The following year, K-1 made its United States debut in the form of the K-1 USA Grand Prix, a qualifying tournament that would give North American fighters the opportunity to gain entry into what was now arguably the most prestigious mixed martial arts event in the world: The K-1 World Grand Prix Finals.
The tournament circuit saw further growth in 1999 with sell-out attendances at various K-1 cards throughout Japan, including the K-1 All-Stars and K-1 Spirits.
The overwhelming international popularity of the sport led to the establishment of the K-1 World Grand Prix Series 2000, which brought K-1 action to ten nations on five different continents throughout the next year.
With the number of K-1 events increasing in the United States as well as throughout the remainder of the world in 2001 as well as a further increase scheduled for the coming year, the sport continues to grow at an astronomical rate with no end in sight.
By Michael Afromowitz -
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