Kunlun Fight facts for kids
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Private | |
Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
Founded | January 2014 |
Headquarters | Beijing, China |
Key people
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Jiang Hua (founder) |
Owner | Kunsun Media |
Kunlun Fight (KLF) is a major company based in Beijing, China. It organizes exciting kickboxing events. KLF started in 2014 and is known as one of the best kickboxing groups in the world. Their events are shown on TV in China on Jiangsu Television and on other channels around the globe.
The very first Kunlun Fight event happened in Pattaya, Thailand, on January 25, 2014. Since then, KLF has put on more than 20 events every year.
Contents
History of Kunlun Fight
The first event in Pattaya, Thailand, on January 25, 2014, featured exciting fights and a special 4-man kickboxing tournament. Famous fighters like Andrei Kulebin took part. After this first event, Kunlun Fight held two more events in Thailand.
On June 7, 2015, Kunlun Fight announced they had signed Buakaw Banchamek. He is one of the most successful and famous kickboxers in the 70 kg weight class. Buakaw agreed to fight in six events, and he has continued to fight for KLF even after that first contract.
In 2015, Kunlun Fight also held an event called Kunlun Fight 25 in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. This event included a special fight in a different sport called Lethwei. It was the first time Lethwei fights were held in Europe.
In March 2016, Kunlun Fight received a lot of money from big investment companies. This made Kunlun Fight the most valuable combat sports company in China. By early 2017, the company was worth even more money.
Kunlun Fight also has its own gyms and places for events. These include the Kunlun Fight World Combat Sports Center in Beijing and the Kunlun Fight Stadium in Tongling, Anhui, China.
70 kg Tournaments
Kunlun Fight hosts a big world championship tournament every year for fighters in the 70 kg weight class.
In 2014, Dzianis Zuev won the first tournament, which had 16 fighters.
For 2015, the tournament became even bigger with 64 fighters. Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong won this huge competition. Many top kickboxing champions and highly ranked fighters competed.
The 2016 tournament was won by Superbon Banchamek. He even beat the 2015 winner, Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, on his way to victory.
In 2017, Marat Grigorian became the champion. He defeated Superbon Banchamek in the final match.
The 2018 tournament was won by Davit Kiria.
The 2019 tournament was planned for December 31, 2019, but it was postponed. It was then rescheduled for March 8, 2020, but had to be canceled. This was because of the coronavirus pandemic which stopped live sports events.
The 70 kg tournament was announced to return for 2024. It was scheduled to begin on April 27 at Kunlun Fight 97 in Beijing.
Kunlun Combat Professional League
On September 22, 2018, Kunlun Fight started a new series of events called the Kunlun Combat League. This league has 16 teams, and fights happen in six different weight classes. Most of these league events are held at a Kunlun Fight venue in Tongling. A total of 71 events took place during the first season in late 2018.
Today, the league starts in March with 16 teams divided into two groups. The best teams from each group then move on to a knockout stage. This leads to a final event at the end of the year.
In 2019, the league changed its name to Kunlun Combat Professional League (KCPL). Its first full season began on March 16, 2019. Team Shenzhen won the first season, beating Team Shenyang in the finals on December 24, 2019.
The 2020 season was supposed to start in March. However, the coronavirus pandemic caused delays. The season was rescheduled to start in mid-May, but without live audiences.
Kunlun Fight City Hero
This series of events started in 2016. It is a third level of events that includes both professional and amateur fights.
Kunlun Fight Events
For a full list of events, see List of Kunlun Fight events.
Broadcast Coverage
Kunlun Fight events are shown on many TV channels and online platforms. Some current broadcasters include Jiangsu Television and ByteDance platforms like Douyin and Xigua Video.
In the past, events were also shown on channels like Fox Sports Asia, Kix, RMC Sport 4, Fight Network, and Eurosport. In 2017, Kunlun Fight MMA events were broadcast monthly in China on CCTV-5.
Rules of Fighting
Kunlun Fight mainly holds fights under kickboxing rules. However, they also have fights under MMA rules. Sometimes, they even feature fights from other styles like Kun Khmer, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Lethwei.
- Kickboxing rules: Fighters cannot hold onto each other for a long time. Knees are allowed when holding briefly. No throws or elbows are allowed. If a fighter gets a yellow card, they lose 25% of their prize money and one point. A red card means they are disqualified.
- Mixed martial arts rules: These fights follow the standard rules for MMA.
- Muay Thai rules: Knees are allowed to the body, legs, and head. Fighters can hold onto each other and throw opponents. Elbows are also allowed to the body, legs, and head. A yellow card means losing 25% of prize money and one point. A red card means disqualification.
Weight Classes
Weight Classes | Kilograms (kg) | Pounds (lbs) |
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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
Kickboxing Champions
Tournament Champions
One-Night Tournament Champions
These are champions from tournaments that happen all in one night.
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
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4-Man 67 kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 1 | January 25, 2014 | 67 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 80 kg tournament | ![]() |
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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 | ![]() |
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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 | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 10 | September 13, 2014 | 95 kg tournament bracket |
4-Man 65 kg tournament | ![]() |
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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 | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 66 | November 5, 2017 | |
8-Man 100+ kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 80 | February 24, 2019 | |
8-Man 75 kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 81 | July 27, 2019 | |
8-Man 61 kg tournament | ![]() |
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Kunlun Fight 94 | January 19, 2024 |
Women's Lightweight Champions
This is for female fighters weighing up to 60 kg (132.3 lbs).
Muay Thai Champions
Middleweight Championship
This is for fighters weighing up to 70 kg (154.3 lbs).
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
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1 | ![]() def. Dylan Salvador |
Kunlun Fight 53 Beijing, China |
September 24, 2016 |
MMA Champions
Middleweight Championship
This is for fighters weighing 84 kg (185 lbs). Before 2017, it was 79 kg (175 lbs).
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
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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
This is for fighters weighing 77 kg (170 lbs). Before 2017, it was 75 kg (165 lbs).
Flyweight Championship
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
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1 | ![]() def. Zhang Meixuan |
Kunlun Fight MMA 14 |
August 28, 2017 |
Female Strawweight Championship
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
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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 |
Famous 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)
Artur Kyshenko
Simon Marcus
Alexander Stetsurenko
Dmitry Valent
Vitaly Gurkov
Alex Pereira
Israel Adesanya
Alim Nabiev
Jason Wilnis
Hicham El Gaoui
Too Too
Bai Jinbin
Vuyisile Colossa
Thongchai Sitsongpeenong
Marc de Bonte
Diogo Calado
95 kg (209.4 lb) and over
Andrei Gerasimchuk
Rico Verhoeven
Jahfarr Wilnis
Hesdy Gerges
Tsotne Rogava
Felipe Micheletti
Konstantin Gluhov
Roman Kryklia
Sergej Maslobojev
Tomáš Hron
Mighty Mo
Ashwin Balrak
Virgil Zwicker
Faisal Zakaria
Francois Botha
Sebastian Ciobanu
Women
MMA
Zhang Weili
Zhang Lipeng
Jumabieke Tuerxun
Muslim Salikhov
See also
In Spanish: Kunlun Fight para niños
- Kunlun Fight World Combat Sports Center