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 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

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 2024 N/ADecember 14, 2024 Japan

Champions

YearWinnerRunner-upRef.
1993 Flag of Croatia.svg Branko Cikatić Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ernesto Hoost
1994 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Masaaki Satake
1995 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of France.svg Jerome Le Banner
1996 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Andy Hug Flag of South Africa.svg Mike Bernardo
1997 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ernesto Hoost Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Andy Hug
1998 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Andy Hug
1999 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ernesto Hoost Flag of Croatia.svg Mirko Filipović
2000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ernesto Hoost Flag of New Zealand.svg Ray Sefo
2001 Flag of New Zealand.svg Mark Hunt Flag of Brazil.svg Francisco Filho
2002 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ernesto Hoost Flag of France.svg Jerome Le Banner
2003 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Remy Bonjasky Flag of Japan.svg Musashi
2004 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Remy Bonjasky Flag of Japan.svg Musashi
2005 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Semmy Schilt Flag of Brazil.svg Glaube Feitosa
2006 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts
2007 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Semmy Schilt Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts
2008 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Remy Bonjasky Flag of Morocco.svg Badr Hari [1]
2009 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Semmy Schilt Flag of Morocco.svg Badr Hari [2]
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Alistair Overeem Flag of the Netherlands.svg Peter Aerts [3]
2024

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexey Ignashov</span> Belarusian kickboxer

Alexey Ignashov is a Belarusian former Heavyweight kickboxer. He is a four-time Muay Thai World champion, K-1 World GP 2003 in Paris and K-1 World GP 2001 in Nagoya tournament champion. As of 2011 he is living in Auckland, New Zealand, and training at Balmoral Lee Gar Gym under Lollo Heimuli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Bonjasky</span> Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer

Remy Kenneth Bonjasky is a Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix heavyweight champion, winning the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008. He is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time. Bonjasky has been known for his flying kicks, knee attacks and strong defense, hence the nickname "The Flying Gentleman".

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

Peter Aerts is a Dutch 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">Alistair Overeem</span> Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer (born 1980)

Alistair Cees Overeem is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fighter to hold world titles in MMA and K-1 kickboxing at the same time. Overeem is also a one-time challenger for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hongman Choi</span> South Korean martial artist

Choi Hong-man, often anglicised to Hongman Choi, is a South Korean kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and former ssireum wrestler. In Asia, he is called "Che Man", "Techno Goliath", "Korean Monster" and "Korean Colossus". He won the 2005 K-1 Seoul Grand Prix beating Kaoklai Kaennorsing in the finals. He stands 2.18 m and weighs 160 kg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruslan Karaev</span> Russian kickboxer (born 1983)

Ruslan Savelyevich Karaev (Karayev) (Russian: Русла́н Саве́льевич Кара́ев, romanized: Ruslan Savelyevich Karayev; Ossetian: Хъараты Савелийы фырт Руслан, romanized: Qaraty Savelijy fyrt Ruslan; born May 19, 1983) is a Russian kickboxer. He is K-1 World GP 2005 in Las Vegas and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei tournament champion. He joined the Golden Glory's K-1 stable, training under Cor Hemmers.

<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 155 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badr Hari</span> Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer

Badr Hari is a Moroccan-Dutch professional kickboxer. He is a former K-1 Heavyweight World Champion (2007–2008), It's Showtime Heavyweight World Champion (2009–2010) and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 and 2009 finalist. Known for his aggressive and explosive fighting style, Hari is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Graham (fighter)</span> Australian boxer, kickboxer and mixed martial artist

Peter Graham is an Australian karateka, kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zabit Samedov</span> Azerbaijani kickboxer (born 1984)

Zabit Samedov is an Azerbaijani kickboxer and muay thai fighter. Samedov has won multiple titles, most notably the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Łódź tournament championship. He was also a competitor in the K-1 World Grand Prix FINAL in Zagreb final 8, and is a former It's Showtime 95MAX World Championship challenger.

Stefan Leko is a German heavyweight kickboxer. He is the current WKA Super-Heavyweight world champion in kickboxing, and former Muay Thai world super-heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, WMTA, WKN, IKBO, IKBF, and WKA world champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion. He fights out of Team Golden Glory in Breda, Netherlands under Cor Hemmers. Since 2011 Stefan Leko is coached and managed by Tom Trautsch and won two Heavyweight World Champion Titles.

<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">Errol Zimmerman</span> Dutch kickboxer

Errol Zimmerman is a Curaçaoan-Dutch kickboxer, representing the Hemmers Gym in Breda, Netherlands. He is K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam and SUPERKOMBAT Fight Club tournaments champion. Zimmerman is also former Glory Heavyweight Championship and K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship challenger. In 2011 WIPU voted him the Kickboxer of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gökhan Saki</span> Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter

Gökhan Saki is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion, K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam tournament finalist, K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii champion and former Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. Saki also competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Jaideep Singh is an Indian heavyweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul tournament champion. His parents are both Indian and he was born in India, but moved to Japan with them when he was 3 years old.

<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">Hesdy Gerges</span> Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter (born 1984)

Hesdy Gerges is a Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He held the It's Showtime World Heavyweight title between 2010 and 2012. Gerges has competed in the K-1, It's Showtime, SUPERKOMBAT and Glory promotions.

<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.

Mauricio "Baboo" Da Silva is a Brazilian kyokushin kaikan full contact karate practitioner and former professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a professional coach and trainer of K-1 and MMA, who has trained a number of world class fighters including Francisco Filho, Glaube Feitosa, Andrews Nakahara, Ewerton Teixeira, Ray Sefo, Aleksandr Pitchkounov, Takumi Sato, Jan Soukup, Kou Tasei, Jan Nortje, Doug Viney, Mighty Mo (kickboxer) and Akebono Taro. From 1998 to 2004 he worked as the trainer and sparring partner for Francisco Filho. He lived in Tokyo, Japan from 2005 to December 2010 and trained fighters from the IKO1 Kyokushin - Team Ichigeki and other fighters from visiting teams at the Ichigeki Plaza. He fought in the K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!! and also in the Ichigeki events in Japan.

Global Fighting Championship was a Dubai-based kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion. Fighters from around world on the roster included Badr Hari, Peter Aerts, Gökhan Saki and Zabit Samedov. It was considered as the biggest kickboxing and MMA promotion in Middle East.

References

  1. Smith, Michael David (December 6, 2008). "Badr Hari Disqualified, Remy Bonjasky Wins K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final". MMA Fighting . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  2. Smith, Michael David (December 5, 2009). "Semmy Schilt Beats Badr Hari, Wins K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final". MMA Fighting . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  3. Horne, Leon (December 11, 2010). "Alistair Overeem Makes History and Demolishes Peter Aerts for K1 Title". Bleacher Report . Retrieved November 23, 2024.