Rob Kaman

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Rob Kaman
File:Rob Kaman.jpeg
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BornRobert Diem Kaman
(1960-06-05)5 June 1960
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died30 March 2024(2024-03-30) (aged 63)
Skopelos, Greece
Other names
  • Mr. Low Kick
  • Hammerkick
  • The Dutchman
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight
Light heavyweight
Style
Fighting out ofAmsterdam, Netherlands
TeamMejiro Gym
TrainerJan Plas
Years active1978–1999
Kickboxing record
Total112
Wins97
By knockout77
Losses12
By knockout4
Draws1
No contests2
Mixed martial arts record
Total1
Wins1
By knockout1
Last updated on: 9 September 2010

Robert Diem Kaman (5 June 1960 – 30 March 2024) was a Dutch nine-time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion. He was often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks.[1]

Biography

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Early life

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Rob Kaman was born in Amsterdam on 5 June 1960. In his early days, he played football for the AFC Ajax Youth Team. Kaman was a good player, but never liked team sports. At the age of 16, he became interested in martial arts and started training in the Indonesian style pencak silat with Ruud van Weldam. Two years later, he watched a fight of kickboxer Lucien Carbin, after which he started training in Muay Thai and kickboxing at Mejiro Gym, first under Carbin and then Jan Plas.

In 1980, Kaman became an A-class fighter in the Netherlands. He won most of his fights by K.O. The turning point for him was his fight with Blinky Rodriquez, the cousin of Benny Urquidez. Kaman knocked him out in the 2nd round with a low kick to the leg. That was his international breakthrough.[citation needed] From then on, Kaman started fighting in Thailand.

His first fight in Thailand was against Dennoi, a local champion. Kaman won by K.O. and was asked to fight Lakchart, a Thai champion, in Bangkok.

Winning world title

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Source:[2]

On 23 September 1983 he fought John Moncayo for the world title WKA of kickboxing. Kaman knocked him out in the 3rd round with a low kick and became the first European WKA world champion in kickboxing.

On 12 January 1984 he fought Payap Premchai, the champion of Thailand, in the Jaap Edenhal in Amsterdam and was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

In April 1984 he had a rematch with John Moncayo in Miami, Florida. This time he knocked Moncayo out with a punch in the 3rd round. At the end of that year he beat the great Thai fighter Samart Prasarnmit in Hong Kong as well as Jean Marc Tonus for the European title of full contact.

During the year 1985, he beat Larry McFadden in the 3rd round by a knockout and three months later he took his revenge on Lakchart. He knocked Lakchart out in the 4th round.

After that, Kaman fought many different fighters in Amsterdam: Ernest Simmons (WKA rules), Ernesto Hoost (WKA rules), Payap (rematch on Muay Thai rules), Roger Hurd (WKA rules) and Sittisak (Muay Thai rules). He won them all and at the end of 1987 the Japanese asked him to come fight in Japan.

His first fight in Japan was against Lakchart. Kaman knocked Lakchart out in the 1st round. From then on he fought many times in Japan. He fought against Kirkwood Walker, Hansu Premchai, Santiago Garza, and Don Nakaya Nielsen.

On 9 April 1989, Kaman fought in the Netherlands again against Jan Wessels from Arnhem. Kaman also organized that event and did not have the time to prepare properly for the fight. He lost the fight and many people thought that his career was over.[citation needed] At the end of the year, he came back and beat Wessels by knock out in the 2nd round for a WKA world title.

In 1989 Kaman played in the movie Bloodfist with Don Wilson and Billy Blanks and fought three times against Changpuek Kiatsongrit from Thailand and Eddy Matthieu from France. During the summer he had a fight in Japan against Peter Smit. Smit was a newcomer and a WKA European champion. Kaman became a father with the birth of his son Gaby just before the fight. Rob lost his world title.

Kaman came back again. He fought against the Japanese fighter Yoshinori Nishi in Japan and won by 1st round knock out. The promoters in the Netherlands matched him a super fight with the new upcoming fighter Ernesto Hoost. This fight was in Amsterdam in a sold out Jaap Edenhal in 1990. Before the fight Hoost was the favorite but Kaman managed to knock him out in the 5th round. The fight "Ernesto Hoost vs. Rob Kaman 2" was the second time that Kaman won. Most fans and experts consider the second fight between mister perfect and mister low kick one of the best kickbox fights ever.[3]

On 29 June 1991, Kaman fought against Luc Verheye in France for the world WKA title. Luc Verheye had beaten Peter Smit and was the new world champion. Kaman beat Luc Verheye and took the title back.

Kaman fought in France against fighters such as Rick Roufus, Mark Russell, Justin Ward, and Zito Polyo. One of Kaman's best fights was against Marek Piotrowski, whom he beat by K.O. in the 7th round.

On 25 January 1992, Kaman challenged his first professional MMA bout in RINGS against Nobuaki Kakuda. He won by TKO with a knee shot to grounded opponent in 3rd round.

On 20 June, Rob fought "the fight of the fights" against Jean-Yves Thériault. Rob won the fight by TKO and became the new ISKA world champion. He was at the same time world champion in WKA kickboxing and world champion in Muay Thai.

On 26 November 1993 Rob fought against another great Dutch champion Rick V.D. Vathorst. Kaman knocked him out in the 2nd round.

After that he fought again in France, this time in Marseille, again against a newcomer from the Netherlands, Orlando Breinburg. He won by TKO in the 3rd round.

In 1995 he participated in the K-2 tournament in Paris, France. His first fight was against Lavelle Robinson and he won by KO. In his second fight, he fought the Australian Tosca Petridis and was the winner again. In the finals, after two fights that night, he went against Jerome Turcan from France. Rob was full of injuries from his previous fights. During round four, he was bleeding heavily but knocked Turcan out with two high kicks at the end of the round. After all his world titles, he also won the K-2 tournament in Paris, France.

After only a few fights in the later years, because of too many injuries and a new movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme (Legionnaire), Rob decided to end his career, back where it all started, in the Netherlands. On 2 September 1999 Rob married film writer artist Carlotta Torchia, and five weeks after, on 24 October 1999, he fought for the last time, against Alexey Ignashov, a 21-year-old amateur world champion in kickboxing. Rob won the fight by points, but after the fight he said that his opponent was the real winner and gave his trophy to Ignashov.

Kaman later trained UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera on kickboxing for MMA.[citation needed] He also trained MMA fighter Jason Miller.

Acting career

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Towards the end of his sports career, Kaman tried his hand at acting, playing in three movies with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Legionnaire, Maximum Risk and Double Team with Dennis Rodman and Mickey Rourke. In 1993, Nikko Toshogu Press produced 8 videotapes on Muay Thai training with him and one videotape with highlights and knock outs of his career.[4]

Prison sentence

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In 1985, Kaman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbing a bank in Eindhoven on 28 May of the same year. Police arrested Kaman and a 22-year-old accomplice in Best, only 29 minutes after the robbery. The two carried out the robbery armed and masked and looted 9000 Dutch guilders.[5]

Death

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Kaman died on 30 March 2024, at the age of 63 from a blood clot.[6]

Titles

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Source:[2]

  • I.K.B.F. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1980 Prestige Fight Dutch Title
  • 1983 Muay Thai Middleweight European Champion
  • 1983-87 W.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight World Champion
  • 1984 P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight European Champion
  • 1988-89 W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1989-90 W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1990 I.M.T.F. Muay Thai Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1991 W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1992 W.K.A. Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1992 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Super Middleweight World Champion
  • 1992-94 I.S.K.A. Oriental Rules Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1995 Kickboxing Mania Thai Boxe World Champion
  • 1995 K-2 France Grand Prix '95 Champion

Fight record

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Kickboxing Record[7][8]
97 wins (77 (T)KOs, 28 Decisions), 12 Losses, 1 Draw, 2 No Contests
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
1999-10-24 Win Belarus Alexey Ignashov It's Showtime - It's Showtime Haarlem, Netherlands Decision 5 3:00
1996-12-08 Loss United States Jean-Claude Leuyer K-1 Hercules '96 Nagoya, Japan KO (Left mid kick) 5 0:43
1995-02-18 Win Thailand Bunshima Roong Kickboxing Mania III Milan, Italy KO (Elbow) 2 0:43
1995-06-24 NC Greece Tosca Petridis Paris, France No Contest (head clash) 4
1995-01-07 Win France Jerome Turcan K-2 France Grand Prix '95 Final Paris, France Ext.R KO (High Kick) 4
Wins K-2 France Grand Prix '95.
1995-01-07 Win Greece Tosca Petridis K-2 France Grand Prix '95 Semi Finals Paris, France Decision 3 3:00
1995-01-07 Win United States Lavelle Robinson K-2 France Grand Prix '95 Quarter Finals Paris, France KO (Low Kick) 1 2:35
1994-11-12 Win Netherlands Orlando Breinburg Thriller in Marseille Marseille, France TKO 3
1994-06-25 Win France Jerome Turcan Paris, France KO (Low Kicks)
Retains I.S.K.A. Oriental Rules Light Heavyweight World title.
1994-02-05 Loss United States Rick Roufus Paris, France KO (Left Hook) 2
Fight was for Roufus's I.S.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1993-12-29 Loss Thailand Changpuek Kiatsongrit K-2 Grand Prix '93 Quarter Finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
1993-11-26 Win Netherlands Rick van der Vathorst Thaiboxing gala, Houtrusthallen The Hague, Netherlands KO (Right hook + Left mid kick) 2
1993-06-05 Win Germany Matthias Weitz Paris, France KO
1992-12-11 Win Australia Adam Watt Tokyo, Japan KO (Left Hook) 2
1992-11-21 Win Poland Marek Piotrowski Paris, France TKO (Right Cross) 7
Wins vacant I.S.K.A. Oriental Rules Light Heavyweight World title.
1992-08-21 Draw Japan Masaaki Satake Rings Event "Ishizue" Tokyo, Japan Decision Draw 5 3:00
1992-06-20 Win Canada Jean-Yves Thériault Paris, France TKO (Gave Up) 5 2:00
Wins Thériault's I.S.K.A. Full Contact Super Middleweight World title and retains W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1992-04-26 Loss Thailand Sadaw Kiatsongrit Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1992-04-06 Win Canada Justin Ward Paris, France KO 2
1992-03-26 Win Australia Adam Watt Kakutogi Symposium Tokyo, Japan KO
1992-02-09 Win England Mark Russell Paris, France KO (Right Cross) 2
Wins W.K.A. Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World title.
1992-01-07 Win United States Lavelle Robinson Paris, France KO
1991-12-20 NC United States Rick Roufus Les Choc Des Geants Paris, France No Contest (overturned) 12 2:00
For Roufus's I.S.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title. Initially a Roufus decision win, the bout was later declared a no-contest after protest as only 1 minute had been fought in the 4th Round while Kaman had his opponent hurt.
1991-10-25 Win Bosnia and Herzegovina Zijad Poljo Thriller from Paris II Paris, France TKO (Corner stoppage/towel) 4
1991-06-29 Win Netherlands Luc Verheye Thriller from Paris I Paris, France TKO (Doctor stoppage/eye injury) 5 1:36
Wins Verheye's W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1990-11-18 Win Netherlands Ernesto Hoost The Battle of the Year Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Left Hook) 5
1990-09-28 Win Japan Yoshinori Nishi A.J.K.F Inspiring Wars "Heat-928" Tokyo, Japan KO (Right Hook) 1 1:51
1990-06-30 Loss Netherlands Peter Smit A.J.K.F Inspiring Wars "Heat-630" Tokyo, Japan KO (Punches) 10
Loses W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1990-05-27 Win France Eddy Matthieu Holland vs Thailand Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Left Hook to the Body) 1
Wins Matthieu's I.S.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1990-04-24 Loss Thailand Changpuek Kiatsongrit Holland Goes to Thailand, Lumpinee Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
Loses I.M.T.F. Light Heavyweight World title.
1990-03-31 Win France Dominique Siegler Tokyo, Japan KO (Left Hook) 1
1990-02-18 Win Thailand Changpuek Kiatsongrit Holland vs Thailand 1990 Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Left Hook) 5
Wins I.M.T.F. Light Heavyweight World title.
1989-12-31 Loss Thailand Changpuek Kiatsongrit Paris, France Decision 5 3:00
1989-11-19 Win Netherlands Jan Wessels Kaman vs Wessels, Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Right Cross) 2
Wins Wessel's W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1989-10-21 Exhibition England Samson Neguro A.J.K.F Clash Of The Century, Part 5 Tokyo, Japan KO 3
1989-09-05 Win United States Don Nakaya Nielsen A.J.K.F Super Bout Tokyo, Japan KO (Right Hook) 3
1989-04-09 Loss Netherlands Jan Wessels Netherlands KO
Loses W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1988-11-25 Win Republic of Ireland Sean O'Regan A.J.K.F "Fighting The Great War 5" Japan KO (Left Hook) 2
1988-10-25 Win United States Ghalib Carmichael A.J.K.F "Fighting The Great War 4" Tokyo, Japan KO (Right Low Kick) 3
1988-07-16 Win United States Santiago Garza A.J.K.F "Fighting The Great War 3" Japan KO (Right Low Kick) 3
Retains W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1988-05-29 Win Thailand Hansu Premchai A.J.K.F "Fighting The Great War 2" Japan KO (Right Cross) 1
1988-03-27 Win Thailand Sittisak Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (right hook) 1
1988-03-12 Win England Kirkwood Walker A.J.K.F "Fighting The Great War" Japan KO (Low Kicks and punches) 4
Wins W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.
1988-02-06 Loss Thailand Krongsak Sakcharoenchai Paris, France Decision 5 3:00
For the vacant W.M.T.A World Super Middleweight title.
1987-11-15 Win Thailand Lakchart Sor.Prasartporn A.J.K.F "Super Fight 3" Japan KO (Body Straight) 1 0:30
1987-09-27 Win United States Roger Hurd W.K.A. Kickboxing Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Right Low Kick) 1
1987-05-31 Win Thailand Payap Premchai Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Left hook to the body) 5
1987-02-01 Win Netherlands Ernesto Hoost W.K.A. Kickboxing Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 2:00
1986-10-12 Win United States Ernest Simmons W.K.A. Kickboxing Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (Corner Stoppage/Low Kicks) 5 2:00
1985-05-12 Win Thailand Lakchart Sor.Prasartporn Kickboxing in Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam, Netherlands KO 4
1985-02-03 Win United States Larry McFadden W.K.A. Kickboxing Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Right Low Kick) 3
Retains W.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight World title.
1984-12-30 Win Thailand Samart Prasarnmit WKA Hong Kong KO (Left hook to the body) 2
1984-11-21 Win Switzerland Jean Marc Tonus P.K.A. Kickboxing Geneva, Switzerland Decision 11
Wins P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight European title.
1984-03-29 Win United States John Moncayo W.K.A. Kickboxing Miami, Florida, United States KO (Punch) 3
Retains W.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight World title.
1984-01-12 Win Thailand Payap Premchai Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
1983-09-23 Win United States John Moncayo W.K.A. Kickboxing Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Low Kick) 3
Wins Moncayo's W.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight World title.
1983-06-27 Win France Christian Bafir Elysee-Montmartre Paris, France Kom(punch) 1
1983-01-23 Loss Thailand Lakchart Sor.Prasatporn Army Channel 7 Studio Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1982-10-23 Win Netherlands Tuncay Coban Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam, Netherlands KO
Retains Dutch title.
1982-04-04 Win United States Blinky Rodriquez W.K.A. Kickboxing, Holland vs USA Netherlands KO (Low Kick) 2
1982-02-01 Win Thailand Dennoi Lerdrayong Pattaya Boxing Stadium Pattaya, Thailand KO (Low Kick) 2
1981-05-03 Win Japan Takayuki Morimoto Kickboxing, Holland vs Japan Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (Punches) 2
1981-03-28 Win Switzerland Jean Marc Tonus Milan, Italy KO (Punches) 4
1981-01-18 Win Netherlands Javi Muñiz Apollohal Amsterdam, Netherlands Renunciation 3
1980-09-28 Win Japan Akira Saito Kickboxing, Holland vs Japan Amsterdam, Netherlands KO 2
1980-06-08 Win Italy Baladelli Prestige fight for vacant Dutch title Amsterdam, Netherlands KO 1
1980-04-28 Win Netherlands Serge Metz Full-contact (5x2) Glazen Zaal Ahoy Rotterdam, Netherlands Decision 5
1980-03-14 Win France Emmanuel Essisima Salle de Maubert Mutualite Paris, France Decision 5
1980-02-10 Loss Netherlands Faysal Karakus Dutch titlefight Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision 5
1979–1980 Loss Netherlands Javi Muñiz Unknown KO
1979-12-17 Win France Madourgh Glazen Zaal Ahoy Rotterdam, Netherlands decision 5
1979-11-19 Win France Luigi(?) Nicolf(i) Hoeksteen Amsterdam, Netherlands Renunciation 1
1979-04-23 Win France Jean-Luc Legouez Hoeksteen Amsterdam, Netherlands
1979-02-25 Win Netherlands van Eunen Hoeksteen Amsterdam, Netherlands C class fight
1979-00-00 Draw Netherlands Carlo Thuvis De Enk Rotterdam, Netherlands Full Contact Decision 5x2
1978-09-22 Loss France Pierre Carillo Stade Coubertin Paris, France Decision
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Professional boxing record

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1 fight 0 wins 0 losses
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Draw 0-0-1 Netherlands Rudi Koopmans Decision 7 (7), 2:00 5 May 1988 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mixed martial arts record

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MMA Record
1 Win (1 (T)KOs), 0 Losses, 0 Draw
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
1992-01-25 Win Japan Nobuaki Kakuda Rings Battle Dimensions Tournament, Opening Round Tokyo, Japan TKO (Knee Drop) 3 2:03
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

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  3. ^ J. Olde Kalter − De Kickbokser: Ernesto Hoost, mister perfect van de vechtsport, Prometheus, 6e druk, januari 2012.
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Wikimedia image. Newspaper clipping [full citation needed]
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