Mark Hunt, New Zealand’s granite-chinned goliath, returned from an 18-month hiatus following the demise of PRIDE FC to face current K-1 super-heavyweight champion Semmy Schilt at the K-1 World Grand Prix in Kanagawa, Japan earlier this morning.
This was scheduled to be Hunt’s only appearance for K-1 before returning to mixed martial arts on May 8 under the new DREAM promotion.
After winning the K-1 World Grand Prix by knocking out heavily-favored Jerome LeBanner in 2001, Hunt eventually transitioned to the world of mixed martial arts in 2004, competing for PRIDE FC and finishing with a record of 5-3.
Standing in his way was the 6′11″ Semmy “Hightower” Schilt, who won the title of super-heavyweight champion after outlasting Mighty Mo at the 2007 World Grand Prix in 2007. Schilt has been on an absolute tear as of late having gone 12-0 with 5 (T)KO’s since a decision loss to Hong Man Choi in 2006.
Was Hunt able to reclaim the title he held so long ago? Or did Hightower ruin the Islander’s homecoming?
Full results (and spoilers for those still waiting to see it) dead ahead. To check out the video click here.
K-1 2008 World Grand Prix from Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan
Results courtesy of K-1 Official Website:
21 Comments »
Im not shocked of Mark Hunt loseing, but I did want him to win, too come back into MMA on a good note…he will prob go to DREAM, I would guess.
Yeah im pretty sure he will end up in Dream. Dreamstage ent.(ex-prideFC) seem to be re-recruting some of their ex-PrideFC fighter,.
Hunt isn’t the best fighter but they will line him up in some pretty entertaining fight over at Dream..
and if Choi beat Schilt….even though this is K1…I think this says alot about Choi’s future….I want too see Hunt vs Choi in a MMA bout…..lol….I think it would be a good 1
hoi vs hunt in a mma bout? id rather watch reruns of the muppet show than this.
Thanks for having no spoilers, Jesse. Very cool of you. Good fight. Thanks for the link.
I can’t really seeing anyone of the other guys beating Schilt (on the basis that I don’t recognise the names). Admittedly only a couple of those names are familiar to me.
Semmy is no.1
According to the picture, Semmy Schilt look likes a Fat Matt Damon and Mark Hunt looks like a Fat Shane Victorino from the Philadelphia Phillies.
http://www.dailymotion.com/country:nl/video/x524tw_badr-hari-vs-ray-sefo_sport
lol. of course I dont think its possible to beat mark hunt by hitting him in the head, so you kick his body. good plan.
Hunt needs to get into better shape. He looks very sloppy fat and in the fight game this will get you beat everytime.
Can you imagine Hunt at a normal 185 and 6′ tall?
There is no way Hunt could make 185, he just isn’t built that way. Hell, his head alone weighs almost 185 . . .
lol…nice…
Hunt’s Samoan.
Not trying to be racist but seriously, as if there’s such a thing as a well-built Samoan.
Yes!! the rock!!
That was a sick spinning back kick to end the fight
Got the fight and other K-1 fights on my blog
I need to see this, hunt got KOed? Shit… If hunt drops down to the 245 he was at when he won the GP, he would be a force to be reckoned with in MMA or Kickboxing
He didn’t get his jaw-tapped.He was hit with a spinning back kick to the belly..He could not recover in time to continue..
If this was a MMa fight Hunt would have had a way better chance..
Hunt did have decent stand-up..He landed some good shots, but gassed out, just to get hit with a well timed kick in the final seconds of the 1st round..
Man, I was shattered when I saw that tape. Hunt really looked out of shape, like he didn’t want to be there. I just hope he re-enters the MMA circuit sooner, rather than later, he is much better suited to it.
I would really like to see Semmy Shilt vs. Tim Sylvia. That fight would be very inetersting.
I think Sylvia is wasting his time against Fedor. He is going to get submitted really easy. The best fights for Sylvia are against Tall strikers like Shilt, kongo or Aleksander Emelienenko. Those fights would be exciting and it would be interesting to see how Sylvia’s striking is when he isnt enjoying a monster reach advantage over his opponents.
If Affliction is really going to sign Arlovski, they should match up Fedor vs. Arlovski and have Sylvia vs. Aleksander
Then they can match up Barnett vs. Rothwell!
badr hari is the one to take it to the end up against semmy schilt.