Mike Zambidis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Zambidis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 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 |
|
last updated on: 28 June 2015
|
|
Michalis "Iron Mike" Zambidis is a famous Greek kickboxer and martial artist. He was born on July 15, 1980. Mike is known for being an 18-time World Champion. He won many titles in big tournaments like K-1 and SUPERKOMBAT. He was especially good in the K-1 MAX events, where he often won by knocking out his opponents.
Contents
The Story of Iron Mike
Mike Zambidis started learning martial arts when he was very young, even before he turned nine. He trained with his brother, Spiros Zambidis, and his friend, Lazaros Filipas. He learned many different styles, including Shotokan Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Sanda, and Pankration.
He began fighting professionally in the year 2000. He quickly won many fights against strong opponents. People started calling him "Turkofagos," which means "Turkeater." This nickname came about because he won 11 fights in a row against Turkish fighters without losing.
Mike had a few tough losses early in his career due to cuts. But after 2002, he was very strong. His next technical knockout loss was in 2008 against Andy Souwer after an extra round.
Early Victories and K-1 Success
Between 2000 and 2002, Zambidis beat many well-known kickboxers. He defeated Jenk Behic and Gürkan Özkan twice. He even fought Gürkan Özkan in two special open-weight fights, where Gürkan was much heavier than Mike. He also beat Kara Murat, Baris Nezif, Wanlop Sosathopan, Bakari Tounkara, Matteo Sciacca, and Petr Polak.
In 2002, he knocked out Hassan Kassrioui, a strong fighter from the Netherlands and Morocco. On November 26, 2002, Mike won the K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 title. He beat John Wayne Parr in the final match.
In 2003, Mike fought in Japan for the first time. He faced Albert Kraus, who was the 2002 World K-1 Max Champion. Mike surprised everyone by knocking him out in the second round! In April 2005, he knocked out the very popular Japanese fighter Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with a powerful right hook. This happened in front of thousands of Yamamoto's fans.
Mike was a four-time national champion in kickboxing. He also held many international titles.
Memorable Fights and Challenges
One of Mike's most exciting fights was on October 3, 2010. It was against Chahid Oulad El Hadj in the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16. Commentators said this fight set a high standard for other K-1 matches. Even though it was a great fight, Mike didn't make it to the final. He lost to Giorgio Petrosyan by a unanimous decision. Mike did knock Petrosyan down, but the referee said it was a slip, which was a bit controversial.
In May 2011, Mike had a third fight with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr. They had each won one fight against each other before. Mike lost this match in the first round.
He won against Reece McAllister in the quarter-finals of the K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final in Athens, Greece, on December 15, 2012. However, he then lost to the fighter who eventually won the tournament, Murthel Groenhart. Groenhart was much bigger and won the fight with knees and punches.
On August 31, 2013, Mike beat Harun Kina to win the SUPERKOMBAT Middleweight Championship. This fight took place in Bucharest, Romania.
Later Career and Retirement
Mike Zambidis had a rematch with Batu Khasikov on March 28, 2014, in Moscow, Russia. They were fighting for the WKN Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship. Batu Khasikov won this fight.
Mike successfully defended his SUPERKOMBAT middleweight title against Harun Kina on January 17, 2015, in Athens, Greece.
In May 2015, Mike announced that he would retire from fighting. His last fight was in June 2015 against Steve Moxon in his home country of Greece. This final fight happened on June 5, 2015.
After retiring from professional fighting, Mike participated in a reality game show called Nomads in October 2017.
In March 2019, after being away from fighting for about three and a half years, Mike returned for a professional boxing match. He fought against Antonio Gomez from Venezuela. Even though Mike got hurt in the first round and had to fight with only one hand, he still won the tough match!
Championship Titles
Mike Zambidis won many important titles throughout his career:
- 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 Summary
Mike Zambidis had an amazing kickboxing career. He won 157 fights, with 87 of those wins coming from knockouts! He only lost 24 times. Here are some highlights from his record:
| 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 | |
| For WKN Super Welterweight Oriental Rules World Championship -72.6 kg. | ||||||||
| 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 | |
| Qualified for K-1 World MAX 2012 Final. | ||||||||
| 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 | |
| Won 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 | |
| 2010-11-08 | Win |  Yuichiro Nagashima |
K-1 World MAX 2010 Final Quarter-final | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 3 | 0:53 | |
| 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 | |
| Qualified for K-1 World MAX 2010 Final. | ||||||||
| 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 | |
| 2005-05-04 | Win | Norifumi Yamamoto |
K-1 World MAX 2005 World Tournament Open | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right Hook) | 3 | 0:39 | |
| Qualified for K-1 World MAX 2005 Championship. | ||||||||
| 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 | |
| Won K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 title. | ||||||||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
More to Explore
- List of K-1 Events
- List of K-1 champions
- List of male kickboxers
See also
In Spanish: Mike Zambidis para niños
