Gökhan Saki
Encyclopedia
Gökhan Saki is a Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...

-Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...

 heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

 kickboxer, fighting out of Golden Glory Gym
Golden Glory
Golden Glory is a Muay Thai, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts camp, as well as a management team based in the Netherlands. With their primary fighter roster based out of Europe, Golden Glory has managed fighters from all over the world, such as American former team member, Heath Herring.Golden...

 in Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...

, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

. He is two time Dutch and European Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...

 champion, K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam tournament finalist and K-1 World GP 2008 in Hawaii champion as the first ever Turkish fighter holding a K-1 tournament title.

Early life and career

Saki was born and raised in Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...

, a town located near Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...

, to a large family. He started practicing kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....

 at the age of 11 when he also began playing football (soccer). He dropped out of school at the age of 14 for a reason related to his family, and quit playing soccer at the age of 16 because of his preference for kickboxing.

His initial trainer was Jan Pasztjerik, under whom he became Dutch, European and World Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...

 champion within three years, before moving to the Golden Glory
Golden Glory
Golden Glory is a Muay Thai, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts camp, as well as a management team based in the Netherlands. With their primary fighter roster based out of Europe, Golden Glory has managed fighters from all over the world, such as American former team member, Heath Herring.Golden...

 gym in 2003. In 2006, he returned to Pasztjerik as he embarked on a joint production with Golden Glory and Pasztjerik. Training at Golden Glory with Cor Hemmers
Cor Hemmers
Cor Hemmers is a Dutch kickboxing trainer associated with the Golden Glory gym in Breda, Netherlands.Hemmers began his martial arts training in judo at the age of 6, which he studied until the age of 15 when he switched to Kyokushin Karate. In 1976, Hemmers began competing in full contact karate...

, Saki became a well-known fighter as he took wins over André Tete
André Tete
André Tete is a Dutch/Mozambican Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist , both of his parents are from Mozambique.At the age of 14, he was introduced to professional boxing...

, Vitali Akhramenko
Vitali Akhramenko
Vitali Akhramenko is a Belarusian Heavyweight kickboxer and a former World Muay Thai champion. He is trained by Andrei Gridin and is fighting out of Chinuk Gym, Minsk, Belarus...

 and Henriques Zowa
Henriques Zowa
Henriques Zowa is a Angolan-Dutch kickboxer, fighting out of Fighting Factory Carbin in Almere, Netherlands.-Kickboxing record:-References:...

, while also facing well-established fighters such as Badr Hari
Badr Hari
Badr "The Golden Boy" Hari is a Moroccan-Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam. He is a former K-1 Heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 finalist. As of May 2011, Hari is ranked the #2 heavyweight in the world by LiverKick.com...

 and Nicholas Pettas
Nicholas Pettas
Nicholas Pettas is a Greek-Danish karateka, former heavyweight kickboxer and actor, who fought out of Team Sprit AE in Tokyo, Japan...

. Despite his success under Hemmers, Saki considers Pasztjerik as the main influence who helped him develop to the fighter he would become.

2006-2007

Saki made his K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...

 debut at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam on May 13, 2006 where he defeated Alexey Ignashov
Alexey Ignashov
Alexey "The Red Scorpion" Ignashov is a Belarusian Super Heavyweight kickboxer. He is a four-time Muay Thai World champion, K-1 World GP 2003 in Paris and K-1 World GP 2001 in Nagoya tournament champion...

 in the quarter-finals and Rani Berbachi in the semis, before losing to Bjorn Bregy
Björn Bregy
Björn "The Rock" Bregy is a Swiss super heavyweight kickboxer, European Yoseikan Budo Champion and K-1 Europe 2006 in Amsterdam tournament Champion.-Career:...

 by first round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...

 in tournament finals.

Saki returned to K-1 in March the following year, taking on Hiromi Amada
Hiromi Amada
Hiromi Amada is a Japanese super heavyweight kickboxer and boxer from Gunma, Japan competing in K-1.-Biography and career:He made his K-1 debut in 1999 with a unanimous decision win over John Wyatt...

 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama and winning via technical knockout by using Dutch-style low kicks. On June 23, 2007, he defeated Mourad Bouzidi
Mourad Bouzidi
Mourad "The Silent Power" Bouzidi is Dutch–Tunisian heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Team Kamakura/Team Aerts in The Hague, Netherlands. He is the current Dutch Heavyweight W.F.C.A. kickboxing champion....

 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam by unanimous decision.

He finished off the year by taking a unanimous decision victory over Russian muay Thai fighter Magomed Magomedov
Magomed Magomedov
Magomed "The Propeller" Magomedov is a Russian former kickboxer fighting out of Chinuk Gyn from Minsk, Belarus. He was six time amateur Russian kickboxing champion and the professional WMC and IMF Light Heavyweight World Muay Thai Champion....

 at K-1 Fighting Network Turkey 2007 in Istanbul on November 2.

2008

On February 16, 2008, Saki won the WFCA World Thaiboxing Super Heavyweight (+95 kg) Championship by defeating Englishman Chris Knowles via TKO (left low kick) in his hometown of Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...

. Following this, his next significant bout came in a super fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam on April 26 where he knocked out Paul Slowinski
Paul Slowinski
Paul "The Sting" Slowinski is a Polish-Australian kickboxer, a four-time WMC Muay Thai World champion and two-time K-1 World GP 2006 in Auckland and K-1 World GP 2007 in Amsterdam champion...

 with a left cross in the first round.
Following these impressive victories, he was invited to take part in the sixteen-man tournament at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii on August 9. Saki was able to win the tournament in devastating fashion by knocking out all three of his opponents, Deutsch Pu'u, Rick Cheek
Rick Cheek
"Savage" Rick Cheek is an American Super Heavyweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist, from Santa Rosa, California. He's former IKF and WKA North American Super Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and former United States Air Force boxing champion.- Biography & career:Cheek started training...

 and Randy Kim. This victory earned Saki a place in the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix, also known as the K-1 World GP, is an elimination kickboxing tournament that has been held annually since 1993 by the K-1 organization. Each year, K-1 holds various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style tournaments throughout the world to determine which 16 fighters will compete in...

 final sixteen, and also marked the first time a Turkish fighter had won a K-1 Grand Prix.

Later that year at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16
K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16
K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16 was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday September 27, 2008 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, Korea. It was the Final Elimination tournament for top sixteen fighters...

on September 27, he was drawn against legendary New Zealander Ray Sefo
Ray Sefo
"Sugar" Ray Sefo is a New Zealand kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. He is five time Muay Thai World champion and eight time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant, currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada and training with Xtreme Couture.He holds notable wins in the K-1 over...

. After three rounds, the judges had scored the fight a decision draw so it went to an extra round to determine the winner, after which Saki was announced the victor by unanimous decision. Advancing to the final eight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final on December 6, Saki defeated Ruslan Karaev
Ruslan Karaev
Ruslan Savelyevich Karaev is a Russian kickboxer of Ossetian origin. He is K-1 World GP 2005 in Las Vegas and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei tournament champion...

 in the quarter-finals before being knocked out by the eventual champion, Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...

, in the semis by a jumping kick to the rib cage.

2009

Gökhan Saki began 2009 with a defence of his WFCA World Thaiboxing Super Heavyweight Championship, finishing Germany's Arndt Bunk witha body shot in round 1 on February 28.

A month later, he took part in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Yokohama, an eight-man tournament to determine the inaugrle K-1 Heavyweight (-100kg) Champion. In the semi-finals, his fight with Tyrone Spong
Tyrone Spong
Tyrone "King of The Ring" Spong is a Dutch-Surinamese kickboxer. He is the reigning WFCA Cruiserweight Muay Thai and the former It's Showtime 95MAX World champion, fighting out of Fighting Factory Carbin in Amsterdam, Netherlands....

 went into an extra round where he was able to win via knockout. In the final, he faced Keijiro Maeda
Keijiro Maeda
is a Japanese heavyweight kickboxer, currently competing in K-1. His real name is Kyotaro Fujimoto, and he had been using 3 other ring names before. He is known for his right hook which has knocked out many of his opponents. He is currently the K-1 Heavyweight Champion and has successfully defended...

 in a bout which also went into an extra round. However, he lost via majority decision this time.

He returned against Pavel Zhuravlev
Pavel Zhuravlev (kickboxer)
Pavel Zhuravlev is a Ukrainian-Russian heavyweight kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Sevastopol Muay Thai...

 on August 2 in a super fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and also injured his knee in the fight, which meant that he could not participate in the World Grand Prix last sixteen.

He was still able to tark part in a reserve fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final
K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final
K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 5, 2009 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 17th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments...

, however, where he faced the legendary Dutchman Peter Aerts
Peter Aerts
Peter "The Dutch Lumberjack" Aerts is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix and Muay Thai World Champion. Aerts is best known for his powerful strikes and high kicks.- Biography :...

. He was defeated via unanimous decision, meaning that he had now lost three fights in a row.

2010

In early 2010, Saki was able to bounce back by taking two wins in January and February, including a defence of his WFCA Muay Thai title against Utley Meriana, before rejoining the K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...

 circuit in April. He took a decision victory over Singh Jaideep
Singh Jaideep
Singh "Heart" Jaideep is an Indian heavyweight kickboxer competing in K-1. He is the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul tournament champion.- Titles :*J-NETWORK**J-NETWORK Heavyweight Championship...

 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama before taking on Melvin Manhoef
Melvin Manhoef
Melvin Manhoef is a Dutch-Surinamese Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, trained by Mike Passenier and fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In kickboxing, he is the current It's Showtime 85MAX World Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight World champion...

 in a highly-anticipated bout at It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam on May 29. Saki won via TKO in the second round after the referee stopped the fight due to Manhoef being knocked down three times.

Having made a full recovery from his injuries and poor form, Saki was invited to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, Korea. It was the Final Elimination tournament for top sixteen fighters...

on October 2 where he knocked out Frenchman Freddy Kemayo
Freddy Kemayo
Freddy "Crazy Horse" Kemayo is a French heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Faucon Gym in Villepinte, France. He is three time French Kickboxing champion currently competing in K-1, Local Kombat, SuperKombat and many other promotions....

 in the first round.
Following this, he entered the United Glory
United Glory
United Glory, formerly known as Ultimate Glory, is a Dutch-based kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotion affiliated with the Golden Glory gym.-History:...

 2010/11 World Series at United Glory 12 fourteen days later where he KO'd Russian Nikolaj Falin in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Saki then returned to Japan for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final
K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final was a martial arts event that was held by the K-1 on Saturday, December 11, 2010. It was the 18th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments...

on December 11. He faced Daniel Ghiţă
Daniel Ghita
Daniel Ghiţă is a Romanian super heavyweight kickboxer. He is a former WKN European Muaythai champion, currently competing in the K-1, It's Showtime and Local Kombat promotions...

 in the quarter-finals and won by unanimous decision after four rounds. However, he broke his right hand during the fight and went on to battle Golden Glory
Golden Glory
Golden Glory is a Muay Thai, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts camp, as well as a management team based in the Netherlands. With their primary fighter roster based out of Europe, Golden Glory has managed fighters from all over the world, such as American former team member, Heath Herring.Golden...

 team mate Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...

 in the semis. Using only his left hand and his kicks, he managed to outpoint his larger opponent; knocking Overeem down with a spin kick that was not counted, although Alistair landed a heavy left kick to Saki's right elbow that was also broken in his quarter-final fight. Saki lost the fight by TKO but gained huge respect for his heart and courage.

2011

After recuperating from the injuries he sustained in the K-1 Grand Prix, Saki returned to the United Glory World Series in March 2011 where he took a decision victory over Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche is a Dutch-Curaçao heavyweight kickboxer. He holds an amazing achievement in being the only man to ever defeat the kickboxing great Ginty Vrede....

 in the semis at United Glory 13.

He then went on to win the World Series at United Glory 14 on May 28 in Moscow, Russia where he defeated Brice Guidon
Brice Guidon
Brice Guidon , also known as "Nectar", is a French Muay Thai kickboxer, currently fighting in K-1 and It's Showtime. He is the W.P.M.F. European Heavyweight and World Super Heavyweight Muaythai Champion.-Biography and career:...

 by decision.

Personal life

Saki holds dual Dutch and Turkish nationality, as his parents are immigrants from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

. He has stated that he respects Ramon Dekker, and referred to Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo...

 as his favorite fighter.

Titles

  • 2011 United Glory
    United Glory
    United Glory, formerly known as Ultimate Glory, is a Dutch-based kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotion affiliated with the Golden Glory gym.-History:...

     heavyweight tournament champion
  • 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Final
    K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final
    K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final was a martial arts event that was held by the K-1 on Saturday, December 11, 2010. It was the 18th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments...

     3rd place
  • 2009 K-1 Heavyweight (-100 kg) tournament runner up
  • 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final 3rd place
  • 2008 K-1 World GP in Hawaii champion
  • 2008 WFCA World Thaiboxing Super Heavyweight (+95 kg) title
  • 2006 K-1 World Grand Prix in Amsterdam runner up
  • 2003 World Muay Thai champion
  • 2002 European Muay Thai champion
  • 2001 Dutch Muay Thai champion

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record

Legend:
MMA Record

Legend:

External links

  • Profile at K-1
    K-1
    K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...

  • Gökhan Saki Official Site
  • Golden Glory Gym
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