Murat Direkçi

Last updated
Murat Direkci
Murat-direkci.jpg
BornMurat Direkci
(1979-07-17) July 17, 1979 (age 44)
Antwerp, Belgium
Nationality Belgian
Turkish
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)
Division Middleweight, Super Middleweight
Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai
TeamUniversal Gym
Kickboxing record
Total88
Wins69
By knockout57
Losses17
By knockout4
Draws2
Last updated on: September 27, 2020

Murat Direkci (born 17 July 1975 [1] in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian-Turkish middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium.

Contents

Early life

Direkci was born in Antwerp, Belgium as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya, Derebucak, Turkey. His sister Nuray died at the age of 4 due to a brain tumor, and his brother Ercan died in 2004 as a result of a traffic accident at 29. After completing his school education, Direkci studied at technical school with the intention of becoming an electrician. After a short while, he found a job as a doorman at a nightclub in Antwerp, however, and took up this career.

Career

Direkcu began training in martial arts at the age of 15 and was originally trained by Jan Gooyvaers. In 1999, he began training under Jan Pasztjerik.

After becoming the Belgian, European and World champion in kickboxing and muay Thai, he made his K-1 debut against Fikri Tijarti at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam in May 2006, winning by technical knockout in round 3. In February the following year, he faced former K-1 world champion Albert Kraus at the K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament in Tokyo and shocked the world by knocking Kraus out in the first round. After winning two more fights in K-1, over Joerie Mes and Satoruvaschicoba, he took part in the final 16 of the 2008 K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in April 2008 but lost to Yoshihiro Sato via decision.

On February 8, 2009, he became the It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Gago Drago via technical knockout at Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 in his hometown of Antwerp. He made his first defence of the title against Morocco's Chahid Oulad El Hadj at It's Showtime 2009 Lommel in October 2009, before losing it to Congolese Muay Thai fighter Chris Ngimbi at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens in December 2010.

Direkci lost a decision to Robin van Roosmalen at It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden on January 28, 2012. Following the fight, he announced his retirement. [2]

He would then come out of retirement, however, to face Nieky Holzken at Glory 2: Brussels on October 6, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. He apparently decided that he will no longer cut weight for his fights and will fight Holzken at 78 kg as opposed to his usual division of 70 kg. [3] He lost via TKO due to a cut in the second round. [4]

He lost to Canadian prospect Joseph Valtellini via TKO due to corner stoppage in round two at Glory 6: Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on April 6, 2013. [5] [6] [7]

In July 2019, Enfusion announced Murat would return after a six year hiatus. [8] Two weeks later, they announced Hafid El Boustati as his opponent. [9] The two of them met during Enfusion 90, with El Boustati winning a split decision. [10]

Titles

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record
68 Wins (57 (T)KO's, 11 decisions), 17 Losses, 2 Draws
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2019-11-02Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Hafid El BoustatiEnfusion Live 90 Antwerp, Belgium Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2013-04-06Loss Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Joseph Valtellini Glory 6: Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey TKO (corner stoppage)2
2012-10-06Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nieky Holzken Glory 2: Brussels Brussels, Belgium TKO (cut)2
2012-01-28Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Robin van Roosmalen It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Majority)33:00
2011-09-24Loss Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Chris Ngimbi BFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX", Quarter Finals Brussels, Belgium Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2010-12-11Loss Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Chris Ngimbi Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens Athens, Greece Decision (5-0)53:00
Loses his It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2010-10-10Win Flag of Germany.svg Enriko Kehl Mix Fight Gala 10 Darmstadt, Germany TKO12:37
2010-05-29Loss Flag of Ukraine.svg Artur Kyshenko It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (4-1)33:00
2009-11-21Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg William Diender It's Showtime 2009 Barneveld Barneveld, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2009-10-24Win Flag of Morocco.svg Chahid Oulad El Hadj It's Showtime 2009 Lommel Lommel, Belgium TKO (Doctor Stoppage, Cut)1
Retains It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2009-05-16Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Brian Lo-A-Njoe It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (Referee Stoppage)2N/A
2009-02-08Win Flag of Armenia.svg Gago Drago Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 Antwerp, Belgium TKO (Referee Stoppage)12:23
Wins inaugural It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2008-11-29Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Perry Ubeda It's Showtime 2008 Eindhoven Eindhoven, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2008-10-05Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Tarik El IdrissiTough Is Not Enough Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (Doctor Stoppage)2
Fight was for W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" K-1 Rules super welterweight title -70 kg.
2008-05-24Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Chahid Oulad El Hadj Gentleman Promotions Fightnight Tilburg, Netherlands TKO (Referee Stoppage)3
2008-04-09Loss Flag of Japan.svg Yoshihiro Sato K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16 Hiroshima, Japan Decision (Unanimous)33:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8.
2008-03-15Draw Flag of Morocco.svg Faldir Chahbari It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2008, Super Fight 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands Decision Draw33:00
2007-10-03Win Flag of Japan.svg Satoruvashicoba K-1 World MAX 2007 Final, Reserve Fight Tokyo, Japan KO (Left Hook)20:39
2007-06-23Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Joerie Mes K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (Doctor Stoppage)11:40
2007-03-24Draw Flag of Morocco.svg Salah Edine Ait Naceur It's Showtime Trophy 2007, Super Fight Lommel, Belgium Decision Draw33:00
2007-02-05Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Albert Kraus K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament Tokyo, Japan KO (Left Hook)11:27
2006-11-12Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ray Staring2H2H Ahoy Rotterdam, Netherlands TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
2006-05-13Win Flag of Morocco.svg Fikri Tijarti K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (Referee Stoppage)32:10
2006-02-03Win Flag of Morocco.svg Abdil BoukariWFCA Gala Roosendaal, Netherlands Decision53:00
2005-11-13Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Faldir Chahbari WFCA Thai-Kickbox Gala Nijmegen, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous)53:00
Fight was for W.F.C.A. Thai-boxing junior middleweight European title -69.85 kg.
2005-09-25Win Flag of Hungary.svg Roland VörösThaiboxing Gala, Arenahal Deurne, Belgium TKO2
2005-06-12Loss Flag of Armenia.svg Gago Drago It's Showtime 2005 Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2005-04-30Win Flag of the Netherlands.svg Melvin RozenbladQueens Fight Night Eindhoven, Netherlands KO
2004-02-28Win Flag of Hungary.svg Janos SzenasiThaiboxing Gala Mons, Belgium Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2004-01-12Win Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Nadir LarechtFights at the Border III Lommel, Belgium KO1
2003-10-18Win Flag of England.svg Anthony BassnettGala in Deurne Deurne, Belgium TKO3
Wins W.F.C.A. Thai-Boxing World title -70kg.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

  1. Fighter Profile
  2. Van Roosmalen wins close decision over Murat Direkci at It's Showtime 55
  3. "Glory 2: Brussels final fight card for this Saturday". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  4. Glory 2: Brussels live results
  5. GLORY 6 Poster/Fighters Expected to Participate
  6. Updated GLORY 6 Istanbul Fight Card For Saturday, April 6
  7. GLORY 6 Istanbul: Daniel Ghita vs. Gokhan Saki, Live Results
  8. "Former Champion Returning in November". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. "Direkci - El Boustati Set for November". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. "Kickboxing Results: Enfusion #90 Antwerp". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.