Gökhan Saki

Gökhan Saki (born 18 October 1983 ) is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist.

His initial trainer was Jan Pasztjerik, under whom he became Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion within three years, before moving to Golden Glory in 2003.

He is a Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion, K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam tournament finalist, K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii champion and former Glory Light Heavyweight Champion.

Saki also competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Saki was born and raised in Schiedam, Netherlands.

His parents were Turkish immigrants from Kars.

Saki began training in kickboxing at the age of 10 when he also began playing football, but eventually quit football at the age of 16 because of his preference for kickboxing.

In 2006, he returned to Pasztjerik as he embarked on a joint production with Golden Glory and Pasztjerik.

Training at Golden Glory with Cor Hemmers, Saki became a well-known fighter as he took wins over André Tete, Vitali Akhramenko, Henriques Zowa and Alexey Ignashov.

Apart from the aforementioned wins he also accumulated losses against well-established fighters such as Badr Hari and the Greek Nicholas Pettas.

Despite his success under Hemmers, Saki considers Pasztjerik as the main influence who helped him develop to the fighter he would become.

Saki made his K-1 debut at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam on 13 May 2006 where he defeated Rani Berbachi in the quarter-finals and Alexey Ignashov in the semis, before losing to Bjorn Bregy by first round knockout in tournament finals.

Saki returned to K-1 in March the following year, taking on Hiromi Amada at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama and winning via technical knockout by using Dutch-style low kicks.

On 23 June 2007, he defeated Mourad Bouzidi at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam by unanimous decision.

He finished off the year by taking a unanimous decision victory over Russian muay Thai fighter Magomed Magomedov at K-1 Fighting Network Turkey 2007 in Istanbul on 2 November.

On 16 February 2008, Saki won the World Full Contact Association (WFCA) World Thaiboxing Super Heavyweight (+95 kg) Championship by defeating Englishman Chris Knowles via TKO (left low kick) in his hometown of Schiedam.

Following this, his next significant bout came in a super fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Amsterdam on 26 April where he knocked out Paul Slowinski with a left cross in the first round.

Following these impressive victories, he was invited to take part in the sixteen-man tournament at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii on 9 August.

Saki was able to win the tournament in devastating fashion by knocking out all three of his opponents, Deutsch Pu'u, Rick Cheek and Randy Kim.

This victory earned Saki a place in the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix final sixteen.

Later that year at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16 on 27 September, he was drawn against legendary New Zealander Ray Sefo.

After three rounds, the judges had scored the fight a decision draw so it went to an extra round to determine the winner, after which Saki was announced the victor by unanimous decision.

Advancing to the final eight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final on 6 December, Saki defeated Ruslan Karaev in the quarter-finals before being knocked out by the eventual champion, Remy Bonjasky, in the semis by a jumping kick to the rib cage.

Gokhan Saki began 2009 with a defence of his WFCA World Thaiboxing Super Heavyweight Championship, finishing Germany's Arndt Bunk with a body shot in round 1 on 28 February.

A month later, he took part in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Yokohama, an eight-man tournament to determine the inaugural K-1 Heavyweight (−100kg) Champion.

In the semi-finals, his fight with Tyrone Spong went into an extra round where he was able to win via knockout.

In the final, he faced Keijiro Maeda in a bout which also went into an extra round.

However, he lost via majority decision this time.

He returned against Pavel Zhuravlev on 2 August in a super fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul.

He lost the fight via unanimous decision and also injured his knee in the fight, which meant that he could not participate in the World Grand Prix last sixteen.

He was still able to take part in a reserve fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final, however, where he faced the legendary Dutchman Peter Aerts.

He was defeated via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–27, and 29–28), meaning that he had now lost three fights in a row.

In early 2010, Saki was able to bounce back by taking two wins in January and February, including a defence of his WFCA Muay Thai title against Utley Meriana, before rejoining the K-1 circuit in April.

He took a decision victory over Singh Jaideep at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama before taking on Melvin Manhoef in a highly anticipated bout at It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam on 29 May.

Saki won via TKO in the second round after the referee stopped the fight due to Manhoef being knocked down three times.

Having made a full recovery from his injuries and poor form, Saki was invited to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 on 2 October where he knocked out Frenchman Freddy Kemayo in the first round.

Following this, he entered the United Glory 2010/11 World Series at United Glory 12 fourteen days later where he KO'd Russian Nikolaj Falin in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Saki then returned to Japan for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final on 11 December.

He faced Daniel Ghiţă in the quarter-finals and won by unanimous decision after four rounds.

However, he broke his right hand during the fight and went on to battle Golden Glory teammate Alistair Overeem in the semis.