Peter Aerts v. Jerome Le Banner (1999) Fight Video

No need to lie - there's been a definite air of disappointment surrounding the upcoming K-1 Grand Prix.  Late card announcements, non-participation from big names, high-profile names dropping out... these things can leave a sour taste.  And yet, for me, there's still a lot of excitement.  Because, Badr Hari or no Badr Hari, this is still the K-1 Grand Prix, the sporting event I most look forward to every year, and in just a few days, the GP will officially be on.

To focus on some of the excitement, we'll be posting some of the best fights of GPs past.  And we'll start today with two men taking part in this year's event as they squared off more than a decade ago.  From the 1999 GP, here's Peter Aerts v. Jerome Le Banner.  This was a quarter-final match-up, with the winner set to face Ernesto Hoost.  Aerts was the 3 time and defending champion, having won the crown in record time the year before.  JLB had made the finals in 95, but had not been a factor in the GP in the 3 years since.

Big shocker here, as Le Banner pulls off one of the defining wins of his career.  Great fight which reminds you that in the Grand Prix, anything can happen.