Henri Hooft

Last updated
Henri Hooft
Born (1969-05-21) 21 May 1969 (age 55)
The Hague, Netherlands
Other namesHarry Hooft
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Division Heavyweight
Style Kickboxing
Team Kill Cliff FC (2017–present)
Blackzilians (2011–2017)
Team Mr. Perfect (2009–2011)
Team Aerts (2004–2008)
Mejiro Gym (formerly)
Trainer Rob Kaman, Jan Plas
Notable students Tyrone Spong, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson, Michael Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Kamaru Usman, Jake Shields, Matt Mitrione, Abel Trujillo, Gilbert Burns, Luke Rockhold, Robbie Lawler, Aung La Nsang, Derek Brunson, Michael Chandler, Shavkat Rakhmonov

Henri Hooft, also known as Harry Hooft (born May 21, 1969), is a Dutch former kickboxer and trainer. He is the head trainer at Kill Cliff FC and formerly the Blackzilians.

Contents

Career

Hooft was born and raised in The Hague, Netherlands. At the age of 15, he became interested in combat sports. He started training with his brother in full contact Karate, but later switched to kickboxing. He already began competing after training for three months, winning several competitions. At the age of 18, he was invited by Dutch kickboxing world champion Rob Kaman to move to Thailand to train with him. There, he discovered Thai boxing. [1] [2]

Hooft began fighting professionally while coaching at the same time. He developed his own fighting system by combining the best of Thai boxing and Dutch kickboxing. He competed in more than 100 kickboxing fights. [1] [2] His most notable fight was against Stefan Leko at the K-1 Grand Prix '99, which he lost by knockout in the first round. In 2004, he joined Team Aerts as the sparring partner and trainer of three-time K-1 champion Peter Aerts, training out of Kops Gym in Amsterdam under Jan Plas. [3] In 2007, he retired from fighting and continued as a trainer. Among the fighters he trained was kickboxing world champion Tyrone Spong. [2]

In 2011, Hooft joined the mixed martial arts gym the Blackzilians in Florida, after he was brought in by Tyrone Spong, who was invited by Rashad Evans to train with him. There, he went on to become the head stand-up coach. [4] In 2017, he founded his own gym Combat Club, later rebranded as Kill Cliff FC. [5] Hooft trained top contenders such as Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Anthony Johnson, Michael Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Kamaru Usman, Michael Chandler, Luke Rockhold, Gilbert Burns and Shavkat Rakhmonov. [4]

Fight record

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2007-02-17Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gökhan Saki Gala in Margriethal Schiedam, Netherlands KO (left cross)11:14
2005-04-3Win Flag of Hungary.svg Tommy VargaLeo De Snoo Memorial 2005 Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (retirement)
2003-06-04Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Samir Benazzouz K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary Holland Zoetermeer, Netherlands Decision (majority)33:00
2000-01-23Loss Flag of Belarus.svg Alexey Ignashov Day of No Mercy Rotterdam, Netherlands Decision53:00
1999-12-05Loss Flag of Germany.svg Stefan Leko K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 Tokyo, Japan KO (right back kick)12:37
1991Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Lomulder Netherlands KO3
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

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References

  1. 1 2 "Henri Hooft". henrihooft.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  2. 1 2 3 "Henri Hooft keeps it simple". UFC.com. 2014-08-27.
  3. ↑ "Peter Aerts Interview". K-1fans.info. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  4. 1 2 "Henri Hooft on the transformations of 'Rumble' and Belfort". Bloody Elbow. 2014-05-22.
  5. ↑ "Hard Knocks 365 rebrands to Sanford MMA with sponsorship from Sanford Health". thebodylockmma.com. 2019-12-13.
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