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The
original list was based on the 2000 K-1 Grand Prix
Tournament. Never before had the K-1 organization exploded in size so quickly.
Instead of the K-1 Osaka, all the K-1 fighters were required to enter one of 3
major tournaments. Moreover, around the world, 9 minor tournaments were held,
each placing its champion in a major tournament. The three major champions were:
Jerome Lebanner, Francisco Filho and Mike Bernardo. LeBanner defeated Ernesto
Hoost in the final round of the Nagoya GP tournament. Although both qualified for the Grand
Prix, LeBanner was in a car accident and couldn't attend. Filho defeated Cyril
Abidi in the final of the Yokohama GP. Bernardo defeated Mirko Filipovic in the
final of the Fukuoka GP. However, like LeBanner, he was injured and unable to
attend the Grand Prix.
Ernesto Hoost won the 2000 Grand Prix Tournament and received the #1 rank. This
was a convenient coincidence as he was also the reigning lineal
champion. Although, Jerome LeBanner
couldn't attend, he did defeat Hoost earlier that year in the qualifying
tournament. For that,
LeBanner was awarded the #2 rank. The #3 rank then went to Francisco Filho and
the #4 to Mike Bernardo. Next the finalists of the three major tournaments were
considered. Ernesto Hoost had already been given the #1 rank which left Cyril
Abidi and Mirko Filipovic to take #5 and #6 respectively.
And so it went; based on where the fighter placed in the tournaments, he
was ranked. From
there, the fighters were on their own to seize ranks as if they were titles.
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