Sina Karimian

Sina Karimian
Born	(1988-01-23) 23 January 1988 (age 37) Isfahan, Iran
Native name	سینا کریمیان
Other names	Hero
Height	200 cm (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Weight	104.4 kg (230 lb; 16.44 st)
Division	Heavyweight
Style	Kickboxing
Stance	Orthodox
Team	WSR Tokyo (2018–2019) POWER OF DREAM (2019–present)
Trainer	Weerasakreck Wonpasser Seiichi Furukawa
Kickboxing record
Total	21
Wins	15
By knockout	7
Losses	5
By knockout	3
No contests	1
Other information
Website	www.sina-karimian.com

Sina Karimian (born 23 January 1988) is an Iranian kickboxer. He currently competes in GLORY. He is the former K-1 Cruiserweight Champion. ^{[1] [2]}

Kickboxing career

Karimian participated in the 2018 K-1 WORLD GP Cruiserweight (−90 kg) Tournament. He beat OD.KEN in the quarter-finals with a fourth-round TKO. In the semi-finals he defeated K-Jee with a unanimous decision. He won a majority decision against Boubaker El Bakouri with a majority decision to become the inaugural K-1 Cruiserweight champion. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

He made his first title defence against Hisaki Kato during K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2. ^[6] Karimian won a unanimous decision. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

He made his second title defence in a rematch against Ryo Aitaka. Karimian won a unanimous decision. ^[10]

Karimian fought K-Jee on 3 November 2020 during K-1 WGP Japan. ^[11] He lost the fight by a first-round knockout. ^[12]

Sina was scheduled to fight Seiya Tanigawa at K'Festa 4, but the event was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[13] He was instead scheduled to fight K-Jee at K'Festa 4 Day 2 for the K-1 WORLD GP Cruiserweight title. Sina won the fight by a second-round knockout, after being knocked down twice in the first round. ^[14]

Karimian was scheduled to face the former K-1 heavyweight champion Kyotaro Fujimoto at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on 20 September 2021. ^[15] He won the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought. ^[16]

Karimian faced Rikiya Yamashita at THE MATCH 2022 on 19 June 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision. ^[17]

Karimian faced Kosuke Jitsukata at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022. He won the fight by a first-round knockout. ^[18]

Karimian took part in the Glory 99 “Heavyweight Last Man Standing Tournament” where 32 heavyweight fighters competed on April 5, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. ^{[19] [20]} He faced off against Tomáš Možný in the opening round, losing via unanimous decision. ^[21]

Mixed Martial Arts career

Karimian made his Mixed Martial Arts debut at RIZIN Landmark 11 in Sapporo in June of 2025, facing off against GRACHAN Heavyweight Champion, Hidetaka Arato. He won the fight via unanimous decision. ^[22]

Sina will return to MMA at K-1 World MAX 2025 - 70kg World Tournament Opening Round, facing Blake Troop in a Heavyweight bout. This will mark the return of K-1's MMA brand, HEROs. This will be the first time it has been utilized since December of 2007. ^[23]

Boxing career

Karimian would face former K-1 Super Lightweight kickboxing champion Ruyika Anpo in a 6-round scored exhibition boxing match at RIZIN 49. Karimian weighed in at 216 pounds, while Anpo weighed in at 178 pounds. Despite the 38 pound weight advantage, Karimian was thoroughly outboxed by Anpo. Karimian would accidentally hit the referee multiple times during a scuffle with Anpo, but the bout continued after a brief pause. Karimian would lose the bout via unanimous decision, failing to win a single round. ^[24]

Karimian would face former HEAT and ISKA Lightweight Kickboxing champion Kouzi in a 3-round exhibition boxing match at RIZIN: Otoko Matsuri. The bout was booked as a "punishment fight" after Kouzi was involved in a hit-and-run the previous December. He took the fight with Karimian as penance for his actions. After 3 rounds, the fight was declared a draw, due to it being an exhibition. ^[25]

Titles and accomplishments

Professional

• K-1
  • 2018 K-1 World GP −90 kg Championship Tournament Winner ^[26]
  • 2021 K-1 World GP −90 kg Championship
    • Two successful defenses

• World Kickboxing Network
  • 2017 WKN Oriental rules Super Cruiserweight (92.5kg) International Champion ^[27]

Amateur

• WKU Amateur World Heavyweight Champion ^[28]
• IKN Amateur World Heavyweight Champion
• WKF Amateur World Heavyweight Champion
• 2017 IFMA Amateur Muaythai World Championship (91 kg) 3rd place. ^[29]

Kickboxing record

Professional Kickboxing Record(incomplete)

16 Wins (8 (T)KO's), 5 Losses, 0 Draw, 2 No Contest
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
2025-04-05	Loss	Tomáš Možný	Glory 99 - Last Heavyweight Standing, Opening Round	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2024-12-14	NC	Daichi Kimura	K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 Final	Tokyo, Japan	Doctor stop. (Low blow)	1
2024-10-05	NC	Claudio Istrate	K-1 World GP 2024 in Osaka	Osaka, Japan	Doctor stop. (hit to back of the head)	1
K-1 World Grand Prix 2024 Final Qualifier. Karimian unable to continue after a hit to the back of the head. Istrate was ahead on points at the time of the stoppage and qualified.
2024-03-20	Loss	Liu Ce	K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Tournament Opening Round	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Right hook)	3	2:03
Loses the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title.
2023-09-10	Loss	Claudio Istrate	K-1 World GP 2023: ReBOOT～K-1 ReBIRTH～ World Grand Prix Semifinals	Yokohama, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2023-09-10	Win	Kerim Jemai	K-1 World GP 2023: ReBOOT～K-1 ReBIRTH～ World Grand Prix Quarterfinals	Yokohama, Japan	TKO (2 Knockdowns/Punches)	3	1:35
2022-12-03	Win	Carlos Budiao	K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka	Osaka, Japan	DQ (Hit to the back of the head)	2
2022-09-11	Win	Kosuke Jitsukata	K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri	Yokohama, Japan	KO (Punches)	1	1:21
2022-06-19	Win	Rikiya Yamashita	THE MATCH 2022	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2021-09-20	Win	Kyotaro	K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri	Yokohama, Japan	Ext. R. Decision (Split)	4	3:00
2021-03-28	Win	K-Jee	K'Festa 4 Day 2	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Spinning back fist)	2	0:26
Wins the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title.
2020-11-03	Loss	K-Jee	K-1 World GP 2020 in Fukuoka	Fukuoka, Japan	TKO (corner stoppage)	1
Loses the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title.
2020-03-22	Win	Ryo Aitaka	K-1: K’Festa 3	Saitama, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Defends the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title}.
2019-08-24	Loss	Ryo Aitaka	K-1 World GP 2019: Japan vs World 5 vs 5 & Special Superfight in Osaka	Osaka, Japan	KO (Right overhand)	3	2:08
2019-03-10	Win	Hisaki Kato	K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2	Saitama, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Defends the K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title.
2018-09-24	Win	Boubaker El Bakouri	K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Final	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00
Wins the inaugural K-1 Cruiserweight (-90kg) title.
2018-09-24	Win	K-Jee	K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Semi-finals	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2018-09-24	Win	OD.KEN	K-1 World GP 2018: inaugural Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Quarter-finals	Tokyo, Japan	TKO (ref. stop)	4	3:00
2017-03-10	Win	Neil Aquino	WKN Iran: World Cup 2017	Teheran, Iran	KO	2
Wins the vacant WKN Oriental rules Super Cruiserweight International Title.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Amateur Muay Thai Record

Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
2017-05-10	Loss	Jakub Klauda	2017 IFMA World Championships, Semi-final	Minsk, Belarus	RSO	2
Wins 2017 IFMA World Championships -91kg Bronze Medal.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

2 matches	1 win	0 losses
By decision	1	0
No contests	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
NC	1–0 (1)	Blake Troop	NC (accidental eye poke)	K-1 World MAX 2025: 70kg World Tournament Opening Round	September 7, 2025	2	1:53	Tokyo, Japan	Accidental eye poke rendered Troop unable to continue.
Win	1–0	Hidetaka Arato	Decision (unanimous)	Rizin Landmark 11	June 14, 2025	3	5:00	Sapporo, Japan	Heavyweight debut.

Exhibition boxing record

2 fights	0 wins	1 loss
By decision	0	1
Draws	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
2	—	0–1 (1)	Kouzi	—	3	May 4, 2025	Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan	Non-scored bout. Rizin Special standing bout rules
1	Loss	0–1	Rukiya Anpo	UD	6	Dec 31, 2024	Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan	Rizin Special standing bout rules.

See also

• List of male kickboxers

References

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