Mike Zambidis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Zambidis |
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| Born | Michális Zambídis 15 July 1980 Porto Rafti, Athens, Greece |
| Native name | Μιχάλης Ζαμπίδης |
| Other names | Iron Mike, Turkofagos (Turkeater) |
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb) |
| Division | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing |
| Team | Zambidis Club |
| Trainer | Kru Mario Barbatsas |
| Years active | 2000–2015 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 181 |
| Wins | 157 |
| By knockout | 87 |
| Losses | 24 |
| By knockout | 7 |
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last updated on: 28 June 2015
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Michalis "Iron Mike" Zambidis (Greek: Μιχάλης Ζαμπίδης; born on July 15, 1980) is a professional Greek kickboxer and martial artist. He is known as "Iron Mike" because of his powerful fighting style. He has won 18 World Champion titles. These include titles from W5, SUPERKOMBAT, and several K-1 Tournaments. He mostly fought in the K-1 MAX events, where he won many of his matches by knocking out his opponents.
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About Mike Zambidis's Journey
Mike Zambidis started learning martial arts when he was less than nine years old. He trained with his brother Spiros Zambidis and his best friend Lazaros Filipas. He learned many different styles, such as Shotokan karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Sanshou, and Pankration.
He began fighting professionally in 2000. He quickly won many fights against famous opponents. He earned the nickname "Turkofagos" (meaning "Turkeater"). This was because he won 11 fights in a row against Turkish fighters without losing to any of them. Early in his career, he lost twice due to cuts. But after 2002, his next loss by technical knockout (TKO) was in 2008 against Andy Souwer.
From 2000 to 2002, Zambidis beat strong fighters like Jenk Behic and Gürkan Özkan. He also defeated Kara Murat, Baris Nezif, and Wanlop Sosathopan. In 2002, he knocked out the experienced Dutch-Moroccan fighter Hassan Kassrioui. On November 26, 2002, he won the K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 title. He defeated John Wayne Parr in the final match.
Big Fights in Japan
In 2003, Mike Zambidis had his first fight in Japan. He fought Albert Kraus, who was the 2002 K-1 Max World Champion. Zambidis knocked him out in the second round! In April 2005, Zambidis knocked out the popular Japanese fighter Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. This happened with a strong right hook in front of thousands of Yamamoto's fans.
Mike Zambidis has won the national kickboxing championship four times. He also holds many international titles. One of his most exciting fights was on October 3, 2010. This was against Chahid Oulad El Hadj at the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16. Commentators said this fight set a new standard for K-1 matches. However, Zambidis did not reach the final. He lost to Giorgio Petrosyan by a unanimous decision. Zambidis did knock Petrosyan down, but the referee ruled it a slip.
Later Career and Retirement
In May 2011, Zambidis had a third fight with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr. They had each won one match before. Zambidis lost this fight by TKO in the first round.
On December 15, 2012, he won against Reece McAllister. This was in the quarter-finals of the K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final in Athens, Greece. He then lost to the eventual champion, Murthel Groenhart, in the semi-finals. Groenhart was much bigger and won the fight with knees and punches.
On August 31, 2013, Zambidis beat Harun Kina. He won the SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship in Romania. He defended this title successfully against Harun Kina again on January 17, 2015.
Mike Zambidis announced in May 2015 that he would retire. His last fight was in June against Steve Moxon in Greece. This final fight took place on June 5, 2015.
After retiring from kickboxing, he took part in a reality game show called Nomads in October 2017. In March 2019, he returned to fighting for a professional boxing match. He fought against Venezuelan Antonio Gomez. Zambidis got hurt in the first round. He had to fight with only one hand, but he still won the tough match!
Mike Zambidis's Titles
- 2019 BREAKOUT. Champion
- 2015 World W.K.U. Champion
- 2015 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion −71 kg (6th title defence)
- 2015 SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship -71 kg/156.5lb (2nd title defence)
- 2013 SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship -71 kg/156.5lb (One time)
- 2012 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
- 2012 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -71 kg (5th title defence)
- 2011 W5 World Grand Prix KO World Champion -71 kg
- 2011 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (4th title defence)
- 2010 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
- 2009 World PROFI World Champion (1st title defence)
- 2008 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (3rd title defence)
- 2008 A-1 Combat Cup Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2006 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (2nd title defence)
- 2005 World PROFI World Champion
- 2005 W.K.B.F. Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2005 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (1st title defence)
- 2004 A-1 World Combat Cup Champion -76 kg
- 2003 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg
- 2002 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (4th title defence)
- 2002 K-1 World Max Oceania Champion
- 2002 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Thai Boxing Tournament Champion
- 2001 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (3 title defences that year)
- 2000 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion
- 1998 World PROFI Europe Champion
- 1997 I.S.K.A. Balkan Champion
- 1996/1998/1999/2000 Greek Boxing Champion
Kickboxing Record Highlights
| 157 Wins (87 (T)KOs), 24 Losses | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-27 | Win |  Steve Moxon |
Iron Challenge | Athens, Greece, | Decision | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 2015-01-17 | Win |  Harun Kina |
Iron Challenge 2015 | Athens, Greece | KO (Right Kick/Left Hook) | 5 | ||
| Defended the SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship | ||||||||
| 2014-03-28 | Loss |  Batu Khasikov |
Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 15 | Moscow, Russia | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 2013-08-31 | Win | Harun Kina |
SUPERKOMBAT VIP Edition | Bucharest, Romania | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Won the vacant SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship | ||||||||
| 2012-12-15 | Loss |  Murthel Groenhart |
K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final, Semi Finals | Athens, Greece | TKO (Doctor Stoppage, Cut) | 2 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-12-15 | Win |  Reece McAllister |
K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final, Quarter Finals | Athens, Greece | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-05-27 | Win | Chahid Oulad El Hadj |
K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final 16, First Round | Madrid, Spain | KO (Left Hook) | 3 | 1:34 | |
| 2011-05-27 | Loss | John Wayne Parr |
Payback Time: "The Decider" | Melbourne, Australia | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 1 | ||
| 2011-04-09 | Win | Dzhabar Askerov |
W5 Grand Prix K.O, Final | Moscow, Russia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins W5 World Grand Prix KO world title -71 kg | ||||||||
| 2010-11-08 | Loss |  Giorgio Petrosyan |
K-1 World MAX 2010 Final Semi-final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2010-10-03 | Win | Chahid Oulad El Hadj |
K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 - Part 2 | Seoul, South Korea | Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2009-05-07 | Loss | John Wayne Parr |
Payback Time | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| 2008-04-09 | Loss | Andy Souwer |
K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Final 16 | Hiroshima, Japan | Ext.R KO (Left High Kick) | 4 | 2:05 | |
| 2008-03-03 | Win | Daniel Dawson |
No Respect 4 | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Wins A-1 World Combat Cup Super Welterweight World title. | ||||||||
| 2007-10-03 | Loss |  Artur Kyshenko |
K-1 World MAX 2007 World Championship Quarter Finals | Tokyo, Japan | Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2007-06-28 | Win |  Gago Drago |
K-1 World MAX 2007 World Tournament Final Elimination | Tokyo, Japan | Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2006-04-05 | Loss |  Yoshihiro Sato |
K-1 World MAX 2006 World Tournament Open | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2006-02-04 | Loss |  Buakaw Por. Pramuk |
K-1 World MAX 2006 Japan Tournament | Saitama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2005-07-20 | Loss | Masato |
K-1 World MAX 2005 Championship Quarter Finals | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (Robbery) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2005-05-04 | Win | Norifumi Yamamoto |
K-1 World MAX 2005 World Tournament Open | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right Hook) | 3 | 0:39 | |
| 2004-11-28 | Win | Gurkan Ozkan |
A-1 World Combat Cup 2004, Final | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins A-1 World Combat Cup 2004 title -76 kg. | ||||||||
| 2004-04-07 | Loss | Takayuki Kohiruimaki |
K-1 World MAX 2004 World Tournament Quarter Finals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2003-03-01 | Win | Albert Kraus |
K-1 World MAX 2003 Japan Grand Prix | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right Hook) | 2 | 0:16 | |
| 2002-11-26 | Win | John Wayne Parr |
K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 Final | Melbourne, Australia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 title. | ||||||||
| 2002-05-19 | Win | Hassan Kassrioui |
Kickboxing Mania | Athens, Greece | KO (Punches) | 6 | ||
| 2000-11-19 | Win | Baris Nezif |
K-1 Oceania Star Wars 2000 | Melbourne, Australia | KO (Punches) | 12 | 1:46 | |
| Wins W.O.K.A. Super Welterweight World title. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
See also
- List of K-1 Events
- List of K-1 champions
- List of male kickboxers
