IF Schilt wins the K-1 GP, does he become the best K-1 fighter...

[Sudoraba]

The sad thing about Schilt is that no matter how much he accomplishes people will always find a way to detract from him.

The most obvious point is size. Schilt does seem to have a frame built for K-1 and he manages make it work to his advantage. But people often act as if height is the only thing he has. Fighters like Bjorn Breggy, Montanha Silva, Jan Nortje, and Hong Man Choi ALL have that same advantage. Yet none of them have managed to be even close to what Schilt's accomplished, not to mention the fact that Schilt has beaten ALL of them (Choi was a robbery). Having a weapon means nothing if you don't know how to use it and skill in fighting is all about knowing how to use your weapons.

People will also try to criticize Schilt for not being around the late 90s during the K-1 peak. Blaming him for beating the greats after their time. Despite the fact that Schilt has fought Hoost in 2002 to a draw that he should have won during the year that Hoost won the GP. Or the fact that he beat Bonjasky definitively during the year of his first GP win. And if he fought the greats during their time of lowered quality at least he made up for it in quantity. The fact is he's beaten Hoost three times (officially two), Lebanner three times, Aerts two times (arguable three), Bonjasky two times, KOed Hunt, and was the first person in K-1 to KO Sefo with a punch (it later became fashionable). He has multiple wins over every K-1 champion except the obvious impossible ones Hug and Cikitac, few people can claim a win column as decorated as Schilt.

At the end of the day a lot of this stems from the fact that people just simply aren't inspired by the way he fights. People sometimes lose interest with the lack of drama in his fights because victory seems like such a foregone conclusion. Conversely that's why every one who beats him is held in high regards for toppling the Goliath. That shouldn't take away from his accomplishments but it's hard to root for someone who fights like a videogame end boss.

It's a shame because he has an insanely decorated career and is the only K-1 champion that can also be said to be an MMA force as a UFC and Pride veteran and former King of Pancrase. Not only that from all reports he's one of the most genuine martial artists in the industry. The fact is his marketability issues should never take away from his accomplishments or the fact that he is still one of the best to go down in the sport.

[alfredunhill]

his accomplishments would impress me alot more if he were roughly the same size as his opponents....i doubt his skill set alone is enough to win him all these championships....you can't take away what he's done, which is impressive, but i do feel his height gives him a significant advantage, so it's just not as exciting to me personally to watch him dominate...it's the same reason i hate watching tim sylvia fight in mma....it almost feels like they're cheating by being so gigantic

[Pirao]

Originally Posted by alfredunhill

his accomplishments would impress me alot more if he were roughly the same size as his opponents....i doubt his skill set alone is enough to win him all these championships....you can't take away what he's done, which is impressive, but i do feel his height gives him a significant advantage, so it's just not as exciting to me personally to watch him dominate...it's the same reason i hate watching tim sylvia fight in mma....it almost feels like they're cheating by being so gigantic

So fighters with good chins are also cheating because they can take a punch better, and fighters with good power are cheating because they can KO people easier? Do you feel this way on every physical advantage, or just size?

[van1ty]

this thread reeks of

"semmy schilt is the tim sylvia of k1"

[Chinballs]

Originally Posted by Melilot

Hoost has won about 80 matches against top competition, schilt about 20. no comparison, also hoost had to deal with aerts, lebanner, crocop, hunt, sefo and hug in their prime. Schilt came at a time when the old generation was dwindling and the new ones had yet to make their name.

Yea great post. Now that new talent is coming in to the game he's getting KO'd (Hari). But it's still many oldies left that doesnt deliver 100% and lack of new people.

I think Overeem will shock and take it and beating Badr the 2nd time and then KO'ing Schilt in the final.

[Chinballs]

Originally Posted by van1ty

this thread reeks of

"semmy schilt is the tim sylvia of k1"

Anderson is UFC's very own Schilt

[JWP]

Sammy is a great fighter with 3 K-1 titles to his name and the bank balance to match, best part is he is a really nice guy in person. If he wins 4 titles who cares what anyone else thinks, history books speak for them selves.

[luciababushka]

Originally Posted by Pirao

So fighters with good chins are also cheating because they can take a punch better, and fighters with good power are cheating because they can KO people easier? Do you feel this way on every physical advantage, or just size?

Size is a rudimentary advantage. All other attributes are developed. Power, heart, ability to take a punch, use of technical skills, patience, etc.

[PiratDjinn]

Originally Posted by van1ty

this thread reeks of

"semmy schilt is the tim sylvia of k1"

That was pretty much it.

I don't care if you fight cans or if you only fight current champs, what Schilt have done is an accomplishment that few (if any) others have done. One could argue that the competition isn't as stellar as when Hoost, Lebanner, Aerts, Sefo and others were at their prime, but winning 3 years in a row is pretty f-cking hard no matter the opposition. In K-1 you could always get injured during tournament and loose to a worse opponent thats fresh just because he had an easier path to the fight.
So, winning 4 in a row puts Schilt a slight notch above Hoost in my eyes.

[Pirao]

Originally Posted by luciababushka

Size is a rudimentary advantage. All other attributes are developed. Power, heart, ability to take a punch, use of technical skills, patience, etc.

Power and chin are natural atributes, that can be enhanced through training to take advantage of them, just like size, if you're arguing that chin and power are not natural characteristics of fighters you're stupid.