

[Current Rules]
Article 6 - FOUL TECHNIQUE
8. Passive holding or clinching is prohibited. However, the referee can permit it only when it is accompanied by an authorized attack. A fighter can be penalized if he resorts to holding or clinching after an authorized attack or in order to avoid attacks.

[New Rules]
8. Passive holding or clinching is prohibited. However, the referee can permit a fighter holding or grabbing his opponent with one hand only when it is accompanied by an authorized attack. A caution and a warning may be given to a fighter even when he is holding with one hand if referee considers this single hand grab or clinch is causing a deadlock or that fighter is trying to avoid attacks.

Source: http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/news/2010/0326_release_01.html

so no full muay thai clinch?

Thats a pretty major change.....sounds even more restricted than in Chuck Norris' WCL....

How often do they get into a full clinch anyway? Most of the time, because of the only one knee allowed rule, they sort of put their hands behind the opponent's neck momentarilly while throwing the knee for balance, but there doesn't appear to be much gripping of hands and controlling the opponent - or it only lasts for maybe a second. I agree that it is a little wierd rule change though. Probably see more uppercuts or body shots rather than knees now when they go for a grab.

Maybe that is why Overeem will focus more on MMA as of this year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh10VvPFV8M][/youtube]

Hehe, okay - maybe it will make a difference at times

That was such a good event (the whole thing, not just that Overeem fight)...

I have to admit, when you read that the rule change was to make fights more exciting and then you watch that Knee KO by Overeem, I start to question what they think is exciting.

It will surely make K-1 less exciting for Thai-Boxers as it is common there I think.