Semmy Schilt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Semmy Schilt
Schilt in 2006
Born	(1973-10-27) October 27, 1973 (age 51) Rotterdam, Netherlands
Other names	Hightower
Height	212 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Weight	130 kg (287 lb)
Division	Heavyweight Super Heavyweight
Style	Karate, Kickboxing, Judo, Submission Wrestling
Fighting out of	Zuidlaren, Netherlands
Team	Golden Glory
Trainer	Dave Jonkers Horia Rădulescu (part-time)
Rank	6th Dan Black Belt in Ashihara Karate Certified Instructor in Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling
Years active	1996–2008 (MMA), 2002–2013 (Kickboxing)
Kickboxing record
Total	50
Wins	43
By knockout	20
Losses	6
By knockout	2
Draws	1
Mixed martial arts record
Total	41
Wins	26
By knockout	14
By submission	10
By decision	2
Losses	14
By knockout	2
By submission	6
By decision	6
Draws	1
last updated on: 31 December 2012

Semmy Schilt is a famous Dutch athlete. He was a professional kickboxer, karateka, and mixed martial artist. He is known for being one of the best heavyweight kickboxers ever.

Schilt won five major heavyweight tournaments. He was a K-1 World Grand Prix Champion four times. He also won the Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam Champion title once. He held the K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship and the Glory Heavyweight Championship. He is the only fighter in K-1 history to win the world championship three times in a row. He shares the record for most Grand Prix wins (four) with Ernesto Hoost.

Schilt started his professional career in 1996. He competed in Pancrase, a mixed martial arts promotion. There, he became the Openweight King Of Pancrase. He also fought in Pride Fighting Championship and the UFC.

Early Life and Training

Semmy Schilt started learning Kyokushin Kaikan karate when he was 8 years old. His parents also practiced this style. When he was 12, he switched to Ashihara Kaikan karate. He earned his Black Belt at 18. Schilt also trained in Kickboxing, Judo, and Submission Wrestling.

Mixed Martial Arts Journey

Starting in Pancrase

Schilt began his mixed martial arts (MMA) career in Japan. His first fight was on May 16, 1996, in a promotion called Pancrase. He won his first match by using a rear naked choke move.

He fought Yuki Kondo several times. In their first match, Kondo won by decision. Schilt later fought Masakatsu Funaki, a co-founder of Pancrase. Funaki won their first two matches.

On January 16, 1998, Schilt fought Minoru Suzuki, another Pancrase co-founder. Suzuki tried to control Schilt on the ground. But Schilt managed to escape and landed a strong knee strike. This knocked Suzuki out, giving Schilt the win.

Schilt had a third match against Masakatsu Funaki on September 14, 1998. This time, Schilt was able to stop Funaki's takedowns. He landed several knee strikes and palm strikes to win the fight.

In 1999, Schilt became the Openweight King Of Pancrase. He won this title by defeating Yuki Kondo with a rear naked choke. He successfully defended his title twice before leaving Pancrase to join the UFC.

Fighting in the UFC

Schilt joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2001. His first fight was on May 4, 2001, against Pete Williams. Schilt won by knocking out Williams with body kicks and punches.

His second and last UFC fight was against Josh Barnett. Barnett won the fight by using an armbar submission.

Adventures in PRIDE

After the UFC, Schilt went to Japan to fight in PRIDE Fighting Championship. He debuted on September 24, 2001. He won his first three fights in PRIDE by knockout.

On June 23, 2002, Schilt faced Fedor Emelianenko. Emelianenko won the fight by decision after three rounds. Schilt then lost to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira by triangle choke on November 24, 2002.

At the end of 2003, Schilt had a rematch with Josh Barnett. Barnett won again, this time by armbar in the third round.

Kickboxing Success

Dominating K-1

On November 19, 2005, Semmy Schilt made his first appearance at the K-1 finals. He defeated Ray Sefo and then the champion Remy Bonjasky. In the finals, he knocked out Glaube Feitosa with a knee strike to win his first K-1 World Grand Prix title.

On December 31, 2005, he beat Ernesto Hoost, a four-time K-1 champion.

In 2006, Schilt defended his K-1 title. He beat Jerome Le Banner, Ernesto Hoost, and Peter Aerts to win his second K-1 World Grand Prix.

On April 3, 2007, he became K-1's first Super Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Ray Sefo by knockout. He defended this title against Mighty Mo in June 2007.

Schilt continued his winning streak in the 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix. He defeated Paul Slowinski by knockout. He then beat Glaube Feitosa and Jerome LeBanner. In the final match, he faced Peter Aerts again. Schilt won when Aerts injured his knee. This made Schilt the only person to win three K-1 Grand Prix titles in a row.

In September 2008, Schilt lost to Peter Aerts by decision.

On May 16, 2009, Schilt lost to Badr Hari by knockout. This fight was for the It's Showtime Heavyweight Championship.

At the 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix, Schilt was back on top. He defeated Daniel Ghita, Jerome LeBanner, and Remy Bonjasky. In the finals, he knocked out Badr Hari to win his fourth K-1 Grand Prix title. He also set a record for the fastest Grand Prix win.

In April 2010, he defended his K-1 Super Heavyweight title against Errol Zimmerman. In the semi-finals of the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix, he lost to Peter Aerts.

Glory Championship

In 2012, Schilt returned to the ring with a more aggressive style. He earned wins over Brice Guidon and Errol Zimmerman.

On December 31, 2012, Schilt competed in the sixteen-man Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam tournament in Japan. He defeated Brice Guidon by knockout. In the quarter-finals, he beat Rico Verhoeven. He then outpointed Gokhan Saki in the semi-finals. In the final, he faced Daniel Ghiţă. Schilt won by TKO after a left high kick, becoming the first Glory Grand Slam champion.

Retirement

Semmy Schilt retired from fighting on June 26, 2013. His medical team advised him to stop due to a heart condition.

Fighting Style

Semmy Schilt was known for his excellent physical condition and huge size. He would often wear down his opponents with strikes from a distance. His careful, technical style and toughness made him very hard to knock out. He was only knocked out twice in his kickboxing career.

Achievements and Awards

Kickboxing

• Glory
  • Glory Hall of Fame (2022)
  • Glory Heavyweight Championship (One time; First)
  • Glory 2012 Heavyweight Grand Slam Tournament Champion
• K-1
  • K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship (One time; First; Last)
    • Four successful title defenses
  • 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion
  • 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion
  • 2006 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion
  • 2005 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion
  • 2005 K-1 World Grand Prix in Paris Champion

Mixed Martial Arts

• Pancrase
  • Openweight King of Pancrase (One time)
    • Two successful title defenses
• Fight Matrix
  • 1999 Fighter of the Year

Karate

• 2 times Daido Juku Hokutoki champion (open-weight division, 1996/1997)
• 2 times IBK (International Budo Kai) European Champion Full contact karate (Knockdown karate rules) 1995/1996
• 3 times IBK (International Budo Kai) Dutch Champion Full contact karate (Knockdown karate rules) 1993/1994/1995
• Runner-up Open British Kyokushin Championship 1997
• Black Belt Magazine
  • 2008 Full-Contact Fighter of the Year
• In 2013, Semmy Schilt was inducted into the CBME's Dutch National Hall of Fame for Martial Arts.
• Rank
  • 6th dan black belt in Ashihara kaikan
  • Certified Instructor in Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling

Acting Roles

Semmy Schilt has also appeared in several movies and TV shows:

Images for kids

• 

  Schilt in 2006

See also

In Spanish: Semmy Schilt para niños