Semmy Schilts take 4th K-1 World GP title

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Semmy Schilts Wins the K-1 World GP for the Fourth Time

Dutchman Sem Schilts, the Seido (Kaikan) Cyborg took an impressive Fourth K-1 world GP title in December. For Schilts this was something of a cakewalk. Schilts at a massive 6'11" and 294lb, took the title in emphatic style.

In his first bout Schilts took out Jerome LaBanner in 1:57 of the first round with a superbly placed kick to the liver. In his second bout Schilts was up against the reigning Champion Remy Bonjasky, who went three rounds with Errol Zimmerman to reach Schilts.

Bonjsky started well against Schilts, closing the distance and getting in on the inside, this resulted in Bonjasky scoring a down, with a sweet left hook that took everyone by surprise, mostly Schilts. The bigman took his eight count, recovered then started his engine, from here it was all down hill for Bonjasky, Schilts threw everythin at him, and seconds later had him crumpled in the corner for his first eight count. While Bonjasky recovered, it took only seconds for Schilts to put Bonjasky out with a series of low kicks. This put Schilts through to the final, to meet the The Golden Boy, Badr Hari.

Badr Hari himself sliced through his opponents to meet Schilts with a first round Knockout against Russian Ruslan Karaev, and again another first round knockout against Dutch MMA fighter turned kickboxer Alistair Overeem. Overeem himself taking out Brazilian Ewerton Texiera in the first round to meet Badr Hari.

As the first round of the K-1 World GP final started it was all Badr Hari, throwing everything he had at Schilts, trying to close the distance and get on the inside of Schilts, which is the best tactic to employ against the almost 7 foot Dutch Behemoth. Schilts managed to deflect most of Hari's punches or atleast take most of the power out of them, but with the crowd screaming Hari on, he kept up his onslaught until Schilts caught Hari cleanly with one of his piston like left jabs, that have stopped so many fighters. Hari took an eight count, and looked hurt, but started exactly where he left off, trying to get on the inside and beat Schillts massive reach.
Schilts was now visibly more relaxed, and took only seconds to lift one of his tree trunk like legs, and plant it on Hari's jaw, to score another down. Hari took another eight count before bravely climbing to his feet to try once again to land the punch that would stop Schilts and the fight, but it was not to be. Schilts brought another precisely placed liver kick from which there was no return for Hari.
This brought Schilts his fourth K-1 World GP title with the fastest time to take a World GP title knocking out all his opponent in the first round, Schilts clocked up only 5:52 fight time, shaving 50 seconds off Peter Aerts record set in 1998.



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