Best Kickboxers Of All Time: Top 7 Kickboxing Artists To See
Contents
- The Best Kickboxers in History
- 1. Peter Aerts
- 2. Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic
- 3. Badr Hari
- 4. Ernesto Hoost
- 5. Alistair Overeem
- 6. Rico Verhoeven
- 7. Semmy Schilt
- Watch This!
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is martial art's best kickboxer?
- Who among the top kickboxers is the highest paid?
- Who among the UFC fighters are the best kickboxers?
- Conclusion
- Sources
Photo by Vanbasten 23, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Kickboxing is a martial art and a demanding sport that people of all ages enjoy. It comes in several forms, including Dutch kickboxing, Lethwei, and Muay Thai.
Read on to meet some of the best kickboxers of all time and what made them great.
The Best Kickboxers in History
What separates a champion from a hard-working pro? Talent matters, but so do years of training, smart coaching, and the will to keep fighting the best.
Full-contact kickboxing grew out of the American karate scene of the 1960s and 1970s. Ed Parker, a pioneer of American Kenpo, launched the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964, and a demonstration there introduced Bruce Lee to a wider audience.
Karate fighters such as Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace later helped build full-contact kickboxing in the 1970s.
In Europe, the Netherlands became the center of the sport. Dutch gyms mixed Muay Thai with boxing and Kyokushin karate, creating the aggressive Dutch style.
Ramon Dekkers is the best-known Dutch Muay Thai pioneer. He fought many of Thailand's top fighters in their own country and became one of the first foreign stars of the sport there.
Muay Thai itself comes from Thailand, and it spread to Europe and the West mainly in the second half of the twentieth century.
With that in mind, here are some of the world's most famous kickboxers:
1. Peter Aerts
Photo by Paulblank, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Peter Aerts, "The Dutch Lumberjack," is one of the defining fighters of the K-1 era. He won the K-1 World Grand Prix three times, in 1994, 1995, and 1998.
He was known for his high kicks, big knockouts, and remarkable longevity, staying among the top heavyweights for most of K-1's history.
2. Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic
Photo by jamie.lovelock on FLickr, Cropped by East718 on te English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic made his name in K-1 before shifting to mixed martial arts, where his left high kick became famous.
He won the PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix in 2006 and joined the UFC in 2007. Later he returned to kickboxing and won the K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 tournament, whose final was held in March 2013.
K-1 rules resemble Muay Thai, but without elbow strikes or throws and with restricted clinching.
3. Badr Hari
Photo by Paulblank, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Badr Hari, "The Golden Boy," was one of the most exciting and controversial heavyweights in kickboxing.
He held the K-1 heavyweight title and the It's Showtime heavyweight title. He reached the K-1 World Grand Prix final in 2008 and 2009 but never won the tournament.
In the 2008 final, he was disqualified for hitting a downed Remy Bonjasky, and K-1 stripped him of his heavyweight title. Even so, his aggressive style made him one of the sport's biggest draws.
4. Ernesto Hoost
Photo by Paulblank, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ernesto Hoost, "Mr. Perfect," holds the record for K-1 World Grand Prix wins. He won the tournament four times, in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2002.
He was famous for clean, technical combinations of punches and low kicks rather than wild brawling.
He also reached the very first K-1 Grand Prix final in 1993, which Branko Cikatic won.
5. Alistair Overeem
Photo by THE REEM, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alistair Overeem, "The Demolition Man," is one of the few fighters to reach the top of both kickboxing and MMA.
He started in MMA and fought in PRIDE FC, then won the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2010. He also held the Strikeforce heavyweight title.
He made his UFC debut in December 2011 and became a long-time contender in the heavyweight division.
6. Rico Verhoeven
Photo by Paulblank, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rico Verhoeven, "The King of Kickboxing," dominated the Glory heavyweight division for over a decade.
He won the Glory heavyweight title in 2014. When he vacated it in November 2025, Glory described him as its all-time leader in both wins and title defenses.
He started in Kyokushin karate as a child and has also competed in pro boxing and MMA.
7. Semmy Schilt
Photo by Amw9991 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Semmy Schilt is a Dutch kickboxer and Ashihara karate fighter. He is a four-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, winning in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009.
Standing about 6 feet 11 inches, he used his reach and knees to control fights. He also fought in MMA, including in PRIDE and the UFC.
In 2012, he won the Glory Heavyweight Grand Slam, beating several opponents in one night. A heart condition later ended his career.
Knock-Out Point: In the field of MMA, there are two main brand names that compete with each other for audience share. Learn about these two here -- Bellator Vs UFC.
Watch This!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is martial art's best kickboxer?
You will get different answers depending on who you ask. Each star has a unique style, and considering how kickboxing evolved, the best kickboxer for one fan might differ for another.
Ernesto Hoost has the most K-1 World Grand Prix titles with four, tied with Semmy Schilt. Peter Aerts won three, Ramon Dekkers is a Muay Thai legend, Giorgio Petrosyan is known for his defense, and Rico Verhoeven ruled Glory's heavyweight division for over a decade.
Who among the top kickboxers is the highest paid?
Most kickboxers don't disclose their pay, so there is no reliable answer. In general, top kickboxers earn less than top MMA fighters or boxers, which is why stars like Verhoeven have also taken boxing fights.
Who among the UFC fighters are the best kickboxers?
Several UFC fighters came from elite kickboxing. Alistair Overeem won the K-1 World Grand Prix, and Israel Adesanya is widely considered one of the UFC's best strikers.
The UFC lists Adesanya with a 75-4 professional kickboxing record before he became a two-time UFC middleweight champion. He is known for his range control, creative striking, and kicks.
Conclusion
No one wins kickboxing or Muay Thai titles on talent alone. Hard work, resilience, and love for the sport show up in every fighter on this list.
If you want to fight yourself, start with classes at a reputable gym, learn the rules, and work up to amateur bouts under good coaching.
Whether it's Muay Thai, American, or Dutch kickboxing, the best style depends on your goals.
Sources
- K-1 World GP champions, K-1 Classics
- Alistair Overeem, UFC
- Israel Adesanya, UFC
- Rico Verhoeven vacates GLORY Heavyweight Title, GLORY Kickboxing
