K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final

K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1 organization. It was the fifth K-1 World Grand Prix final involving eight of the world's best heavyweight fighters (+95 kg/209 lbs), with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules. The eight finalists had all qualified via elimination fights at the K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st round. Also on the card was a four-man tournament for featherweight kickboxers (57 kg/126 lbs) based in Japan and a local 'Super Fight', with all bouts fought under K-1 Rules. In total there were fourteen fighters at the event, representing seven countries.

K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final
Information
Promotion	K-1
Date	November 9, 1997
Venue	Tokyo Dome
City	Tokyo, Japan
Attendance	54,500
Event chronology
K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st round K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final K-1 Kings '98

The tournament winner was Ernesto Hoost who won his first K-1 Grand Prix final by defeating reigning champion Andy Hug by third round majority decision. The event was also notable for two of the fights in the quarter-finals - with both Francisco Filho and Andy Hug defeating their opponents by knockout at 15 seconds of the first record. It was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, November 9, 1997 in front of a huge crowd of 54,500 spectators.

K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final Tournament

K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Francisco Filho

KO

Duane Van Der Merwe

Francisco Filho

KO

Sam Greco

Sam Greco

KO

Jean-Claude Leuyer

Francisco Filho

Ernesto Hoost

DEC

Ernesto Hoost

KO

Stefan Leko

Ernesto Hoost

KO

Jérôme Le Banner

Jérôme Le Banner

TKO

Rick Roufus

Ernesto Hoost

DEC

Andy Hug

Peter Aerts

KO

James Warring

Peter Aerts

TKO

Mike Bernardo

Mike Bernardo

TKO

Branko Cikatić

Peter Aerts

Andy Hug

DEC

Pierre Guenette

Andy Hug

TKO

Andy Hug

KO

Masaaki Satake

Jean Riviere

Masaaki Satake

DEC

K-1 Japan Featherweight Grand Prix Tournament

	Semi-finals					Final
	Kenichi Sato		TKO
	Suguru Yamanouchi
						Kenichi Sato
						Takehiro Murahama		DEC
	Kensaku Maeda
	Takehiro Murahama		DEC

Results

K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final Results

K-1 Japan Featherweight Grand Prix Semi-finals: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Kenichi Sato def. Suguru Yamanouchi
Sato defeated Yamanouchi by TKO at 2:10 of the 1st round.
Kensaku Maeda def. Takehiro Murahama
Murahama defeated Maeda by 3rd round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (30-27, 30-28, 30-27).
K-1 Grand Prix Quarter-finals: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Francisco Filho def. Sam Greco
Filho defeated Greco by KO (Right Hook) at 0:15 of the 1st round.
Ernesto Hoost def. Jérôme Le Banner
Hoost defeated Le Banner by KO (Right Hook) at 1:15 of the 1st round.
Peter Aerts def. Mike Bernardo
Aerts defeated Bernardo by TKO (Right Straight to the Body) at 1:17 of the 3rd round.
Andy Hug def. Masaaki Satake
Hug defeated Satake by KO (Left High Kick) at 0:15 of the 1st round.
K-1 Japan Featherweight Grand Prix Final: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.2R
Takehiro Murahama def. Kenichi Sato
Murahama defeated Sato by 3rd round Unanimous Decision 3-0.
K-1 Grand Prix Semi-finals: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.1R
Ernesto Hoost def. Francisco Filho
Hoost defeated Filho by 3rd round Majority Decision 2-0 (30-29, 30-30, 30-29).
Andy Hug def. Peter Aerts
Hug defeated Aerts by 3rd round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (30-29, 30-28, 30-28).
Super Fight: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 5R
Taiei Kin def. Taro Minato
Kin defeated Minato by 5th round Unanimous Decision 3-0 (50-48, 50-47, 50-47).
K-1 Grand Prix Final: K-1 Rules / 3Min. 3R Ext.2R
Ernesto Hoost def. Andy Hug
Hoost defeated Hug by 3rd round Majority Decision 2-0 (30-29, 30-29, 30-30).

See also

• List of K-1 events
• List of male kickboxers

External links

• K-1 Official Website
• K-1sport.de - Your Source for Everything K-1