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K-1

The K-1 is a Japanese promotional company that has a near monopoly of the heavyweight division. It started with the vision of Kazuyoshi Ishii [whose initials conspicuously resemble the name of the company]. Since 1993, the K-1 has developed a reputation of putting the best heavyweight kickboxers from around the world in the ring.

The K-1 is so synonymous with the sport of heavyweight kickboxing that many novice fans of the sport mistakenly think that the CKO ratings are K-1 ratings. They are not. Unlike the CKO, the K-1 decides greatness based on an 8-man tournament each year, the Grand Prix. Success in the Grand Prix is far from easy. Some elite fighters have only managed a few wins in the tournament. The lists below will illustrate the achievements of those who collect victories.

K-1 USA  K-1 Oceania  K-1 Japan

K-1 Grand Prix Champions Oldest Champions Youngest Champions
  1. Branko Cikatic [CRO] (1993)
  2. Peter Aerts [NED] (1994)
  3. Peter Aerts [NED]  (1995)
  4. Andy Hug [SUI]  (1996)
  5. Ernesto Hoost [NED] (1997)
  6. Peter Aerts [NED] (1998)
  7. Ernesto Hoost [NED] (1999)
  8. Ernesto Hoost [NED] (2000)
  9. Mark Hunt [NZL] (2001)
  10. Ernesto Hoost [NED] (2002)
  11. Remy Bonjasky [NED] (2003)
  12. Remy Bonjasky [NED] (2004)
  13. Sem Schilt [NED] (2005)
  14. Sem Schilt [NED] (2006)
  15. Sem Schilt [NED] (2007)

Notes: This list shows the K-1 Grand Prix Champions in order of their victories.

  1. 38/208, Branko Cikatic [CRO]  (1993)
  2. 37/149, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2002)
  3. 35/152, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2000)
  4. 34/147, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (1999)
  5. 34/42, Sem Schilt [NED] (2007)
  6. 33/36, Sem Schilt [NED] (2006)
  7. 32/91, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (1997)
  8. 32/23, Sem Schilt [NED] (2005)
  9. 31/240, Andy Hug [SUI]  (1996)
  10. 28/329, Remy Bonjasky [NED] (2004)
  11. 28/71, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1998)
  12. 27/330, Remy Bonjasky [NED] (2003)
  13. 27/260, Mark Hunt [NZL]  (2001)
  14. 24/226, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1995)
  15. 23/217, Peter Aerts [NED] (1994)

Notes: This list shows the K-1 Grand Prix Champions in order of oldest to youngest. Their ages are expressed in years and days. In other words, Cikatic was 38 years 208 days old when he won the K-1 Grand Prix in 1993.
  1. 23/217, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1994)
  2. 24/226, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1995)
  3. 27/260, Mark Hunt [NZL]  (2001)
  4. 27/330, Remy Bonjasky [NED]  (2003)
  5. 28/71, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1998)
  6. 28/329, Remy Bonjasky [NED]  (2004)
  7. 31/240, Andy Hug [SUI]  (1996)
  8. 32/23, Sem Schilt [NED] (2005)
  9. 32/91, Ernesto Hoost [NED] (1997)
  10. 33/36, Sem Schilt [NED] (2006)
  11. 34/42, Sem Schilt [NED] (2007)
  12. 34/147, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (1999)
  13. 35/152, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2000)
  14. 37/149, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2002)
  15. 38/208, Branko Cikatic [CRO]  (1993)

Notes: This list shows the K-1 Grand Prix Champions in order of youngest to oldest. Their ages are expressed in years and days. In other words, Aerts was 23 years 217 days old when he won the K-1 Grand Prix in 1994.

A few young fighters have appeared in the K-1 Grand Prix but most were older by a few days.
Fastest Tournament Victory Most Grand Prix Titles Most Wins
  1. 06:43, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1998)
  2. 11:56, Sem Schilt [NED] (2005)
  3. 12:09, Branko Cikatic [CRO]  (1993)
  4. 13:44, Remy Bonjasky [NED]  (2003)
  5. 14:39, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1995)
  6. 15:51, Sem Schilt [NED] (2007)
  7. 17:13, Peter Aerts [NED]  (1994)
  8. 19:15, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (1997)
  9. 19:35, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (1999)
  10. 19:58, Andy Hug [SUI]  (1996)
  11. 26:32, Mark Hunt [NZL] (2001)
  12. 27:00, Sem Schilt [NED] (2006)
  13. 30:00, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2000)
  14. 36:00, Remy Bonjasky [NED] (2004)
  15. XX:XX, Ernesto Hoost [NED]  (2002)

Notes: In 1998, Peter Aerts scored 3 first-round knockouts to win the K-1 Grand Prix. He completed the feat in 6 minutes 43 seconds.

In 2002, Ernesto Hoost lost his opening match to Bob Sapp. Due to injuries suffered by both Sapp and the reserve fighter, Hoost was given a second chance and used it to become champion. Therefore, without 3 wins, no time is given for his 2002 performance.

 1.  4, Ernesto Hoost [NED]
2.  3, Peter Aerts [NED], Sem Schilt [NED]
4.  2, Remy Bonjasky [NED], 
5.  1, Branko Cikatic [CRO], Andy Hug [SUI], Mark Hunt [NZL]

Notes: Only 7 men have won the K-1 Grand Prix Tournament.

The country of the Netherlands has won 11 of the 14 K-1 Grand Prix titles.

 1.   17-7, Ernesto Hoost [NED]
2.   16-10, Peter Aerts [NED]
3.   9-0, Sem Schilt, [NED]
4.   9-2, Remy Bonjasky [NED]
5.   7-4, Andy Hug [SUI]   
6.   6-7, Akio Mori [JPN]
7.   6-8, Jerome LeBanner [FRA]
8.   4-1, Branko Cikatic [CRO], Mark Hunt [NZL]
10.   4-4, Mike Bernardo [RSA], Francisco Filho [BRA]
12.   3-5, Masaaki Satake, [JPN]
13.   3-7, Ray Sefo [NZL]
14.   2-3, Glaube Feitosa [BRA], Mirko Filipovic [CRO]
16.   2-4, Sam Greco [AUS]
17.   1-0, Bob Sapp [USA]
18.   1-1, Maurice Smith [USA], Patrick Smith [USA], 1-1, Kaoklai Kaennorsing, [THA], Francois Botha, [RSA]
22.   1-2, Alexei Ignashov [BLR]