K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final | |
Promotion: | K-1 |
Date: | December 8, 2007 |
Venue: | Yokohama Arena |
Attendance: | 17,667 |
Purse: | US$ 400,000 |
Previousevent: | K-1 Championships 2007 German Finals |
Followingevent: | K-1 Fighting Network Prague 2007 |
K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 8, 2007 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 15th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments. All fights followed K-1's classic tournament format and were conducted under K-1 Rules, three rounds of three minutes each, with a possible tiebreaker.
The qualification for top eight fighters, K-1 World GP 2007 in Seoul Final 16 was held on October 28, 2007 in Seoul, Korea.[1]
The event drew a sellout crowd of 17,667 to the Yokohama Arena. It was broadcast live in Japan on the Fuji TV network; in South Korea on XTM; in Hong Kong on PCCW; in Australia on Main Event; in Brazil on Globosat; in Canada on The Fight Network; in Romania on ProTV; in Hungary on RTL Klub and across Scandinavia on Viasat. With all the delayed broadcasts bringing it to a total of 135 countries. The English language commentary team was headed by an Australian Michael Schiavello, with four time K-1 World Champion Ernesto Hoost, Ray Sefo and Akebono. The event ring announcer was Jimmy Lennon Jr.
Source:[2]
Opening Fights: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R
Mitsugu Noda def. Noel Cadet
Noda defeated Cadet by TKO at 1:13 of the 2nd Round.
Nortje defeated Kim by TKO (Punch) at 0:11 of the 2nd Round.
Takashi Tashikawa def. Ki-min Kim
Tashikawa defeated Kim by KO at 1:21 of the 1st Round.
Reserve Fight: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Paul Slowinski def. Mighty Mo
Slowinski defeated Mo by TKO (Low Kicks) at 0:50 of the 2nd Round. Quarter Finals: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Le Banner defeated Choi by 3rd Round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (30-29, 30-28, 30-29).
Schilt defeated Feitosa by 3rd Round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (30-27, 30-28, 30-27).
Bonjasky defeated Hari by 3rd Round Majority Decision 2-0 (30-29, 29-29, 30-29).
Peter Aerts def. Junichi Sawayashiki
Aerts defeated Sawayashiki by KO (Straight Right Punch) at 1:29 of the 1st Round.
Semi Finals: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Schilt defeated Le Banner by TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 1:02 of the 2nd Round.
Aerts defeated Bonjasky by 3rd Round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (30-29, 30-27, 30-28). Super Fight: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.2R
Musashi defeated Dancrade by KO (Left Mid Kick) at 2:59 of the 1st Round.
Final: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.2R
Schilt defeated Aerts by TKO (Knee Injury) at 1:49 of the 1st Round.
The tournament winner Semmy Schilt of Netherlands became the first fighter ever in K-1 history to win the Championship three years in a row and picked up a winner's purse of US$400,000.[3]
For the last six years, the K-1 World GP Champion has been a Dutchman and in K-1's 15-year history, a Dutch fighter has won the World GP a total of 12 times.[3] Line-up changes before the event:
Paul Slowinski replaces announced fighter Chalid Arrab due to an Appendicitis.[4]
David Dancrade replaces announced fighter Souleimane Konate due to an injury.[4]
Ray Sefo is not cleared to fight by the doctor due to an eye injury sustained during training. The Reserve Fight #2 is dropped from the card and his opponent Paul Slowinski is moved up to Reserve Fight #1.[4]