Murat Direkci | |
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Born | Murat Direkci July 17, 1979 Antwerp, Belgium |
Nationality | Belgian Turkish |
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Weight | 77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st) |
Division | Middleweight, Super Middleweight |
Style | Kickboxing, Muay Thai |
Team | Universal Gym |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 88 |
Wins | 69 |
By knockout | 57 |
Losses | 17 |
By knockout | 4 |
Draws | 2 |
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.
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.
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]
68 Wins (57 (T)KO's, 11 decisions), 17 Losses, 2 Draws | ||||||||
Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-11-02 | Loss | ![]() | Enfusion Live 90 | Antwerp, Belgium | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2013-04-06 | Loss | ![]() | Glory 6: Istanbul | Istanbul, Turkey | TKO (corner stoppage) | 2 | ||
2012-10-06 | Loss | ![]() | Glory 2: Brussels | Brussels, Belgium | TKO (cut) | 2 | ||
2012-01-28 | Loss | ![]() | It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2011-09-24 | Loss | ![]() | BFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX", Quarter Finals | Brussels, Belgium | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2010-12-11 | Loss | ![]() | Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens | Athens, Greece | Decision (5-0) | 5 | 3:00 | |
Loses his It's Showtime 70MAX Championship. | ||||||||
2010-10-10 | Win | ![]() | Mix Fight Gala 10 | Darmstadt, Germany | TKO | 1 | 2:37 | |
2010-05-29 | Loss | ![]() | It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Decision (4-1) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2009-11-21 | Win | ![]() | It's Showtime 2009 Barneveld | Barneveld, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2009-10-24 | Win | ![]() | It's Showtime 2009 Lommel | Lommel, Belgium | TKO (Doctor Stoppage, Cut) | 1 | ||
Retains It's Showtime 70MAX Championship. | ||||||||
2009-05-16 | Win | ![]() | It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 2 | N/A | |
2009-02-08 | Win | ![]() | Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 | Antwerp, Belgium | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 1 | 2:23 | |
Wins inaugural It's Showtime 70MAX Championship. | ||||||||
2008-11-29 | Win | ![]() | It's Showtime 2008 Eindhoven | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2008-10-05 | Loss | ![]() | Tough 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. | ||||||||
2008-05-24 | Loss | ![]() | Gentleman Promotions Fightnight | Tilburg, Netherlands | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 3 | ||
2008-04-09 | Loss | ![]() | K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16 | Hiroshima, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8. | ||||||||
2008-03-15 | Draw | ![]() | It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2008, Super Fight | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | Decision Draw | 3 | 3:00 | |
2007-10-03 | Win | ![]() | K-1 World MAX 2007 Final, Reserve Fight | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left Hook) | 2 | 0:39 | |
2007-06-23 | Win | ![]() | K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 1 | 1:40 | |
2007-03-24 | Draw | ![]() | It's Showtime Trophy 2007, Super Fight | Lommel, Belgium | Decision Draw | 3 | 3:00 | |
2007-02-05 | Win | ![]() | K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left Hook) | 1 | 1:27 | |
2006-11-12 | Win | ![]() | 2H2H Ahoy | Rotterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | |||
2006-05-13 | Win | ![]() | K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 3 | 2:10 | |
2006-02-03 | Win | ![]() | WFCA Gala | Roosendaal, Netherlands | Decision | 5 | 3:00 | |
2005-11-13 | Loss | ![]() | WFCA Thai-Kickbox Gala | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
Fight was for W.F.C.A. Thai-boxing junior middleweight European title -69.85 kg. | ||||||||
2005-09-25 | Win | ![]() | Thaiboxing Gala, Arenahal | Deurne, Belgium | TKO | 2 | ||
2005-06-12 | Loss | ![]() | It's Showtime 2005 Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
2005-04-30 | Win | ![]() | Queens Fight Night | Eindhoven, Netherlands | KO | |||
2004-02-28 | Win | ![]() | Thaiboxing Gala | Mons, Belgium | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
2004-01-12 | Win | ![]() | Fights at the Border III | Lommel, Belgium | KO | 1 | ||
2003-10-18 | Win | ![]() | Gala in Deurne | Deurne, Belgium | TKO | 3 | ||
Wins W.F.C.A. Thai-Boxing World title -70kg. | ||||||||
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |
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