K-1 World Grand Prix

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.

Match-ups

K-1 qualification system until 2005

Combatants of the quarter-finals of a 16-man 8-match tournament were paired by drawing, with the exception of the final.[citation needed] A lottery draw would take place. The balls represented numbers 1 to 8, which determined the fighters' order in choosing a position (from A to H), and the line-number of the match. The next fighter was able to choose between challenging the one on the stage or an "empty" section. This procedure went on until one fighter had to fill its slot left next to the lone rival.[citation needed]

K-1 World Grand Prix dates and venues

Event Date of opening round Date of final round Country
K-1 World Grand Prix 1993 N/A April 3, 1993 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1994 N/A April 30, 1994 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995 March 3, 1995 May 4, 1995 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 March 10, 1996 May 6, 1996 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1997 September 7, 1997 November 9, 1997 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 September 27, 1998 December 13, 1998 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 October 5, 1999 December 5, 1999 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 N/A December 10, 2000 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 N/A December 8, 2001 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 October 5, 2002 December 7, 2002 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 October 11, 2003 December 6, 2003 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 September 25, 2004 December 4, 2004 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 September 23, 2005 November 19, 2005 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 September 30, 2006 November 25, 2006 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 September 29, 2007 December 8, 2007 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 September 27, 2008 December 6, 2008 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 September 26, 2009 December 5, 2009 Korea, Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 October 2, 2010 December 11, 2010 Japan
K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 N/A December 14, 2024 Japan

Champions

Year Winner Runner-up Ref.
1993 Croatia Branko Cikatić Netherlands Ernesto Hoost
1994 Netherlands Peter Aerts Japan Masaaki Satake
1995 Netherlands Peter Aerts France Jerome Le Banner
1996 Switzerland Andy Hug South Africa Mike Bernardo
1997 Netherlands Ernesto Hoost Switzerland Andy Hug
1998 Netherlands Peter Aerts Switzerland Andy Hug
1999 Netherlands Ernesto Hoost Croatia Mirko Filipović
2000 Netherlands Ernesto Hoost New Zealand Ray Sefo
2001 New Zealand Mark Hunt Brazil Francisco Filho
2002 Netherlands Ernesto Hoost France Jerome Le Banner
2003 Netherlands Remy Bonjasky Japan Musashi
2004 Netherlands Remy Bonjasky Japan Musashi
2005 Netherlands Semmy Schilt Brazil Glaube Feitosa
2006 Netherlands Semmy Schilt Netherlands Peter Aerts
2007 Netherlands Semmy Schilt Netherlands Peter Aerts
2008 Netherlands Remy Bonjasky Morocco Badr Hari [1]
2009 Netherlands Semmy Schilt Morocco Badr Hari [2]
2010 Netherlands Alistair Overeem Netherlands Peter Aerts [3]
2024 Brazil Ariel Machado China Feng Rui

See also

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.