Kunlun Fight
Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
---|---|
Founded | 2014 |
Headquarters | Beijing, China |
Key people | Jiang Hua (Founder and CEO) |
Owner | Kunsun Media |
Website | http://kunlunjue.com/ |
Kunlun Fight (Chinese: 昆仑决; pinyin: Kūnlún Jué), is a Chinese kickboxing promotion developed by Kunsun Media. Kunlun Fight debuted in 2014 and is regarded as one of the top kickboxing promotions in the world.[1]
The first event was held in Pattaya, Thailand on January 25, 2014. The promotion has since kept on a steady pace of events and in 2015 alone held over 20 events.[2]
Kunlun Fight is broadcast in mainland China on Jiangsu Television[3] and on HKSTV in Hong Kong and Taiwan.[4] In 2017 Kunlun Fight MMA began to broadcast monthly on CCTV-5.[5]
History
Inaugural event
The first event in Pattaya, Thailand on January 25, 2014 included super fights and a 4-man kickboxing tournament with Andrei Kulebin, Petsanguan Luktupfah, Guo Dongwang and Umar Semata.[6][7] After the inaugural event the promotion has made Thailand a regular stop on their schedule having visited there two more times.[8][9][10]
Signing Buakaw Banchamek
On June 7, 2015 it was announced that Kunlun Fight had signed one of the most successful and famous[11] 70 kg kickboxers in history, 2 time K-1 World Max Champion Buakaw Banchamek to an exclusive 6-fight contract.[12][13]
Middleweight tournaments
One of the staples of Kunlun Fight is their yearly 70 kg tournaments. In 2014 the 16-man tournament was won by Dzianis Zuev who defeated Victor Nagbe in the final. In 2015 the tournament was expanced to 64-man and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong emerged as the champion from an impressive field of fighters including multiple K-1 Champions and other highly ranked fighters such as: Marat Grigorian, Enriko Gogokhia, Enriko Kehl, Davit Kiria, Murthel Groenhart, Andy Souwer, Yodsanklai Fairtex, Dzhabar Askerov, Superbon Banchamek, Amancio Paraschiv, Chingiz Allazov, Aikpracha Meenayothin and the 2014 tournament winner Dzianis Zuev.[14]
Business
In March 2016 Kunlun Fight finished series B financing from Morningside Ventures, IDG Capital Partners and Northern Light Venture Capital. The financing valued the company at over 350 million USD, making Kunlun Fight the most valuable combat sports startup in China.[15][16][17]
Events
Rules
Kunlun Fight mostly holds fights under kickboxing rules, but also under MMA rules. Some Muay Thai, Boxing and Lethwei[18][19] fights have also been held on Kunlun Fight events.
◾Kickboxing rules: no clinch for survival, active clinch with knees, no throws, no elbows, a yellow card forfeits 25% of the fight purse and earns a 1-point deduction, a red card is a disqualification.
◾Mixed martial arts rules: Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts
◾Muay thai rules: knees are allowed to the body, legs and the head, throws and clinch are allowed, elbows are allowed to the body, legs and head, a yellow card forfeits 25% of the fight purse and earns a 1-point deduction, a red card is a disqualification.
Weight classes
Kickboxing Weight Classes | Kilograms(kg) | Pounds(lbs) | MMA Weight Classes | Kilograms(kg) | Pounds(lbs) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flyweight | 50 | 110.2 | Strawweight | 52 | 114.6 | |
Lightweight | 55 | 121.2 | Flyweight | 56 | 123.4 | |
Super Lightweight | 60 | 132.3 | Bantamweight | 60 | 132.3 | |
Welterweight | 65 | 143.3 | Featherweight | 65 | 143.3 | |
Super Welterweight | 70 | 154.3 | Lightweight | 70 | 154.3 | |
Middleweight | 75 | 165.3 | Welterweight | 77 | 169.8 | |
Super Middleweight | 80 | 176.4 | Middleweight | 84 | 185.2 | |
Cruiserweight | 90 | 198.4 | Ligh Heavyweight | 93 | 205.0 | |
Heavyweight | 100 | 220.5 | Heavyweight | 120 | 264.6 | |
Super Heavyweight | Unlimited | Unlimited | Super Heavyweight | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Kunlun Fight Kickboxing Champions
Tournament Champions
One Night Tournament Champions
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-Man 67 kg tournament | Petsangnuan Luktupfah | Andrei Kulebin | Kunlun Fight 1 | January 25, 2014 | 67 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 80 kg tournament | Simon Marcus | Vehas Topking | Kunlun Fight 2 | February 16, 2014 | 80kg tournament bracket |
Female 52 kg tournament | Jemyma Betrian | E Meidie | Kunlun Fight 3 | March 30, 2014 | Female 52 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 95 kg tournament | Massinissa Hamaili | Ivan Bartek | Kunlun Fight 4 | April 27, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 70 kg tournament | Victor Nagbe | Li Zikai | Kunlun Fight 5 | June 1, 2014 | 70 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 100 kg tournament | Andrei Gerasimchuk | Dmitry Bezus | Kunlun Fight 6 | June 29, 2014 | 100 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 75 kg tournament | Xu Zhenguang | Kiryl Chanka | Kunlun Fight 8 | August 24, 2014 | 75 kg tournament bracket |
Female 60 kg tournament | Valentina Shevchenko | Irina Mazepa | Kunlun Fight 9 | August 31, 2014 | Female 60 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 95 kg tournament | Andrei Gerasimchuk | Wang Chongyang | Kunlun Fight 10 | September 13, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 65 kg tournament | Yang Zhuo | Phosa Nopphorn | Kunlun Fight 12 | October 26, 2014 | 60 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 75 kg tournament | Nuerla | Wang Yuhu | Kunlun Fight 34 | November 21, 2015 | 75 kg tournament bracket |
Kunlun Fight Women's Lightweight Championship
-60 kg (-132.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Wang Cong def. Valentina Shevchenko |
Kunlun Fight 33 Changde, China |
October 31, 2015 | |
1 | Valentina Shevchenko def. Irina Mazepa |
Kunlun Fight 9 Shangqiu, China |
August 31, 2014 | 1. def. Chali Bassinah at Kunlun Fight 11 on October 5, 2014 |
Kunlun Fight Muaythai Champions
Middleweight Championship
-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Buakaw Banchamek def. Dylan Salvador |
Kunlun Fight 53 Beijing, China |
September 24, 2016 | |
Kunlun Fight MMA Champions
Middleweight Championship
84 kg (185 lbs); division was formerly 79 kg (175 lbs) until 2017
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Wang Sai def. Sergey Proskuryakov |
Kunlun Fight 36 Shanghai, China |
January 9, 2016 | 1. def. Horiuchi Yasuhiro at Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 6 on October 21, 2016 |
Welterweight Championship
77 kg (170 lbs); division was formerly 75 kg (165 lbs) until 2017
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Zhang Lipeng def. Beibit Nazarov |
Kunlun Fight 37 Sanya, China |
January 23, 2016 | 1. def. Takashi Noto at Kunlun Fight 43 on April 26, 2016 |
1 | Beibit Nazarov def. Bruno Amorim |
Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 2 Almaty, Kazakhstan |
April 4, 2015 | 1. def. Wu Haotian at Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 3 on June 7, 2015 2. def. Massimo Capusella at Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 4 on October 4, 2015 |
Flyweight Championship
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Zhang Meixuan def. Kazybek Ashimov |
Kunlun Fight 23 Changsha, China |
April 26, 2015 | 1. def. Ricky Granstad at Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 3 on June 7, 2015 2. def. Kazybek Ashimov at Kunlun Fight - Cage Fight Series 4 on October 4, 2015 |
Female Strawweight Championship
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | Zhang Weili def. Maira De Souza |
Kunlun Fight 53 Shanghai, China |
September 24, 2016 | 1. def. Karla Benitez at Kunlun Fight MMA 7 on December 15, 2016 |
Notable fighters
- Buakaw Banchamek
- Superbon Banchamek
- Jemyma Betrian
- Jomthong Chuwattana
- Yodsanklai Fairtex
- Kaew Fairtex
- Andrei Gerasimchuk
- Enriko Gogokhia
- Marat Grigorian
- Murthel Groenhart
- Davit Kiria
- Albert Kraus
- Andrei Kulebin
- Artur Kyshenko
- Zhang Lipeng
- Simon Marcus
- Aikpracha Meenayothin
- Wei Ninghui
- Valentina Shevchenko
- Kem Sitsongpeenong
- Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong
- Andy Souwer
- Amansio Paraschiv
- Alexander Stetsurenko
- Dmitry Valent
- Rico Verhoeven
- Jahfarr Wilnis
- Wu Xuesong
- Yang Zhuo
References
- ↑ "Combat Press 2015 Kickboxing Awards: Promotion of the Year - Kunlun Fighting Championship". Combatpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun Fight Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Card for Kunlun Fight 39, Featuring Buakaw". LiverKick.com. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "昆仑决与香港卫视达战略成合作 影响更多的观众-搜狐体育". Sports.sohu.com. 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ http://sports.sina.com.cn/others/freefight/2016-12-15/doc-ifxytqav9227461.shtml
- ↑ "World Muaythai Council » Kunlun Fight 1 in Pattaya". Wmcmuaythai.org. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "《昆仑决》真人秀:决战曼谷 20140125-乐视体育". Sports.le.com (in Chinese). 2014-01-27. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑
- ↑ "KunLun Fight in Pattaya". Pattaya Daily News. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑
- ↑ "Buakaw Banchamek and the Life of a Muay Thai Celebrity". Sports.vice.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Muay Thai Legend Buakaw Signs 6-Fight Contract With Kunlun Fighting Championship". Combatsportsasia.com. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- ↑ "Buakaw signs six-fight deal with Kunlun Fighting Championship". Kickboxingplanet.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun FC's 70-Kilogram Tournament: The Biggest Endeavor in Combat Sports?". Combatpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Inside China's Smart Money This Week: March 14–18". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun Fight 39 Results and Kunlun Acquires Series B Financing, Making Them a Chinese Powerhouse". LiverKick. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun Fight raises RMB200m - Yutang Sports | The Premier Sports Intelligence and Sports Sponsorship Platform in China". En.ytsports.cn. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun-Fight - Myanmar Traditional Boxing In Slovakia | Ministry Of Information". Moi.gov.mm. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "KUNLUN FIGHT Slovakia, 15.may 2015 FIGHTCARD". Thaiboxing.sk. Retrieved 2016-08-17.