Branko Cikatić
Three knockouts in one night, the first K-1 champion
- Born
- October 4, 1955, Split, PR Croatia, Yugoslavia
- Died
- March 22, 2020 (aged 64)
- Nationality
Croatia- Height
- 189 cm (6′2″)
- Style
- Knockout puncher
- Weight
- Cruiserweight, Heavyweight
- Active
- 1972–1999
The record
Professional kickboxing, Wikipedia infobox (102 bouts); Sherdog's 2020 obituary gives 87-9-1 with 82 KOs. Amateur record 152-15-3 (138 KO). MMA 0-2.
The story
ranko Cikatić, The Croatian Tiger, was 38 when he won the first K-1 Grand Prix in Tokyo in April 1993. In one night he knocked out Changpuek Kiatsongrit, home favorite Masaaki Satake and Ernesto Hoost, and no older fighter had won the tournament by the time of his death. The Split native had first dominated European amateur competition, winning five WAKO European titles and building a 152-15-3 amateur record, before collecting world titles in Muay Thai and kickboxing as a professional. His hands did most of the damage: 82 of his 87 professional wins came by knockout. He later helped coach Mirko Cro Cop, and he died at home in Solin in March 2020 after a long illness.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- K-1 Grand Prix champion (1993, the first)
- WMTA Muay Thai world champion (1987, 1989, 1998)
- WKA and IKBF world champion, 86 kg (1991)
- WAKO European amateur champion (1979–1983)
Defining fights
- 1993WINvs Changpuek Kiatsongrit (KO 1, left hook, K-1 Grand Prix quarterfinal)
- 1993WINvs Masaaki Satake (KO 3, left hook, K-1 Grand Prix semifinal)
- 1993WINvs Ernesto Hoost (KO 1, right hook, K-1 Grand Prix final)
- 1994LOSSvs Andy Hug (decision)
Cikatić ended all three of his 1993 Grand Prix fights with hooks. Drill the lead hook at the end of a jab-cross combination and turn the hip fully, so the power comes from the floor rather than the arm.
1977–2000
