Firstname: Hong-Man Surname: Choi Nickname: Techno-Goliath Day of Birth: 30-10-1980 (25 year(s)) Height: 218cm Weight: 160kg Style: Sumo-Ringen Country: South Korea

Choi Hong-man ( 최홍만 ) is a Korean kickboxer and former Ssirum wrestler. He currently competes in K-1. He stands 2.18 meters ( 7'2" ) tall and has a 6-1 record in K-1 since debuting at the World GP 2005 event in Seoul in March, 2005. He has only lost once, to Remy Bonjasky by decision.

As mentioned above, Choi Hong Man has only lost once to Remi by decision. He got his nickname "techno goliath" when he was a ssirum player, or ssirum wrestler in South Korea, before he became a K1 fighter. Ssirum is a Korean traditional wrestling art, similar to japanese sumo wrestling, however, it is more like judo where you have to use the opponent's momentum and technique to throw and flip the opponent over, whereas sumo wrestling is more of slapping and pushing the opponent out of the ring. So while Choi was in Korea, and won every Ssirum competition, since he could thow everyone around like picking up a baby, after he would win his match, he would dance because his hobbies are dancing and clubbing and then the techno music would play and he would dance to excite the crowd and enjoy his win because he likes to dance and the crowd likes to dance so they would dance together. He is actually a very good dancer for such a huge man. Because he is so huge, his nickname became Techno Goliath. Now he has had 10 fights in K1 winning 9. Choi is doing extremely well for a beginner in the K1 competition. On June 2006 at the World GP 2006 event in Seoul, he defeated the current K-1 World Champion Semmy Schilt on points, but the result is very disputed because of Choi´s advantage of fighting at home.

Even though he won on descision points 2-1 against this world champion at home, the challenger Semmy Schilt held up a good fight. Schilt, despite the smaller of the two still held his own with his good kicking game. Normally Schilt's opponents try to hug him and when he gets close to avoid getting hit by them their fight plan changes to a running game. This match was different however. Choi mixed things up and ended up pinning the world champion into the corner, striking him several times to earn his points.

On September 30, 2006, Choi will face Jérôme Le Banner in the final eliminations.

TITLES

• 2001: DchozN World Challenge '01
• 2002: King of Iron Fist Tournament '02
• 2003: Jinan Competition '03
• 2003: The General Championship '03
• 2004: Jungwal Competition '04
• 2004: Hamyang Competition '04
• 2005: K-1 WORLD GP 2005 in Seoul Champion