Serkan Yilmaz
Encyclopedia
Serkan Yilmaz known as "The Turkish Samurai" and "The Turkish Wonder Kicker", is a Turkish taekwondo
practitioner and kickboxer.
, and moved to Istanbul
at the age of 2. He started learning Taekwondo
at the age of 12 under the instruction of Salih Güzelordu. Later, he continued with Sadik Oflu. He started learning kickboxing
at 13 years old.
He fought a lot of competitive matches in his young years, and won the tournaments in Istanbul in the 36, 40, 47 and 54 kg weight categories. He eventually became the champion of Turkey in 1992, and at that time started training in kickboxing
with Sadik Oflu. From 1992 to 2002, he won and defended the championship title, in Turkey and Europe. In the meantime, he started fighting wushu
matches from 2000. He managed to win the Turkish Wushu championship titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Yilmaz started his K-1
career in 2003, defeating Takashi Ohno at K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final in his debut. He lost his next fight to Mike Cope, but was invited to compete in the 8-man Japan Grand Prix at K-1 World MAX 2004 Japan Tournament on February 24, 2004. He knocked out Kazuya Yasuhiro and Tomo in the quarter and semi-final stages before losing to Takayuki Kohiruimaki
by decision in the final.
On April 7, 2004, Yilmaz lost to Japanese fans' favourite Masato
via decision in the opening round of the K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Open. Following this, he competed twice more for K-1, against the USA's Duane Ludwig
and Thailand's Shin Nopadetsorn, both of which he lost.
Yilmaz then fought one mixed martial arts
match against Caol Uno
in 2005, and lost via submission with an armlock
.
|Loss
|align=center|0-1
|
Caol Uno
|Submission (armbar)
|K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:50
|Tokyo
, Japan
|
|-
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
practitioner and kickboxer.
Biography and career
Yilmaz was born in 1975 in KırşehirKirsehir
Kırşehir, formerly Macissus and Justinianopolis, is a city in Turkey. It is the capital district of the Kırşehir Province. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 121,947 of which 105,826 live in the city of Kırşehir.-History:The history of Kırşehir dates back to the Hittites...
, and moved to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
at the age of 2. He started learning Taekwondo
International Taekwondo Federation
International Taekwon-Do Federation is a Taekwondo organization founded on March 22, 1966, by General Choi Hong Hi in Seoul, South Korea. The ITF exists to promote and encourage the growth of the Korean martial art of Taekwondo...
at the age of 12 under the instruction of Salih Güzelordu. Later, he continued with Sadik Oflu. He started learning kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
at 13 years old.
He fought a lot of competitive matches in his young years, and won the tournaments in Istanbul in the 36, 40, 47 and 54 kg weight categories. He eventually became the champion of Turkey in 1992, and at that time started training in kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
with Sadik Oflu. From 1992 to 2002, he won and defended the championship title, in Turkey and Europe. In the meantime, he started fighting wushu
Wushu (sport)
The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
matches from 2000. He managed to win the Turkish Wushu championship titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Yilmaz started his K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
career in 2003, defeating Takashi Ohno at K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final in his debut. He lost his next fight to Mike Cope, but was invited to compete in the 8-man Japan Grand Prix at K-1 World MAX 2004 Japan Tournament on February 24, 2004. He knocked out Kazuya Yasuhiro and Tomo in the quarter and semi-final stages before losing to Takayuki Kohiruimaki
Takayuki Kohiruimaki
is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer and karateka competing in K-1 MAX. His real name is Takayuki Kohiruimaki. He started calling himself Taishin Kohiruimaki in 2008.-Young age:...
by decision in the final.
On April 7, 2004, Yilmaz lost to Japanese fans' favourite Masato
Masato (kickboxer)
Masato Kobayashi is a Japanese former welterweight kickboxer. He was the world champion of ISKA at Welterweight under Oriental rules, and he is the winner of K-1 WORLD MAX World tournament in 2003 and 2008...
via decision in the opening round of the K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Open. Following this, he competed twice more for K-1, against the USA's Duane Ludwig
Duane Ludwig
Duane Paul Ludwig is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is the former Middleweight Muay Thai world champion, and currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championships in their welterweight and lightweight divisions...
and Thailand's Shin Nopadetsorn, both of which he lost.
Yilmaz then fought one mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
match against Caol Uno
Caol Uno
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
in 2005, and lost via submission with an armlock
Armlock
An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint and/or shoulder joint. An armlock that hyperflexes or hyperrotates the shoulder joint is referred to as a shoulder lock, and an armlock that hyperextends the elbow joint is called...
.
Fighting style
His fighting style involves mostly kicking techniques, predominantly the turning kick, reverse turning kick and perhaps most spectacularly, the back piercing kick. He is very proficient with his punching techniques, and holds his guard up high.Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing record | |
|---|---|
Legend: |
|
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align=center|0-1
|
Caol UnoCaol Uno
is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
|Submission (armbar)
|K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:50
|Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
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