# K-1 World Grand Prix

K-1 World Grand Prix, also known as the K-1 WORLD GP, is an elimination kickboxing tournament that was originally held annually from 1993 by the K-1 organization, under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). Each year, K-1 would hold various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style qualifying tournaments throughout the world to determine which 16 fighters will compete in the main World GP.

## Match-ups

Combatants of the quarter-finals of a 16-man 8-match tournament were paired by drawing, with the exception of the final. A lottery draw would take place. The balls represented numbers 1 to 8, which determined the fighters' order in choosing a position (from A to H), and the line-number of the match. The next fighter was able to choose between challenging the one on the stage or an "empty" section. This procedure went on until one fighter had to fill its slot left next to the lone rival.

## K-1 World Grand Prix dates and venues

| Event | Date of opening round | Date of final round | Country |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1993 | N/A | April 3, 1993 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1994 | N/A | April 30, 1994 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1995 | March 3, 1995 | May 4, 1995 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 | March 10, 1996 | May 6, 1996 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1997 | September 7, 1997 | November 9, 1997 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 | September 27, 1998 | December 13, 1998 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 | October 5, 1999 | December 5, 1999 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 | N/A | December 10, 2000 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 | N/A | December 8, 2001 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 | October 5, 2002 | December 7, 2002 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 | October 11, 2003 | December 6, 2003 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 | September 25, 2004 | December 4, 2004 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 | September 23, 2005 | November 19, 2005 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 | September 30, 2006 | November 25, 2006 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 | September 29, 2007 | December 8, 2007 | Korea, Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 | September 27, 2008 | December 6, 2008 | Korea, Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 | September 26, 2009 | December 5, 2009 | Korea, Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 | October 2, 2010 | December 11, 2010 | Japan |
| K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 | N/A | December 14, 2024 | Japan |

## Champions

| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
| 1993 | Branko Cikatić | Ernesto Hoost |
| 1994 | Peter Aerts | Masaaki Satake |
| 1995 | Peter Aerts | Jerome Le Banner |
| 1996 | Andy Hug | Mike Bernardo |
| 1997 | Ernesto Hoost | Andy Hug |
| 1998 | Peter Aerts | Andy Hug |
| 1999 | Ernesto Hoost | Mirko Filipović |
| 2000 | Ernesto Hoost | Ray Sefo |
| 2001 | Mark Hunt | Francisco Filho |
| 2002 | Ernesto Hoost | Jerome Le Banner |
| 2003 | Remy Bonjasky | Musashi |
| 2004 | Remy Bonjasky | Musashi |
| 2005 | Semmy Schilt | Glaube Feitosa |
| 2006 | Semmy Schilt | Peter Aerts |
| 2007 | Semmy Schilt | Peter Aerts |
| 2008 | Remy Bonjasky | Badr Hari |
| 2009 | Semmy Schilt | Badr Hari |
| 2010 | Alistair Overeem | Peter Aerts |
| 2024 | Ariel Machado | Feng Rui |