Peter Aerts v. Mike Bernardo VI Fight Video

Our week-long look at Peter Aerts v. Mike Bernardo concludes today with fight 6.  Check out part 1 here, part 2 here, parts 3/4 here and part 5 here.

After 3 years and 5 fights, we finally come to the end of the line for Peter Aerts and Mike Bernardo.  At the end of the 1997 Grand Prix, this back and forth rivalry sat at an even 2-2 (discounting the aborted 3rd fight).  A final rubber match seemed like an obvious pick, but fans would have to wait a year for the issue to be settled.

Interestingly, the follow up to Aerts's win over Bernardo in 97 proved to be an exact opposite of Bernardo's 96 victory.  This time, it was Bernardo who followed up his loss with a series of impressive victories.  Heading into the 1998 GP, he was on a 5 fight win streak, including victories over Glaube Feitosa and Maurice Smith.  On the other side of things, Aerts's 98 had not been ideal.  After starting the year strong with a win over Hoost, Aerts dropped two straight fights, to Andy Hug and Francisco Filho.  As he headed into the GP, momentum was not on his side.

On December 13, K-1 staged the 1998 Grand Prix.  For the first time since 95, these rivals were not pitted against each other in the opening round, though they were on the same side of the bracket.  After Bernardo dispatched of Filho and Aerts made quick work of Masaaki Satake, the rematch was set.  Like two magnets drawn towards each other, Bernardo and Aerts found themselves together once again, and once again, the Grand Prix crown loomed ahead.

Unfortuantely for Bernardo, the Peter Aerts that stepped into the ring at the 1998 GP was one of the best Peter Aerts's that ever competed.  The legendary champion looked incredible here and throughout the tournament, quickly stopping all 3 opponents in record time - a record that would stand for 12 years. 

And so their feud ends, maybe not with the fireworks one might have expected from the final fight, but with another powerful stoppage.  In the end, it is Aerts who comes out the better man in the feud, though you have to respect Bernardo's showing throughout the series. 

These fights represent a classic era in K-1 history, and help demonstrate just what made K-1 so special during this time period.  Hope you enjoyed this look at one of the greatest rivalries the sport has seen.