Branko Cikatić

Branko Cikatić
Born Branimir Cikatić
(1954-10-03) October 3, 1954
Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Other names The Croatian Tiger
Nationality Croatian
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 98 kg (216 lb; 15.4 st)
Division Cruiserweight
Heavyweight
Reach 73 in (190 cm)
Style Kickboxing
Fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Team Tigar Gym
Chakuriki Gym (1984-)
Trainer Thom Harinck
Rank      blue belt in Judo
     black belt in Shotokan
     black belt in Taekwondo
Years active 27 (1972–1999)
Kickboxing record
Total 98
Wins 87
By knockout 82
Losses 9
By knockout 2
Draws 1
No contests 1
Mixed martial arts record
Total 2
Wins 0
Losses 2
By submission 1
By disqualification 1
No contests 0
Amateur career
Total 170
Wins 152
By knockout 138
Losses 15
Draws 3
Other information
Occupation Gym owner/Trainer
Notable students Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović
Website http://www.bcikatic.htnet.hr/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: February 12, 2010

Branko "The Croatian Tiger" Cikatić (born October 3, 1954) is a Croatian former heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian born fighter to achieve international success. He was the first K-1 World Grand Prix tournament champion held on April 30, 1993 in Japan.

Biography and career

Cikatić began his martial arts training at the age of 12 when he took up Taekwondo, and later Shotokan Karate at 16. He eventually earned a black belt in both of these disciplines, as well as a blue belt in Judo. When he was 18 years old, he took up boxing before switching to kickboxing.[1]

He surprised the martial arts world by storming the 1993 K-1 Grand Prix tournament, knocking out all three of his opponents in one evening, including Ernesto Hoost in the final match. To date Cikatić is the oldest winner of the K-1 Grand Prix at 38 years and 208 days.

He extended his athletic resume to include mixed martial arts in 1998, fighting in the Pride Fighting Championships. His PRIDE debut was fought against Ralph White under K-1 rules format. Cikatić lost via disqualification after kicking the head of the downed White. Cikatić returned at Pride 2, fighting under MMA rules and facing Mark Kerr. He was again disqualified after holding the ring ropes when Kerr attempted a takedown, refusing to let go when directed by the referee, running away through the ring ropes, and delivering several illegal elbows to the back of Kerr's head. His next fight at Pride 7 ended in a submission loss to Maurice Smith by forearm choke.

Towards the end of his sports career, Cikatić tried his hand at acting, playing a villain in a 1997 B-movie Skyscraper, starring Anna Nicole Smith.

Titles

Professional Career:

Amateur Career:

Kickboxing record

87 Wins (82 knockouts), 5 Losses, 1 Draw
Date Result Opponent Event Method Round Time Location
October 11, 1997 No contest United States Ralph White Pride 1 No contest (Cikatić kicked White while he was on the ground) 1 1:52 Japan Tokyo, Japan
September 7, 1997 Loss South Africa Mike Bernardo K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st Round TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 1 0:38 Japan Osaka, Japan
July 20, 1997 Loss Australia Sam Greco K-1 Dream '97 KO (Right Hooks) 1 2:58 Japan Nagoya, Japan
March 16, 1997 Win Japan Musashi K-1 Kings '97 KO (Right Punch) 4 1:38 Japan Yokohama, Japan
December 12, 1994 Win Netherlands Ernesto Hoost K-1 Legend KO (Right Hook) 2 1:18 Japan Nagoya, Japan
September 18, 1994 Loss Australia Stan Longinidis K-1 Revenge Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 Japan Yokohama, Japan
April 30, 1994 Loss Japan Masaaki Satake K-1 Grand Prix '94 Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 Japan Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1994 Win Netherlands Andre Mannaart K-1 Grand Prix '94 KO (Right Punch) 2 0:16 Japan Tokyo, Japan
March 4, 1994 Loss Switzerland Andy Hug K-1 Challenge Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 Japan Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1993 Win Netherlands Ernesto Hoost K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Right Hook) 1 2:49 Japan Tokyo, Japan
Wins K-1 Grand Prix '93.
April 30, 1993 Win Japan Masaaki Satake K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Left Hook) 3 0:45 Japan Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1993 Win Thailand Changpuek Kiatsongrit K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Right Straight) 1 2:35 Japan Tokyo, Japan
June, 1992 Loss Australia Stan Longinidis World Kickboxing Association Decision (Unanimous) 12 2:00 Australia Melbourne, Australia
March 16, 1992 Draw United States Dennis Alexio World Martial Arts Challenge Technical draw (Alexio hit Cikatić during a stoppage) 3 1:25 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
October 8, 1989 Loss Netherlands Ernesto Hoost Disqualification 2 1:25 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands, NED
Fight was for W.M.T.A. Muaythai World title.
September 12, 1987 Loss United States Don Wilson Knockout 7 - United States Orlando, Florida, U.S.
1983 Loss Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vjekoslav Šafranić Decision 7 - Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0-2 Maurice Smith Submission (forearm choke) Pride 7 September 12, 1999 1 7:33
Loss 0-1 Mark Kerr DQ (grabbing the ropes) Pride 2 March 15, 1998 1 2:14

See also

References

  1. ↑ Biography at official site

External links

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