K-1 World Grand Prix 2008
Each year, K-1's governing body the Fight Entertainment Group (FEG) organizes a variety of fightsport events in Japan and around the world. There are K-1 Regional Elimination Tournaments which qualify fighters for the World Grand Prix, along with licensed K-1 Fighting Network events and Tryouts designed to develop new K-1 talent internationally. There is also DREAM -- a new mixed martial arts fighting format which permits takedowns and grappling.
The World Max Series, meanwhile, operates under regular, stand-up K-1 Rules but with a 70kg/154 weight limit. K-1 also has ongoing Title matches in both Super Heavyweight (over 100kg/220lbs) and Heavyweight (70kg/154lbs - 100kg/220lbs) divisions.
Since its inception in 1993, K-1's center stage production has always been the World Grand Prix Series. With an open weight class, the K-1 World Grand Prix comprises both eight-man and one-match tournaments that showcase the world's finest fighters from all manner of disciplines. This year, hundreds of hopefuls will compete in K-1 WGP events -- in Japan, Korea, Hungary, Holland, and the United States, and in affiliated events from Brazil to Sweden to Australia and elsewhere. Wherever the event, the goal is the same -- to advance toward the prestigious K-1 World Grand Prix Final, where the world's eight best go head to head for the richest fightsport purse of its kind.
The classic K-1 tournament follows an eight-man elimination format. Four first-tier 3min x 3 round matchups advance their winners to a pair of semifinal fights, and the two victors there meet in the final. Thus the man who prevails in an eight-man tournament must win three fights in one day -- quite a challenge. The Defending K-1 WGP Champion, crowned the King of Kings at the Yokohama Arena on December 8, 2007, is Semmy Schilt of the Netherlands.
The K-1 World GP is fightsport's most prestigious event, attracting the world's best fighters and televised in 135 countries. K-1's 16th season will feature major World GP Championship tournaments in four regions: Europe, Asia, Japan and the United States.
The WGP '08 Series kicks off in Budapest on February 9, with the first stage of the K-1 Europe GP. That tournament will qualify fighters for the Europe GP Final, set for April 26 in Amsterdam. The K-1 Asia GP will be held in June, and the host city will be Taipei or Macao. The K-1 Japan GP returns this year, with fighters from the land of the rising sun squaring off in Fukuoka in June. The last of the GP Champions will be crowned at the K-1 USA GP in Hawaii, to be held in July or August.
The four above-determined Regional GP Champions will advance to the K-1 Final Elimination in Seoul on September 29. There they will be joined by last year's WGP Final Eight, along with four additional fighters selected for exceptional performances in K-1 WGP bouts over the year. In Seoul, the 16 fighters will square off in a one-match format tournament, with the eight victors advancing to the K-1 World GP '08 Final, set for December 6 in Yokohama.
Visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp) for complete information on the K-1 World Grand Prix, along with official results and coverage of World Max and DREAM events.
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The K-1 World Grand Prix '07 Regional Champions are Mighty Mo in the USA; Paul Slowinski in Europe; and Yusuke Fujimoto in Asia. Doug Viney upsets the favorites to take the Las Vegas Repechage Tournament. At the Yokohama Arena Final on December 8, Dutch fighter Semmy Schilt beats compatriot Peter Aerts to capture the World GP Championship for the third consecutive year.
In World Max action, Buakaw Por.Pramuk of Thailand becomes the first two-time Champion; while in K-1's mixed martial arts format HERO'S Series, Yoshihiro Akiyama wins in the Light Heavyweight Championship, and J.Z. Calvan of Brazil takes the Middleweight Belt.
Some 54,800 are on hand at the Tokyo Dome to watch Semmy Schilt defend his World Grand Prix Championship. The Dutchman dispatches veterans Jerome LeBanner, Ernesto Hoost and Peter Aerts en route to victory in a Final that would be broadcast in more than 120 countries.
Successful Fighting Network events are held round the globe -- more than 10,000 fans fill the Globen Arena in Stockholm for the Scandinavian Tournament. Meanwhile, in World Max action, Andy Souwer of the Netherlands takes the Crown; while in K-1's mixed martial arts format HERO'S Series, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto wins the Final in front of 53,025 at Osaka Dome on New Year's Eve.
The year's main event, the World GP Final, attracts a sellout crowd of 58,213 to the Tokyo Dome and is broadcast in more than 90 countries. And for the tenth time in K-1's 13-year history a Dutch fighter is victorious, as Schilt stays perfect -- beating Ray Sefo, Remy Bonjasky and Glaube Feitosa to earn fightsports' most coveted crown.
K-1 makes its first foray into Korea, and the sellout crowd sees Thai fighter Kaoklai Kaennorsing win the first K-1 Asian GP. In World Max action, another Thai fighter, Buakaw Por.Pramuk stuns the opposition to take the crown. Mighty Mo is a surprise winner at the Battle at the Bellagio III, and the slugger represents the US at the Tokyo Dome World GP Final. There, Japanese Seidokaikan fighter Musashi makes it to the last bout for the second year running, but Remy Bonjasky is better once again, and repeats as Champion. Dutch fighters have now won nine of the twelve K-1 World GP Championships
