Branko Cikatić

Branko Cikatić (4 October 1954 – 23 March 2020) was a Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian-born fighter to achieve international success. He was the first K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. The tournament was held on April 30, 1993 in Japan.

Branko Cikatić
BornBranimir Cikatić
(1955-10-04)4 October 1955
Split, PR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Died23 March 2020(2020-03-23) (aged 65)
Solin, Croatia
Other namesThe Croatian Tiger
NationalityCroatian
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight98 kg (216 lb; 15.4 st)
DivisionCruiserweight
Heavyweight
Reach73 in (190 cm)
StyleKickboxing
Fighting out ofAmsterdam, Netherlands
TeamTigar Gym
Chakuriki Gym (1984–1998)
TrainerThom Harinck
Rank  black belt in Shotokan
  black belt in Taekwondo
  blue belt in Judo
Years active27 (1972–1999)
Kickboxing record
Total98
Wins87
By knockout82
Losses9
By knockout2
Draws1
No contests1
Mixed martial arts record
Total2
Wins0
Losses2
By submission1
By disqualification1
No contests0
Amateur record
Total170
Wins152
By knockout138
Losses15
Draws3
Other information
OccupationGym owner/Trainer
Notable studentsMirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, Antonio Plazibat
Websitewww.youtube.com/tigarcikaticgym
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: February 12, 2010

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 taking the 1993 K-1 Grand Prix tournament by storm, 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. In 2018, Cikatić had a pulmonary embolism and whilst in hospital acquired an infection causing sepsis and was later diagnosed as suffering from Parkinson's disease.[2][3] He died on 23 March 2020.

Titles

Professional Career:

  • 1998 WMTA World Champion in Thai boxing (Zagreb)
  • 1994 K-1 Grand Prix 3rd Place (Tokyo)
  • 1993 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion (Tokyo)
  • 1991 World Champion in Thai boxing 86 kg (Berlin)
  • 1991 IKBF World Champion in kick-boxing 86 kg (Zagreb)
  • 1991 WKA World Champion in kick-boxing 86 kg (Wiesbaden)
  • 1989 WMTA World champion in Thai boxing 86 kg (Düsseldorf)
  • 1987 WMTA World champion in Thai boxing 82.5 kg (Amsterdam)
  • 1986 European champion in Thai boxing (Paris)
  • 1985 European champion in Thai boxing (Amsterdam)

Amateur Career:

Fight record (Incomplete)
87 Wins (82 knockouts), 9 Losses, 1 Draw
Date Result Opponent Event Method Round Time Location
July 11, 1999 Win Benkai Sato Kakidamishi I KO (Liver Punch) 1 0:23 Naha, Okinawa, Japan
December 13, 1998 Win Big Mo T Muay Thai WMTA World Title Fight Heavyweight KO (Right Punch) N/A N/A Dvorana Dražen Petrović, Zagreb, Croatia
October 11, 1997 No Contest Ralph White Pride 1 NC (Cikatić kicked White while he was on the ground) 1 1:52 Tokyo, Japan
September 7, 1997 Loss Mike Bernardo K-1 Grand Prix '97 1st Round TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 1 0:38 Osaka, Japan
July 20, 1997 Loss Sam Greco K-1 Dream '97 KO (Right Hooks) 1 2:58 Nagoya, Japan
March 16, 1997 Win Musashi K-1 Kings '97 KO (Right Punch) 4 1:38 Yokohama, Japan
December 12, 1994 Win Ernesto Hoost K-1 Legend KO (Right Hook) 2 1:18 Nagoya, Japan
September 18, 1994 Loss Stan Longinidis K-1 Revenge Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 Yokohama, Japan
April 30, 1994 Loss Masaaki Satake K-1 Grand Prix '94 Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1994 Win Andre Mannaart K-1 Grand Prix '94 KO (Right Punch) 2 0:16 Tokyo, Japan
March 4, 1994 Loss Andy Hug K-1 Challenge Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1993 Win Ernesto Hoost K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Right Hook) 1 2:49 Tokyo, Japan
Wins K-1 Grand Prix '93.
April 30, 1993 Win Masaaki Satake K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Left Hook) 3 0:45 Tokyo, Japan
April 30, 1993 Win Changpuek Kiatsongrit K-1 Grand Prix '93 KO (Punch) 1 2:35 Tokyo, Japan
April 8,1993 Win Mahmoud Babachi Muay Thai World Title Fight KO (Babachi injured shoulder after throw in clinch) 1 1:42 Zagreb, Croatia
1992 Win Novica Bogdanovic KO (Left Punch) 1 0:38 Zagreb, Croatia
June, 1992 Loss Stan Longinidis World Kickboxing Association Decision (Unanimous) 12 2:00 Melbourne, Australia
March 16, 1992 Draw Dennis Alexio World Martial Arts Challenge Technical Draw (Alexio hit Cikatić during a stoppage) 3 1:25 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
October 19, 1991 Win Jean Atonga Muay Thai WMTA World Title Fight, -86 kg Decision (Split) 5 3:00 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin Germany
May 28, 1991 Win Charlie Lieuwfeld IKBF World Title Fight, -86 kg KO (Body Shot) 5 N/A Zagreb, Croatia
March 23, 1991 Win Andre Mannaart World Kickboxing Association World Title Fight, -86 kg Decision (Unanimous) 12 2:00 Rhein-Main-Hallen, Wiesbaden, Germany
January, 1991 Win Stephane Lahousse Savate KO 2 N/A Zagreb, Croatia
October, 1990 Draw Samir Usenagić Kickboxing Prestige Fight Decision 5 2:00 Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
December 16, 1989 Win Carl Thompson Muay Thai WMTA World Title Fight, -86 kg Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
October 8, 1989 Loss Ernesto Hoost Muay Thai WMTA World Title Fight DQ 4 0:15 Amsterdam, Netherlands, NED
December 12, 1987 Loss Don Wilson KICK Association: Lightheavyweight World Title Fight TKO 7 1:24 Orlando, Florida, U.S.
May 30, 1987 Win Radomir Bozovic Kickboxing Prestige Fight TKO 5 N/A Sportski Centar Gripe, Split, Croatia
April 26, 1987 Win Carl Thompson Muay Thai WMTA World Title Fight TKO 3 2:18 Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 17, 1986 Win Radomir Bozovic Kickboxing Prestige Fight KO 7 N/A Ivangrad, Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro
1986 Loss Dragan Ognjenovic Kickboxing Prestige Fight DQ (Cikatic KO`ed Ognjenovic after break) 3 N/A Niksic, Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro
1986 Win Kirk Walker Muay Thai EMTA European Title Fight KO 2 N/A Paris, France
December 19, 1985 Win Tony Bristow Kickboxing European Title Fight TKO 2 1:05 Sportski Centar Gripe, Split, Croatia
May 26, 1985 Win Jan Oosterbaan Muay Thai EMTA European Title Fight TKO (Oosterbaans corner retired after round 3) 3 3:00 Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 29, 1985 Win Bruno Campiglia Kickboxing KO (Body Shot) 5 N/A Sportski Centar Gripe, Split, Croatia
1984 Win Kenneth Plag Muay Thai Eliminator for European Title KO 1 N/A Amsterdam, Netherlands
1983 Loss Vjekoslav Šafranić Kickboxing Prestige Fight Decision 7 N/A Dom Sportova, Zagreb, Croatia
1983 Loss Maurizio Callegari WAKO World Championship, 80 kg, Title Defence N/A N/A N/A Palermo, Italy
March 20, 1982 Win Jean Marc Tonus WAKO World Championship, 80 kg, Title Defence Decision (Unanimous) 6 2:00 Sportski Centar Gripe, Split, Croatia
November, 1981 Win Ray McCallum WAKO World Championship Technical Decision(after headbutt: 38:38, 40:38, 38:37) 4 N/A Miami, United States

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
2 matches 0 wins 2 losses
By submission 0 1
By disqualification 0 1
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
  2. Šnidarić, Marko (16 April 2019). "'Došao sam mu u bolnicu, kad sam ga vidio, pretrnuo sam...'". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  3. Gattin Zebic, Tanya (27 April 2019). "Branko Cikatić nakon životne bitke opet može hodati, a iz obiteljskog doma u Solinu poručuje da je pun planova: 'Brunu ću odvesti do naslova prvaka'". Jutarnji List (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 October 2019.
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