Shihan Francisco Filho is a Brazilian Kyokushin Karateka and kickboxer. He is one of the few karate-ka to have successfully completed the 100-man kumite more than once.
He holds notable K-1 wins over Sam Greco, Andy Hug, Remy Bonjasky, Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, and Stefan Leko.
Francisco Filho started Kyokushin at the age of 11 and received a black belt six and half years later. He made his professional K-1 fighting debut on July 20, 1997, at the K-1 Dream ’97 tournament against Kyokushin and Seidokaikan fighter Andy Hug. This was their second encounter, the first being at the 5th Kyokushin World Tournament in 1991 which resulted in a controversial knockout victory for Filho with a technique that connected after the bell rang. The second fight was also won by Filho quickly earning the Brazilian a large fan base in Japan as well as making him one of the then-top contenders for the K-1 World GP Championship title.
Filho has since held championship titles in both K-1 as well as in Kyokushin. He has not taken part in any major competition since 2004 but remains active in developing young fighters and overseeing Brazil’s Kyokushin national team.
In 2012, he appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil coaching with Vitor Belfort.
Kickboxing
2001 K-1 World Grand Prix Runner Up
2001 K-1 World Grand Prix in Fukuoka Repechage A Champion
2000 K-1 World GP in Yokohama Champion
Kyokushin
1999 Gold 7th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament (defeated Hajime Kazumi)
1997 Gold 1st Kyokushin World Weight Tournament Heavyweight
1995 Bronze 6th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament IKO 1 (lost to Hajime Kazumi)
1995 Gold Brazilian Open
1994 Gold Mundialito Open
1994 Gold 7th South American Championships
1993 Gold Brazilian Open
1992 Gold 6th South American Championships
1992 Gold Brazilian Open
1991 5th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament final 16 (lost to Kenji Yamaki)
1991 Gold Uruguayan Open Karate Championships
1990 Gold Paulista Championships
1990 Gold Brazilian Open
1989 Gold 5th South American Championships
1989 Gold Paulista Championships
1988 Gold Paulista Championships Juniors
1988 Brazilian Open 6th place
1987 Brazilian Open 7th place
1987 Gold Paulista Championships Juniors
1986 Silver Paulista Championships Juniors
1985 Silver Paulista Championships Juniors
In 1995 Francisco Filho completed the 100 men Kumite challenge twice, in Brazil and Japan.
Active fighting years: 1985 – 2001
