Semmy Schilt was a nightmare -matchup for everyone in the world while the fight stopped.
After he has achieved incredible success in kickboxing while he participated in MMA, Schilt stood for a number of hard batters and legends of the sport.
He is now ready to use his remarkable pedigree as the only kickboker who has won five large heavyweight tournaments to help the hunters who participate in Senshi's first Grand Prix on 13 September.
This has seen him couple to one of his most iconic opponents, Ernesto Hoost, who recently revealed who his most difficult enemy was.
For Schilt the answer came quickly, which is not surprising given that he shared the ring with one of the greatest MMA hunters of all time.
Semmy Schilt watches while working with Senshi. Credit: Senshi
Semmy Schilt -names Fedor Emelianenko as the most difficult MMA hunter he encountered
While his kickboxing career defined him as a great, Semmy Schilt of all time, also participated 41 times in professional MMA periods.
The former UFC and Pride veteran faced champions such as Josh Barnett and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, but when it comes to the most difficult man he bumped into MMA, there would always be one answer.
“The most difficult man in MMA was Fedor Emelianenko. He was a whole, very tough guy. I caused some damage to him. He came from Rings then. It was his first fight in pride, I think. It was really a tough fight.”
On Pride 21 in 2002, Emelianenko debuted in the promotion by beating Schilt through a unanimous decision at the start of a legendary run.
Schilden remembered how 'The Last Emperor' was completely focused on the task that was obvious, and although he could not prevent the Russian to drop it, he could survive on the ground.
“He has no emotions. This is what I always wanted, you know. I don't want to show emotion in the ring. I just want to be calm and I want my goal, I just want to go for that. Fedor has that too. I remember that I couldn't really hit him and then he really came to me.
“Now, from the land position, my groundwork was not always the best. My Takedown defense was not the best, I can admit that, but on the spot, he could not really damage me … I think I had the first fight where he was fighting until the end, it was a decision.
“It was not a knockout and then he got 'easier' battles. No easier fighting, but he won by knockout. So he couldn't eliminate me so well, that was a good thing, but of course I remember that he was a heavy hunter.”
Semmy Schilt calls the most difficult opponent he fought in kickboxing
When he switched to his kickboxing career, Semmy Schilt quickly produced a different name as his heaviest opponent.
Although he stated that Badr Hari was perhaps the most dangerous enemy he met because he was so unpredictable, it was Peter Aerts who took the first place.
Funly enough, Ernesto Hoost, who was never able to beat Schilt in their multiple attacks, also that Aerts was the most difficult fight for him because he always knew that his opponent would give everything he had to try to win.
“When I look at K-1, there was always a tough opponent Peter Aerts. He was always a tough opponent. He was always willing to fight and never give up.”