51 Facts About Semmy Schilt

Sem "Semmy" Schilt is a Dutch actor and former kickboxer, Ashihara karateka and mixed martial artist.

Semmy Schilt held the K-1 Super Heavyweight Championship and the Glory Heavyweight Championship titles.

Semmy Schilt is the only fighter in K-1 history to win the world championship three times in a row, and shares the record with Ernesto Hoost for most Grands Prix won, with four.

Semmy Schilt began his professional career in 1996 as a mixed martial artist competing in Pancrase, where he is a former Openweight King Of Pancrase.

Semmy Schilt has competed in Pride Fighting Championship and the UFC.

Semmy Schilt is one of the most decorated heavyweight kickboxers in history, having won five major tournaments.

Semmy Schilt is widely regarded as one of the division's all-time greats.

Semmy Schilt began practicing Kyokushin kaikan at 8 as both of his parents were practitioners.

Semmy Schilt later switched to Ashihara kaikan at 12 and earned the rank of black belt at the age of 18.

Semmy Schilt debuted in mixed martial arts for Japanese promotion Pancrase, in which he debuted on May 16,1996 at Pancrase: Truth 5 with an impressive rear naked choke victory over grappler Manabu Yamada.

The situation repeated itself, but this time Suzuki successfully landed an armbar and Semmy Schilt barely reached the ropes to get an escape.

Once standing again Semmy Schilt went aggressively and landed a clean knee strike to Suzuki's chin, knocking him out for the win.

Semmy Schilt had a rematch with Masakatsu Funaki on March 18,1998 at Pancrase: Advance 4, although he managed to take the bout to the judges, he lost on points due to spent rope escapes.

On June 20,1999, Semmy Schilt flew back to the Netherlands to face Gilbert Yvel in an interpromotional match.

Semmy Schilt came back and controlled Gilbert with open palms and knees to the body, but decided to take the fight to the ground, not wanting to risk another KO from the RINGS muay Thai specialist.

Semmy Schilt stood up and had a bleeding gash near his right eye.

Semmy Schilt returned for another interpromotional match against RINGS on June 4,2000, facing Yoshihisa Yamamoto.

Semmy Schilt won the match in under three minutes after a striking combination.

On November 28,1999, Semmy Schilt became the Openweight King Of Pancrase by winning against Yuki Kondo via rear naked choke at Pancrase: Breakthrough 10.

Semmy Schilt had two successful defenses against Kazuo Takahashi and Osami Shibuya before vacating it due to signing with the UFC.

Semmy Schilt made his debut in Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 4,2001, facing fellow Pancrase alumni Pete Williams at UFC 31.

Semmy Schilt was taken down and mounted, but he used his height advantage to prevent Williams from applying ground and pound, and once they were back to standing he knocked out Williams with body kicks and punches.

Semmy Schilt was taken down and mounted again, but Barnett was able to land abundant strikes, some of which were answered by Semmy Schilt, cutting both of their faces and spilling a large amount of blood on the mat.

Semmy Schilt's opponent was originally Igor Vovchanchyn, but Akira Shoji volunteered to fight him after Vovchanchyn withdrew from the match due to injuries.

Semmy Schilt finished him with a combination of knee, punch and kick for the KO.

Semmy Schilt followed with two easy victories over K-1 legend Masaaki Satake and professional wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama at PRIDE 17 and PRIDE 18, knocking them both out.

On June 23,2002, Semmy Schilt faced Fedor Emelianenko, who was debuting in PRIDE after a solid career in Fighting Network RINGS at PRIDE 21.

At the second round, Semmy Schilt managed to keep the Russian on his guard and minimize the damage of his ground and pound, but Emelianenko took over again and ended the fight punishing the dutchman with more punches on the ground.

Semmy Schilt tried to bounce back on November 24,2002 against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at PRIDE 23.

When Semmy Schilt flipped him over, Nogueira feigned an armbar from the guard and then locked in a triangle choke, making Semmy Schilt tap out in his second loss in PRIDE.

Semmy Schilt was defeated again by armbar, this time in the third round.

On November 19,2005 Semmy Schilt made his first appearance at the K-1 finals.

Semmy Schilt beat Ray Sefo by decision in the quarter-finals and the defending champion Remy Bonjasky via knockout in the semifinals.

Semmy Schilt then met Glaube Feitosa in the tournament finals and won via knockout due to a knee strike to win his first K-1 World Grand Prix title.

Semmy Schilt lost twice in 2006 against Peter Aerts and Choi Hong-man but still made it to the finals after beating Bjorn Bregy via knockout.

Semmy Schilt defended his title after defeating Jerome Le Banner, Ernesto Hoost and Peter Aerts all by unanimous decisions.

Semmy Schilt faced and defeated the K-1 Hawaii GP Champion Mighty Mo by unanimous decision on June 23,2007 at the K-1 Amsterdam GP, defending his Super-Heavyweight Title.

At the 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix Final Eliminations in Seoul, South Korea, Semmy Schilt faced Paul Slowinski.

Semmy Schilt won via KO in the first round from a knee strike.

Semmy Schilt survived a near knockdown from one of Glaube's famed Brazilian kicks to win by unanimous decision.

Semmy Schilt was put on the defensive for most of the first round.

Just before time expired, Semmy Schilt landed a knee strike which badly hurt LeBanner.

Early in the second round, a low kick from Semmy Schilt sent him to the canvas in obvious pain.

The final match of the 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix was a rematch from the year before, with Semmy Schilt matched up against fellow Dutchman Peter Aerts for the third time.

In September 2008, Semmy Schilt faced Peter Aerts again and lost by decision at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16.

Semmy Schilt had small roles in the feature films Transporter 3 and Amsterdam Heavy.

On May 16,2009, Semmy Schilt lost to Badr Hari via first-round KO at the Dutch Kickboxing event It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam, in his home country of the Netherlands.

At the 2009 Final 16, Semmy Schilt beat the rising Romanian Daniel Ghita by unanimous decision.

In 2012 Semmy Schilt returned to the ring with a more aggressive style earning a convincing victories over Brice Guidon and Errol Zimmerman.

At the sixteen-man Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam in Saitama, Japan on December 31,2012, Semmy Schilt rematched Brice Guidon at the first stage of the tournament.

Semmy Schilt floored the Frenchman with a left jab in the opening seconds of round two before finishing him with the same technique soon after.