K-1 World Grand Prix

Last updated

K-1 World Grand Prix, also known as the K-1 World GP, is an elimination kickboxing tournament that was originally held annually from 1993 to 2012 by the K-1 organization, under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). Each year, K-1 would hold various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style qualifying tournaments throughout the world to determine which 16 fighters will compete in the main World GP.

Contents

Nineteen tournaments have been held, with Ernesto Hoost and Semmy Schilt each winning four times.

Match-ups

K-1 Qualification System until 2005 K-1system.jpg
K-1 Qualification System until 2005

Combatants of the quarter-finals of a 16-man 8-match tournament are paired by drawing, with the exception of the final in the Tokyo Dome.[ citation needed ]

A lottery draw would take place in the beginning, with fighters pulling a ball from a glass bowl. The balls represent numbers 1 to 8, which determine the fighters' order in choosing a position from a giant tournament tree figure by standing in front a drawn bracket (from A to H) on the poster, which represents the fighter's corner-color and the line-number of the match. The next fighter does the same, but is able to choose between challenging the one on the stage or an "empty" section. This procedure goes on until one fighter remains who has no choice but to fill one slot left next to the one lone fighter.[ citation needed ]

K-1 World Grand Prix dates and venues

EventDate of opening roundDate of final roundCountry
K-1 World Grand Prix 1993 N/AApril 3, 1993 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1994 N/AApril 30, 1994 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995 March 3, 1995May 4, 1995 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 March 10, 1996May 6, 1996 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1997 September 7, 1997November 9, 1997 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 September 27, 1998December 13, 1998 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 October 5, 1999December 5, 1999 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 N/ADecember 10, 2000 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 N/ADecember 8, 2001 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 October 5, 2002December 7, 2002 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 October 11, 2003December 6, 2003 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 September 25, 2004December 4, 2004 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 September 23, 2005November 19, 2005 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 September 30, 2006November 25, 2006 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 September 29, 2007December 8, 2007 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 September 27, 2008December 6, 2008 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 September 26, 2009December 5, 2009 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 October 2, 2010December 11, 2010 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 September 8, 2012March 15, 2013 Croatia

Champions

YearWinnerNationalityRunner-upNationality
1993 Branko Cikatić Flag of Croatia.svg Ernesto Hoost Flag of the Netherlands.svg
1994 Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg Masaaki Satake Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg
1995 Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jerome Le Banner Flag of France.svg
1996 Andy Hug Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Mike Bernardo Flag of South Africa.svg
1997 Ernesto Hoost Flag of the Netherlands.svg Andy Hug Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
1998 Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg Andy Hug Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
1999 Ernesto Hoost Flag of the Netherlands.svg Mirko Filipović Flag of Croatia.svg
2000 Ernesto Hoost Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ray Sefo Flag of New Zealand.svg
2001 Mark Hunt Flag of New Zealand.svg Francisco Filho Flag of Brazil.svg
2002 Ernesto Hoost Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jerome Le Banner Flag of France.svg
2003 Remy Bonjasky Flag of the Netherlands.svg Musashi Flag of Japan.svg
2004 Remy Bonjasky Flag of the Netherlands.svg Musashi Flag of Japan.svg
2005 Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Glaube Feitosa Flag of Brazil.svg
2006 Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg
2007 Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg
2008 Remy Bonjasky Flag of the Netherlands.svg Badr Hari Flag of Morocco.svg
2009 Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Badr Hari Flag of Morocco.svg
2010 Alistair Overeem Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of the Netherlands.svg
2012 Mirko Filipović Flag of Croatia.svg Ismael Londt Flag of Suriname.svg

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride Fighting Championships</span> Japanese mixed martial arts promotion

PRIDE Fighting Championships was a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion company. Its inaugural event was held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997. Pride held more than sixty mixed martial arts events, broadcast to about 40 countries worldwide. PRIDE was owned by the holding company Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1</span> Kickboxing promotion

K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii.

Akio Mori, better known by the name Musashi (武蔵), is a Japanese former professional karateka and kickboxer. He is a four-time K-1 Japan tournament champion, a former WAKO Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and two-time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist. Following a 14-year career, he announced his retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on August 26, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jérôme Le Banner</span> French kickboxer

Jérôme Philippe Le Banner is a French kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and professional wrestler. Le Banner fought for most of his career in K-1 and became known for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power. He is a 2-time K-1 World Grand Prix runner up, a 2-time K-1 Preliminary Grand Prix champion, and is a multiple time world champion in Kickboxing and Muay Thai. He holds notable victories over Ernesto Hoost (twice), Francisco Filho, Mark Hunt, Sam Greco, Mike Bernardo (twice), Peter Aerts, Rick Roufus, Remy Bonjasky, Tyrone Spong, Stefan Leko (twice), Masaaki Satake, Maurice Smith, Gary Goodridge (twice), Musashi (twice), Cyril Abidi and Choi Hong-man (twice).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Aerts</span> Dutch kickboxer

Peter Aerts is a Dutch semi-retired kickboxer. Known for his devastating high kicks, which earned him the nickname "The Dutch Lumberjack", he is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semmy Schilt</span> Dutch kickboxer, Ashihara karateka and mixed martial arts fighter

Sem "Semmy" Schilt is a Dutch actor and former kickboxer, Ashihara karateka and mixed martial artist. He stands 212 cm and weighs 171 kg. Schilt holds the distinction of being the only kickboxer to have won 5 major heavyweight tournaments, being a four-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion and one time Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam Champion. He also held the K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship and the Glory Heavyweight Championship titles. He is the only fighter in K-1 history to win the world championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most Grands Prix won, with four.

K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, December 8, 2001, in front of 65,000 spectators. It was the ninth K-1 Grand Prix final, involving eight of the world's top fighters, with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). The eight finalists had almost all qualified by winning preliminary tournaments, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters in case of any injuries.

K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, December 7, 2002 in front of 74,500 spectators. It was the tenth K-1 World Grand Prix final, involving ten of the world's top fighters, with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). The eight finalists had almost all qualified via preliminary events, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters. In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing eight countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mighty Mo (kickboxer)</span> American Samoan martial arts fighter (born 1970)

Siala-Mou Siliga, often billed as Mighty Mo is a former American Samoan kickboxer, bare knuckle boxer, boxer and mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. At the age of 22, he got his nickname from his former American football coach after the battleship USS Missouri. His K-1 achievements include winning the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II and the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii tournaments. In mixed martial arts, he has competed for K-1 Hero's, Bellator MMA, DREAM, Road FC and also participated in the Dynamite!! USA and Dynamite!! 2008 events. On September 24, 2016, Siliga won the Road FC Openweight Tournament at Road FC 33 by knocking out Choi Hong-man of South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Viney</span> New Zealand boxer and kickboxer

Douglas Ma'afu Hawke, better known as Doug "Vicious" Viney is a Tongan-New Zealander heavyweight boxer and kickboxer. He is the K-1 World GP 2007 in Las Vegas champion, who also represented Tonga as a super heavyweight boxer under the name of Ma'afu Hawke at 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final</span> K-1 martial arts event in 2007

K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 8, 2007 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 15th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments. All fights followed K-1's classic tournament format and were conducted under K-1 Rules, three rounds of three minutes each, with a possible tiebreaker.

Tsuyoshi Nakasako is a Japanese retired heavyweight kickboxer who competed in K-1. During his ten-year career from 1998 until 2008, he fought a variety of K-1 champions including Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Mark Hunt, and Andy Hug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cătălin Moroșanu</span> Romanian kickboxer (born 1984)

Cătălin Moroșan is a retired Romanian kickboxer, chanbara practitioner and professional rugby player. He is best known for his time in the Superkombat Fighting Championship (SUPERKOMBAT), where he competed in the heavyweight division. Moroșanu also competed for Local Kombat, K-1, Glory and Dynamite Fighting Show. He is currently a politician and kickboxing promoter, serving as president of the Dynamite Fighting Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final</span> K-1 martial arts event in 2008

K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 6, 2008 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 16th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments. All fights followed the classic 8-man tournament format and were conducted under K-1 rules; three rounds of three minutes each, with a possible tiebreaker. The qualification for the top eight fighters in this event was held at K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16.

Serhiy Lashchenko, also spelled as Sergii Lashchenko and Sergei Lascenko, was a Ukrainian kickboxer. He was a K-1 and Superkombat Heavyweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Final 16</span> K-1 martial arts event

K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Final 16 was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, Korea. It was the Final Elimination tournament for top sixteen fighters. The winners qualified for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final held on December 5, 2009 at Yokohama Arena, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final</span> K-1 martial arts event in 2009

K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 5, 2009 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 17th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments. All fights followed K-1's classic tournament format and were conducted under K-1 Rules, three rounds of three minutes each, with a possible tiebreaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16</span> K-1 martial arts event in 2010

K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, Korea. It was the Final Elimination tournament for top sixteen fighters. The winners qualified for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final held on December 11, 2010 at Yokohama Arena, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final</span> K-1 martial arts event in 2010

K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final was a martial arts event that was held by the K-1 on Saturday, December 11, 2010. It was the 18th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments. All fights followed K-1's classic tournament format and were conducted under K-1 Rules, three rounds of three minutes each, with a possible tiebreaker. The qualification for the top eight fighters was held at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 on October 2, 2010 in Seoul, Korea.

This is a list of events held in 2012 by K-1, a kickboxing promotion based in Hong Kong.