was hurt he wasn't showing it, exhibiting fluid movement and throwing high kicks from the bell. Bonjasky went to the mat after an exchange of kicks, but this was ruled a slip. Aerts stood his ground, stepping in with the right straight punch, working the body and throwing low kicks along with a knee that slowed Bonjasky down some. Aerts went to the body again in the second, and the closed-up Bonjasky was now hopelessly on the defensive. After being cautioned for a lack of attacks, Bonjasky fired the fists onto his opponent's guard, Aerts responding by mockingly dropping his gloves and inviting Bonjasky in.

Fatigue had caught up with Bonjasky, who was listless in the third, rarely throwing anything and missing badly when he did. Aerts put low kicks in, worked the body again, and picked up enough points to win by comfortable unanimous decision.

The final between Schilt and Aerts marked the third meeting between these two -- Aerts taking the first fight, in Auckland in March of last year; Schilt equalizing in the Championship bout at the WGP 06 Final. The repeat of last year's final showdown provided a dramatic opportunity for the fighters to settle the score.

Aerts may have been the crowd's sentimental favorite, but Schilt would not be denied. The bout began with Aerts moving in ambitiously with overhand punches. Schilt fended off the attacks with low kicks, and went to the clinch when the distance closed. Schilt soon corralled his opponent into the corner and brought up the knee, but Aerts escaped and found the space to resume his pursuit. Schilt put through a left straight punch that didn't look especially dangerous, but caught Aerts square on the chin. Unfortunately for Aerts, as he stumbled backward his right knee buckled, and he fell to the canvas smarting less from the punch than its side effect. With pain etched on his face, Aerts grasped his failed knee, and could only listen in frustration as the count progressed. Aerts could not get up, and Schilt had the Championship.

"I'm very glad to win tonight and to make history by winning the Championship three years in a row," said a beaming Schilt in his post-tournament interview. "It was a good final, there were no easy fights. I think the first fight was the hardest, but the first fight is always the most difficult, it decides what happens in the other fights."

Asked if the final with Aerts was a "dream fight," the normally stoic Schilt attempted a joke: "I think if you really want to see a dream fight you have to rent a DVD, like one of the Rocky movies…" Ok, now we know why Schilt is stoic.

Schilt's victory continues a Dutch domination of K-1 that is nothing short of astounding. The three Dutch fighters in tonight's WGP Final all won their quarterfinals, and were only eliminated by fellow Dutchmen; the K-1 WGP Champion has been a Dutchman for the last six years; and in K-1's 15-year history, a Dutch fighter has won the WGP 12 times.


In the tournament Reserve Fight it was Mighty Mo of the United States and Paul Slowinski of Australia. The squat Mo's right hook has been the bane of many an opponent; while Slowinski's karate background and conditioning afford him a more varied repertoire of attack strategies. Slowinski also had one of the greats in his corner -- Ernesto "Mr Perfect" Hoost.

Slowinski answered Mo's early punching charge with a series of low kicks, but Mo stepped through these to persist with the fists, a right opening a cut near Slowinski's eye and prompting a doctor's check. Mo was aggressive again after resumption, closing repeatedly and connecting well with the fists. In the second Mo again took the initiative, but now Slowinski made good on counters, leading with the left straight then firing in a hard low kick to drop the big Samoan. Mo looked like he might just beat the count, and the referee gave him ample opportunity to assume a fighting pose, but Mo could only respond with a grimace, and the fight was called, giving Slowinski the victory.

A Superfight saw veteran Japanese seidokaikan fighter Musashi take on David Dancrade, a French kickboxer making his K-1 debut. Dancrade threw low, middle, high and spinning back kicks in the early going, while Musashi blocked and took his time, testing with the occasional jab or low kick. But suddenly, at the clapper, Musashi fired in a left kick that caught Dancrade on the midsection and sent him to the canvas. The French fighter stayed there, unable to beat the count. A good fighter makes winning look easy by picking his spots, and Musashi's K-1 experience proved the difference here as he did just that.

Also on the card, Jan "The Giant" Nortje South Africa beat Dong Wook Kim by TKO when the South Korean could not continue after bashing his foot into The Giant's knee; Takashi Tachikawa of Japan scored a KO win over Ki Min Kim of South Korea; and Mitsugu Noda of Japan beat Noel Cadet of France by TKO.

The K-1 World Grand Prix 07 Final drew a boisterous sellout crowd of 17,667 to the Yokohama Arena. The event was broadcast live in Japan on the Fuji TV network; in Korea on XTM; in Hong Kong on PCCW; in Australia on Main Event; in Brazil on Globosat; in Canada on The Fight Network; in Romania on ProTV; in Hungary on RTL; and across Scandinavia on Viasat. Delay-broadcasts will bring the K-1 WGP 07 to a total of 135 countries -- for scheduling information contact local providers. Visit the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp) for official results and comprehensive coverage of this and all K-1 events.