K-1 World Grand Prix 2002
Encyclopedia
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final was a 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....

 event promoted by 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...

. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...

 in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, December 7, 2002 in front of 74,500 spectators. It was the tenth K-1 World Grand Prix final, involving ten of the world's top fighters (two being reservists), with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). The eight finalists had almost all qualified via preliminary events, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters (for more detail on this see bulleted list below). In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing eight countries.

The tournament winner was Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

 who won his fourth and final K-1 World Grand Prix by defeating Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

 in the final by third 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...

. Jérôme Le Banner would be making his second appearance in the final, which he so far been unable to win, and the defeat was made even worse as it left him with a broken arm which nearly ended his career (fortunately he was able to recover).

It is also interesting to note that Ernesto Hoost was actually knocked out of this K-1 World Grand Prix twice (taking into account the Final Elimination) - both times by Bob Sapp - but managed to proceed due to injuries to other fighters.

Qualifiers - Finalists
  • 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 :...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

     - Invitee, called up to replace Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...

     who was injured
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt ; is a New Zealand kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Stefan Leko
    Stefan Leko
    Stefan "Blitz" Leko is a German-Croatian heavyweight kickboxer. He is former Muay Thai world heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Musashi
    Musashi (kickboxer)
    is a retired professional Japanese Heavyweight karateka and kickboxer. He is 4 time K-1 Japan tournament champion, a former WAKO Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist...

     - K-1 Andy Spirits Japan GP 2002 Final winner
  • Bob Sapp
    Bob Sapp
    Robert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor, comedian and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has a combined fight record of 21–21–0, mostly fighting in Japan...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • 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...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination


Qualifiers - Reservists
  • Martin Holm
    Martin Holm
    Martin Holm was a Swedish Muay Thai kickboxer and former WMC Muaythai World Champion. In K-1 he fought against some of the biggest stars at the time, like Ernesto Hoost, Ray Sefo, Michael McDonald and Glaube Feitosa....

     - Invitee
  • Michael McDonald
    Michael McDonald (kickboxer)
    Michael "The Black Sniper" McDonald is a retired Canadian Heavyweight kickboxer. He is the former three time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion.-Early life:Michael McDonald was born in Birmingham, England...

     - Invitee

K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Tournament

* Ernesto Hoost replaced Semmy Schilt in the Quarter Finals as Semmy Schilt was injured

** Ernesto Hoost replaced Bob Sapp in the Semi Finals as Bob Sapp was injured

Results

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K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final was a 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....

 event promoted by 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...

. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...

 in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, December 7, 2002 in front of 74,500 spectators. It was the tenth K-1 World Grand Prix final, involving ten of the world's top fighters (two being reservists), with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). The eight finalists had almost all qualified via preliminary events, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters (for more detail on this see bulleted list below). In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing eight countries.

The tournament winner was Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

 who won his fourth and final K-1 World Grand Prix by defeating Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

 in the final by third 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...

. Jérôme Le Banner would be making his second appearance in the final, which he so far been unable to win, and the defeat was made even worse as it left him with a broken arm which nearly ended his career (fortunately he was able to recover).

It is also interesting to note that Ernesto Hoost was actually knocked out of this K-1 World Grand Prix twice (taking into account the Final Elimination) - both times by Bob Sapp - but managed to proceed due to injuries to other fighters.

Qualifiers - Finalists
  • 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 :...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

     - Invitee, called up to replace Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...

     who was injured
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt ; is a New Zealand kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Stefan Leko
    Stefan Leko
    Stefan "Blitz" Leko is a German-Croatian heavyweight kickboxer. He is former Muay Thai world heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Musashi
    Musashi (kickboxer)
    is a retired professional Japanese Heavyweight karateka and kickboxer. He is 4 time K-1 Japan tournament champion, a former WAKO Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist...

     - K-1 Andy Spirits Japan GP 2002 Final winner
  • Bob Sapp
    Bob Sapp
    Robert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor, comedian and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has a combined fight record of 21–21–0, mostly fighting in Japan...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • 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...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination


Qualifiers - Reservists
  • Martin Holm
    Martin Holm
    Martin Holm was a Swedish Muay Thai kickboxer and former WMC Muaythai World Champion. In K-1 he fought against some of the biggest stars at the time, like Ernesto Hoost, Ray Sefo, Michael McDonald and Glaube Feitosa....

     - Invitee
  • Michael McDonald
    Michael McDonald (kickboxer)
    Michael "The Black Sniper" McDonald is a retired Canadian Heavyweight kickboxer. He is the former three time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion.-Early life:Michael McDonald was born in Birmingham, England...

     - Invitee

K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Tournament

* Ernesto Hoost replaced Semmy Schilt in the Quarter Finals as Semmy Schilt was injured

** Ernesto Hoost replaced Bob Sapp in the Semi Finals as Bob Sapp was injured

Results

{| class="toccolours" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final was a 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....

 event promoted by 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...

. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...

 in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, December 7, 2002 in front of 74,500 spectators. It was the tenth K-1 World Grand Prix final, involving ten of the world's top fighters (two being reservists), with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules (100 kg/156-220 lbs). The eight finalists had almost all qualified via preliminary events, while two additional fighters were invited as reserve fighters (for more detail on this see bulleted list below). In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing eight countries.

The tournament winner was Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

 who won his fourth and final K-1 World Grand Prix by defeating Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme Le Banner
Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

 in the final by third 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...

. Jérôme Le Banner would be making his second appearance in the final, which he so far been unable to win, and the defeat was made even worse as it left him with a broken arm which nearly ended his career (fortunately he was able to recover).

It is also interesting to note that Ernesto Hoost was actually knocked out of this K-1 World Grand Prix twice (taking into account the Final Elimination) - both times by Bob Sapp - but managed to proceed due to injuries to other fighters.

Qualifiers - Finalists
  • 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 :...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme Le Banner
    Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner , is a French kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power....

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Hoost
    Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...

     - Invitee, called up to replace Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt
    Semmy Schilt , also known as Sem Schilt, is a Dutch Ashihara karateka, kickboxer, mixed martial artist and four time K-1 World GP champion. He is the first and only fighter in K-1 history to win the championship three times in a row, and also shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most GPs won,...

     who was injured
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt ; is a New Zealand kickboxer and mixed martial artist of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Hunt competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is known for his raw strength, iron chin and knockout power. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Stefan Leko
    Stefan Leko
    Stefan "Blitz" Leko is a German-Croatian heavyweight kickboxer. He is former Muay Thai world heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • Musashi
    Musashi (kickboxer)
    is a retired professional Japanese Heavyweight karateka and kickboxer. He is 4 time K-1 Japan tournament champion, a former WAKO Heavyweight Muay Thai champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist...

     - K-1 Andy Spirits Japan GP 2002 Final winner
  • Bob Sapp
    Bob Sapp
    Robert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor, comedian and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has a combined fight record of 21–21–0, mostly fighting in Japan...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination
  • 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...

     - Won fight at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination


Qualifiers - Reservists
  • Martin Holm
    Martin Holm
    Martin Holm was a Swedish Muay Thai kickboxer and former WMC Muaythai World Champion. In K-1 he fought against some of the biggest stars at the time, like Ernesto Hoost, Ray Sefo, Michael McDonald and Glaube Feitosa....

     - Invitee
  • Michael McDonald
    Michael McDonald (kickboxer)
    Michael "The Black Sniper" McDonald is a retired Canadian Heavyweight kickboxer. He is the former three time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion.-Early life:Michael McDonald was born in Birmingham, England...

     - Invitee

K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Tournament

* Ernesto Hoost replaced Semmy Schilt in the Quarter Finals as Semmy Schilt was injured

** Ernesto Hoost replaced Bob Sapp in the Semi Finals as Bob Sapp was injured

Results

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