Kunlun Fight
![]() | |
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
Founded | January 2014 |
Founder | Jiang Hua ![]() |
Headquarters | Beijing, China |
Key people | Jiang Hua (founder) |
Owner | Kunsun Media |
Kunlun Fight (KLF) (Chinese: 昆仑决; pinyin: Kūnlún Jué) is a kickboxing promotion headquartered in Beijing, China. It debuted in 2014 and is regarded as one of the top kickboxing promotions in the world.[1] Events are broadcast on Jiangsu Television[2] domestically and on various regional and international channels.
The first event was held in Pattaya, Thailand on January 25, 2014. The promotion has since held over 20 events each year.[3][4]
History
[edit]Inaugural event
[edit]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.[5][6] After the inaugural event the promotion has held events in Thailand two more times.[7][8][9]
Signing Buakaw Banchamek
[edit]On June 7, 2015 it was announced that Kunlun Fight had signed one of the most successful and famous[10] 70 kg kickboxers in history, 2 time K-1 World Max Champion Buakaw Banchamek to an exclusive 6-fight contract.[11][12] Buakaw has continued fighting in the promotion beyond the original 6-fight contract.
Business
[edit]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.[13][14][15] Prior to B+ round of financing in Q1 2017 the company was reportedly valued at over 500 million USD.[16][17]
Multiple Kunlun Fight branded gyms and event venues exist like the Kunlun Fight World Combat Sports Center in Beijing and the Kunlun Fight Stadium in Tongling, Anhui, China.
70 kg tournaments
[edit]Kunlun Fight holds a yearly 70 kg world championship tournament.
In 2014 the inaugural 16-man tournament was won by Dzianis Zuev who defeated Victor Nagbe in the final.[18]
For 2015 the tournament was expanded to 64-man and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong emerged as the champion from a field of fighters including multiple kickboxing champions and 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.[19]
The 2016 tournament was won by Superbon Banchamek, who also beat the winner of the previous tournament Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong in the quarterfinals.[20]
The 2017 tournament champion was Marat Grigorian who beat the 2016 tournament winner Superbon Banchamek in the final.[21]
The 2018 tournament was won by Davit Kiria.[22][23][24][25]
The 2019 tournament was intended to be held on 31 December 2019 in Wuzhishan City, Hainan, China,[26] but was postponed. The tournament was rescheduled for March, 8 in Wuzhishan City,[27][28] but the event had to be cancelled due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic ban on live sporting events.
The 70 kg tournament was announced to be coming back for 2024. It is scheduled to start April 27 on Kunlun Fight 97 in Beijing.
Kunlun Combat Professional League
[edit]On September 22, 2018, Kunlun Fight launched a new line of 2nd tier events called Kunlun Combat League.[29][30] The league has 16 teams and fights are fought in 6 different weight classes. The league events are held mostly at a Kunlun Fight venue in Tongling. 71 KCL events were held during the first qualification season between September 22 and December 31, 2018.
In its present format, the league begins in March with 16 teams split into 2 groups for a regular season. The highest scoring teams from both groups proceed to a knockout phase that culminates with the final event at the end of the year.
In 2019 the league was renamed to Kunlun Combat Professional League (KCPL) and started its first full season on March 16, 2019.[31] The first season was won by team Shenzhen,[32] who beat team Shenyang in the finals held on December 24, 2019 in Yiwu, China.[33]
For the 2020 season, the intended March start date for the league was disrupted by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[34] The 2020 season was rescheduled to start in mid-May[35] without live audiences present at the events.[36]
Kunlun Fight City Hero
[edit]Started in 2016, a 3rd tier series of events with a mix of professional and amateur fights.[37][38]
Kunlun Fight Events
[edit]Broadcast coverage
[edit]Some current broadcasters include Jiangsu Television and ByteDance platforms Douyin and Xigua Video.
Some past broadcasters include Fox Sports Asia and Kix[39] in various countries in Asia, RMC Sport 4, Fight Network,[40][41] FightBox[42] in multiple countries internationally, Workpoint TV in Thailand, HKSTV in Hong Kong and Taiwan (2016),[43] Anhui Television in China (2017)[44] and Eurosport. In 2017 Kunlun Fight MMA events were broadcast monthly in China on CCTV-5.[45]
Rules
[edit]Kunlun Fight mostly holds fights under kickboxing rules, but also under MMA rules. Some Muay Thai, Boxing and Lethwei[46][47] 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
[edit]Weight Classes | Kilograms(kg) | Pounds(lbs) |
---|---|---|
Strawweight | 51 | 115 |
Flyweight | 57 | 125 |
Bantamweight | 61 | 135 |
Featherweight | 66 | 145 |
Lightweight | 70 | 155 |
Welterweight | 77 | 170 |
Middleweight | 84 | 185 |
Light Heavyweight | 93 | 205 |
Heavyweight | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Champions
[edit]Kickboxing champions
[edit]Tournament champions
[edit]Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 70 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 13 | November 16, 2014 | 70 kg World Max Tournament 2014 bracket |
2015 100+ kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 26 | June 7, 2015 | Super Heavyweight Tournament 2015 bracket |
2016 Female 52 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 32 | October 28, 2015 | Female 52 kg Tournament 2015 bracket |
2015 80 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 35 | December 19, 2015 | 80 kg Tournament 2015 bracket |
2015 70 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 37 | January 23, 2016 | 70 kg World Max Tournament 2015 bracket |
2016 75 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 47 | July 10, 2016 | 75 Kg Tournament 2016 bracket |
2016 65 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 51 | September 10, 2016 | 65 Kg Tournament 2016 bracket |
2016 100+ kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 52 | September 11, 2016 | |
2016 80 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 55 | December 10, 2016 | |
2016 70 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 56 | January 1, 2017 | 70 kg World Max Tournament 2016 bracket |
2017 70 kg World Championship Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 69 | February 4, 2018 | 70 kg World Championship Tournament bracket |
One night tournament champions
[edit]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 | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 3 | March 30, 2014 | Female 52 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 95 kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 4 | April 27, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 70 kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 5 | June 1, 2014 | 70 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 100 kg tournament | ![]() |
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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 | ![]() |
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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 | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 34 | November 21, 2015 | 75 kg tournament bracket |
8-Man 61.5 kg tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 66 | November 5, 2017 | |
8-Man 100+ kg tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 80 | February 24, 2019 | |
8-Man 75 kg tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 81 | July 27, 2019 | |
8-Man 61 kg tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Kunlun Fight 94 | January 19, 2024 |
Women's lightweight champions
[edit]-60 kg (-132.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | ![]() 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
[edit]Middleweight championship
[edit]-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() def. Dylan Salvador |
Kunlun Fight 53 Beijing, China |
September 24, 2016 |
MMA champions
[edit]Middleweight championship
[edit]84 kg (185 lbs); division was formerly 79 kg (175 lbs) until 2017
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() 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
[edit]77 kg (170 lbs); division was formerly 75 kg (165 lbs) until 2017
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | ![]() 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
[edit]No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() def. Zhang Meixuan |
Kunlun Fight MMA 14 |
August 28, 2017 |
Female strawweight championship
[edit]No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() 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
[edit]Kickboxing
[edit]67 kg (143.3 lb) and under
[edit]70 kg (154.3 lb)
[edit]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)
[edit]95 kg (209.4 lb) and over
[edit]Women
[edit]MMA
[edit]See also
[edit]References
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- ^ "Card for Kunlun Fight 39, Featuring Buakaw". LiverKick.com. 2016-03-18. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ^ "Kunlun Fight Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
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- ^ "World Muaythai Council » Kunlun Fight 1 in Pattaya". Wmcmuaythai.org. 2014-01-23. Archived from the original on 2019-05-27. 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". 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017.
- ^ "KunLun Fight in Pattaya". Pattaya Daily News. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ^ "ช่องเวิร์คพอยท์ จับมือ คุนหลุนไฟต์ จัดแมตซ์ยักษ์ "คุนหลุนไฟต์ซูเปอร์มวยไทย" ระดมสุดยอดนักมวยโลก ยิงสดจากพัทยา - Workpoint". 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Buakaw Banchamek and the Life of a Muay Thai Celebrity". Sports.vice.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ^ "Muay Thai Legend Buakaw Signs 6-Fight Contract With Kunlun Fighting Championship". Combatsportsasia.com. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- ^ "Buakaw signs six-fight deal with Kunlun Fighting Championship". Kickboxingplanet.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ^ "Inside China's Smart Money This Week: March 14–18". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
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- ^ "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 (28 July 2017). "估值5亿美元的搏击赛事IP,昆仑决是如何打造的?".
- ^ "Белорусский спецназовец Денис Зуев стал победителем Международного проекта Kunlun Fight. | СПОРТ.TUT.BY". Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
- ^ "Kunlun FC's 70-Kilogram Tournament: The Biggest Endeavor in Combat Sports?". Combatpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- ^ "KUNLUN FIGHT 56 - SUPERBON remporte le tournoi - Résultats et Vidéos - Boxemag.com | © - 2018". boxemag.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11.
- ^ "Kunlun Fight 69 Results: Grigorian Stuns Superbon, Azizpour Upsets Kryklia, Buakaw Dominates". 18 May 2023.
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- ^ "Georgian kickboxer wins Kunlun Fight world championship in China".
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- ^ "DAVIT KIRIA: THE NEW KING OF KUNLUN". www.siamfightnews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29.
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- ^ "赛事重启:昆仑决俱乐部联赛2020赛季暂定将于5月中旬打响_腾讯新闻".
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- ^ "昆仑决城市英雄打造"我们身边的搏击比赛"". 29 July 2016.
- ^ "昆仑决城市英雄北京赛区成立 盛世搏击为搏击迷打造用武之地_赛事". Sohu.
- ^ Editor. "KIX launches Asian combat sports timebelt - Programming - News - Rapid TV News". www.rapidtvnews.com.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Fight Network on Twitter".
- ^ "Fight Network on Twitter".
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ "Kunlun-Fight - Myanmar Traditional Boxing In Slovakia". Ministry Of Information.
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- ^ "重磅官宣 | 昆仑决新赛制公布,谁将成为新任世界冠军". 2023-08-03.
External links
[edit]- Kunlun Fight
- Kickboxing organizations
- Kickboxing in China
- Sports organizations established in 2014
- 2014 establishments in China
- Television in China
- Mixed martial arts organizations
- Mixed martial arts in China
- Entertainment companies of China
- Sports organizations of China
- Jiangsu Television original programming
- China Central Television original programming