Kunlun Fight
| |
Private | |
Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
Founded | January 2014 |
Headquarters | Beijing, China |
Key people | Jiang Hua (Founder)[1] |
Owner | Kunsun Media |
Website |
kunlunjue |
Kunlun Fight (Chinese: 昆仑决; pinyin: Kūnlún Jué), is a Chinese kickboxing promotion. It debuted in 2014 and is regarded as one of the top kickboxing promotions in the world.[2] Events are broadcast in mainland China on Jiangsu Television[3] and on various regional channels.
The first event was held in Pattaya, Thailand on January 25, 2014. The promotion has since held over 20 events each year.[4] [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 held events in Thailand 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] Buakaw has continued fighting in the promotion beyond the original 6-fight contract.
Middleweight tournaments
One of the staples of Kunlun Fight is their yearly held 70 kg tournament. In 2014 the 16-man tournament was won by Dzianis Zuev who defeated Victor Nagbe in the final. In 2015 the tournament was expanded 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] The 2016 tournament was won by Superbon Banchamek, who also beat the winner of the previous tournament Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong in the Final 8 match. 2017 tournament champion was Marat Grigorian who beat Superbon Banchamek in the final of the tournament.
Business
In March 2016, Kunlun Fight finished series B financing from Morningside Ventures, IDG Capital Partners and Northern Light Venture Capital. The round of financing valued the company at over 350 million USD, making Kunlun Fight the most valuable combat sports company in China.[15][16][17] Prior to B+ round of financing in Q1 2017 the company was reportedly valued at over 500 million USD.[18][19]
Kunlun Fight Events
Broadcast coverage
Some current broadcasters include Jiangsu Television in China, Fox Sports Asia and Kix[20] in various Asian countries, RMC Sport 4, Fight Network[21][22] and FightBox[23] in multiple countries internationally. Some past broadcasters include Workpoint TV in Thailand, HKSTV in Hong Kong and Taiwan (2016)[24], Anhui Television in China (2017)[25] and Eurosport. Kunlun Fight MMA was broadcast monthly in China on CCTV-5 in 2017.[26]
Rules
Kunlun Fight mostly holds fights under kickboxing rules, but also under MMA rules. Some Muay Thai, Boxing and Lethwei[27][28] 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 |
Champions
Kickboxing champions
Tournament champions
One night tournament champions
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-Man 67 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 1 | January 25, 2014 | 67 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 80 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 2 | February 16, 2014 | 80kg tournament bracket | ||
Female 52 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 3 | March 30, 2014 | Female 52 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 95 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 4 | April 27, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 70 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 5 | June 1, 2014 | 70 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 100 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 6 | June 29, 2014 | 100 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 75 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 8 | August 24, 2014 | 75 kg tournament bracket | ||
Female 60 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 9 | August 31, 2014 | Female 60 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 95 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 10 | September 13, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 65 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 12 | October 26, 2014 | 60 kg tournament bracket | ||
4-Man 75 kg tournament | Kunlun Fight 34 | November 21, 2015 | 75 kg tournament bracket |
Women's lightweight champions
-60 kg (-132.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | def. Valentina Shevchenko |
Kunlun Fight 33 Changde, China |
October 31, 2015 | |
1 | def. Irina Mazepa |
Kunlun Fight 9 Shangqiu, China |
August 31, 2014 | 1. def. Chali Bassinah at Kunlun Fight 11 on October 5, 2014 |
Muaythai champions
Middleweight championship
-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | def. Dylan Salvador |
Kunlun Fight 53 Beijing, China |
September 24, 2016 | |
MMA champions
Middleweight championship
84 kg (185 lbs); division was formerly 79 kg (175 lbs) until 2017
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | 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 | def. Beibit Nazarov |
Kunlun Fight 37 Sanya, China |
January 23, 2016 | 1. def. Takashi Noto at Kunlun Fight 43 on April 26, 2016 |
1 | 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 | def. Zhang Meixuan |
Kunlun Fight MMA 14 |
August 28, 2017 |
Female strawweight championship
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | 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
Kickboxing
67 kg (143.3 lb) and under
70 kg (154.3 lb)
Buakaw Banchamek Superbon Banchamek Jomthong Chuwattana Yodsanklai Fairtex Enriko Gogokhia Marat Grigorian Murthel Groenhart Davit Kiria Albert Kraus Andrei Kulebin Wu Xuesong Kem Sitsongpeenong Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Andy Souwer Amansio Paraschiv Warren Stevelmans Vlad Tuinov Dylan Salvador Anatoly Moiseev Steve Moxon Mohamed Mezouari Enriko Kehl Dzianis Zuev Chingiz Allazov Dzhabar Askerov Aikpracha Meenayothin Armin Pumpanmuang Windy Sport Tayfun Ozcan Cedric Manhoef Chris Ngimbi Yuichiro Nagashima Mustapha Haida
75 - 85 kg (165.3 - 187.4 lb)
95 kg (209.4 lb) and over
Women
MMA
See also
References
- ↑ https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414f7a497a4d7a457a6333566d54/share_p.html
- ↑ "Combat Press 2015 Kickboxing Awards: Promotion of the Year - Kunlun Fighting Championship". Combatpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Card for Kunlun Fight 39, Featuring Buakaw". LiverKick.com. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "Kunlun Fight Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "武动音乐·再战红城 遵义将再迎昆仑决A级赛事 - 都市资讯". zy.dushi.co.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "นักมวยจีนยียวนบัวขาวก่อนฟาดปากศึกคุนหลุนไฟต์". archive.org. 27 March 2017.
- ↑ "KunLun Fight in Pattaya". Pattaya Daily News. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ↑ "ช่องเวิร์คพอยท์ จับมือ คุนหลุนไฟต์ จัดแมตซ์ยักษ์ "คุนหลุนไฟต์ซูเปอร์มวยไทย" ระดมสุดยอดนักมวยโลก ยิงสดจากพัทยา - Workpoint". archive.org. 30 March 2016.
- ↑ "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 raises around 10 million dollar in B+ round". en.ytsports.cn.
- ↑ 网事风云-虎嗅网. "估值5亿美元的搏击赛事IP,昆仑决是如何打造的?".
- ↑ Editor. "KIX launches Asian combat sports timebelt - Programming - News - Rapid TV News". www.rapidtvnews.com.
- ↑ "Fight Network on Twitter".
- ↑ "Fight Network on Twitter".
- ↑ http://www.fightbox.com/en/news/item/9565-kunlun-fight-live-fightbox
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "▶11月18日,昆仑决强势登陆安徽卫视,引领搏击新高潮!". www.sohu.com. 20 November 2017.
- ↑ "拳迷文章:昆仑决将在央视掀起搏击热潮_武术散打_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网". sports.sina.com.cn.
- ↑ "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.