Murat Direkçi

Murat Direkci
Born Murat Direkci
(1979-07-17) July 17, 1979
Antwerp, Belgium
Nationality Belgium Belgian
Turkey Turkish
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)
Division Middleweight, Super Middleweight
Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Team Universal Gym
Kickboxing record
Total 86
Wins 68
By knockout 57
Losses 16
By knockout 4
Draws 2
last updated on: April 6, 2013

Murat Direkci (born 17 July 1979[1] in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian-Turkish middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium.

Early life

Direkci was born in Antwerp, Belgium as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya, Derebucak, Turkey. His sister Nuray died at the age of 4 due to a brain tumor, and his brother Ercan died in 2004 as a result of a traffic accident at 29. After completing his school education, Direkçi studied at technical school with the intention of becoming an electrician. After a short while, he found a job as a doorman at a nightclub in Antwerp, however, and took up this career.

Career

Direkci began training in martial arts at the age of 15 and was originally trained by Jan Gooyvaers. In 1999, he began training under Jan Pasztjerik.

After becoming the Belgian, European and World champion in kickboxing and muay Thai, he made his K-1 debut against Fikri Tijarti at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam in May 2006, winning by technical knockout in round 3. In February the following year, he faced former K-1 world champion Albert Kraus at the K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament in Tokyo and shocked the world by knocking Kraus out in the first round. After winning two more fights in K-1, over Joerie Mes and Satoruvaschicoba, he took part in the final 16 of the 2008 K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in April 2008 but lost to Yoshihiro Sato via decision.

On February 8, 2009, he became the It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Gago Drago via technical knockout at Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 in his hometown of Antwerp. He made his first defence of the title against Morocco's Chahid Oulad El Hadj at It's Showtime 2009 Lommel in October 2009, before losing it to Congolese Muay Thai fighter Chris Ngimbi at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It’s Showtime Athens in December 2010.

Direkci lost a decision to Robin van Roosmalen at It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden on January 28, 2012. Following the fight, he announced his retirement.[2]

He would then come out of retirement, however, to face Nieky Holzken at Glory 2: Brussels on October 6, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. He apparently decided that he will no longer cut weight for his fights and will fight Holzken at 78 kg as opposed to his usual division of 70 kg.[3] He lost via TKO due to a cut in the second round.[4]

He lost to Canadian prospect Joseph Valtellini via TKO due to corner stoppage in round two at Glory 6: Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on April 6, 2013.[5][6][7]

Titles

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record

Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fighter Profile
  2. ↑ Van Roosmalen wins close decision over Murat Direkçi at It's Showtime 55
  3. ↑ Glory 2: Brussels final fight card for this Saturday
  4. ↑ Glory 2: Brussels live results
  5. ↑ GLORY 6 Poster/Fighters Expected to Participate
  6. ↑ Updated GLORY 6 Istanbul Fight Card For Saturday, April 6
  7. ↑ GLORY 6 Istanbul: Daniel Ghita vs. Gokhan Saki, Live Results

External links

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