Zhora Akopyan (born 6 November 1997) is a Belarusian-Armenian kickboxer. He is the former Fair Fight welterweight champion, FEA WGP lightweight champion and the 2019 Tatneft Cup lightweight tournament winner.
Akopyan grew up in Polotsk, Belarus, he practiced Karate as a child. His uncle noticed his love for martial arts and brought him to a Muay Thai and Kickboxing club in his hometown when Zhora was 11. Akopyan won the IFMA gold medal in 2014 after five years of training. The following year he moved to Minsk to join Gridin gym and try to breakout in the professional world.[2]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Eduard King at KOK Elimination Tournament on October 6, 2018. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[3]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Mirkko Moisar at Number One Fight Show 11 on May 14, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[citation needed]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Vladislav Ukrainets, in 1/8 of the -70kg tournament held on June 11, 2019. The fight went into an extra round, after which Akopyan won the decision.[4] A month later, on July 20, Akopyan faced Yanis Budagov in the tournament quarterfinals. The fight once again went into an extra round, after which he was awarded a decision.[5]
Akopyan was scheduled to participate in the FEA World Grand Prix, held on August 17, 2019. He beat Stanislav Kazantsev by unanimous decision in the tournament semifinals. Advancing to the finals, he faced Constantin Rusu, whom he beat by decision, after an extra round was fought.[6]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Ilya Sokolov in the semifinals of the Tatneft Cup, held on October 4, 2019. He won the fight by decision, after an extra round was fought.[7]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Ivan Kondratiev in the finals of the 2019 Tatneft Cup -70kg tournament, held on December 15, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[8]
Akopyan was scheduled to fight a rematch with Rafał Dudek at MGC Promotion on February 29, 2020. The two of them previously fought at DSF Kickboxing Challenge on August 9, 2018, with Dudek winning by decision. Akopyan was more successful in the rematch, as he won by unanimous decision.[9]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Maxim Spodarenko at BFC 65 on December 23, 2020. He won the fight by split decision.[10]
Akopyan was scheduled to fight Maxim Sulgin for the vacant Fair Fight -77kg title at Fair Fight XV on August 28, 2021. He won the fight by split decision.[11]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Jonathan Mayezo at Empire Fight - Vikings Edition on October 2, 2021. He lost the fight by majority decision.[12]
Akopyan was scheduled to face Fabien Bignell at Tour Event Fight 9 on April 2, 2022.[13] Akopyan withdrew from the bout, as the French Federation did not allow him to compete due to sanctions against Belarus in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14]
Akopyan faced Mamuka Usubyan at Fair Fight XVII on April 16, 2022 for the Fair Fight Lightweight title.[15] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[16]
Akpyan defeated Daniele Iodice by unanimous decision at PetrosyanMania GOLD EDITION in Italy on April 30, 2022.[17]
Akopyan faced Sayfullah Khambakadov in a Fair Fight lightweight title eliminator at RCC Fair Fight 19 on November 26, 2022.[18] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[19]
Akopyan was expected to face Vasilii Semenov in the Fair Fight lightweight tournament semifinals at RCC Fair Fight 20 on February 18, 2023. He was forced to withdraw with an injury and the bout was rescheduled for RCC 15 on May 13, 2023.[20] He won the fight by decision.
Dmitry "Shok" Shakuta is a Belarusian Muay Thai super middleweight kickboxer fighting out of Minsk, Belarus for the SK-55 gym. He is an eight-time amateur and professional world champion, most well-known for being the It's Showtime 77MAX world champion between 2008 and 2009.
Vitaly Hurkou, is a Belarusian welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of Minsk for Patriot Gym. He is a seven time amateur Muay Thai world champion and is the K-1 World MAX 2010 East Europe champion currently competing in Kunlun Fight. He is also the singer of the rock band Brutto.
Dmitry 'Black Valet' Valent is a Belarusian Muay Thai middleweight/super middleweight kickboxer. He is the former WKN Middleweight Oriental rules and Muay thai champion, former WMC Light Heavyweight champion, two time WMC I-1 World Muaythai Grand Slam champion and two time Kunlun Fight 80 kg tournament runner-up.
Tsotne Badrievich Rogava is a Ukrainian heavyweight Muay Thai kickboxer, fighting out of the Captain Odesa gym in Odesa. He is the current ACB Kickboxing Heavyweight champion and the 2012 Tatneft Arena World Cup winner.
Artem Olegovich Vakhitov is a Russian kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Having begun practicing Muay Thai at eleven years old, Vakhitov first came to prominence due to a successful amateur career by winning three world championships as well as taking gold in 2013 at the World Combat Games. He turned professional in 2009, and signed with Glory in 2013, where he would twice be crowned the Glory Light Heavyweight Champion.
Superbon Singha Mawynn, also known as Superbon Banchamek, is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of Bangkok. He is currently signed to ONE Championship, where he is the current interim ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion. Superbon is the 2016 Kunlun Fight World Max Tournament Champion and 2018 Enfusion Live 76 8-Man Tournament Champion. As of September 2022, Combat Press ranks him as the #1 lightweight and #2 pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world,. As of May, 2023, Beyond Kickboxing ranks him as the second best lightweight and # 2 pound-for-pound kickboxer. As of October 20, 2022, he is ranked #1 in the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai rankings.
Valentin Slavikovski is a professional Belarusian kickboxer.
Igor Bugaenko, also known as Ihar Buhaenka, is a Belarusian kickboxer, who has been professionally competing since 2008.
Aleksei Ulianov is a Russian kickboxer who competes in the Glory Featherweight division. He is a two time Tatneft Cup 70 kg tournament winner.
Dmitriy Menshikov is a Russian kickboxer who is currently signed to ONE Championship and has competed in the Glory Welterweight division. He is ranked as the fourth-best welterweight (79 kg) in the world by Combat Press as of November 2023, and the fourth-best by Beyond Kickboxing as of December 2023.
Iraj Azizpour is an Iranian heavyweight kickboxer. He is the former Kunlun Fight heavyweight kickboxing champion, and was ranked among the top 10 kickboxers in the world in 2018 by Liver Kick, as well as being ranked in the top ten by Combat Press between March 2018 and March 2019. Azizpour is currently ranked as the number 8th Heavyweight in the world by Combat Press Holds notable victories over Ismael Londt, Anderson Silva, and the current ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship Roman Kryklia
Andrey Sergeyevich Chekhonin is a Russian kickboxer, karateka and savateur. As of May 2022, he was the #7 ranked middleweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press.
Sher Mamazulunov is an Uzbek kickboxer, currently competing in the middleweight division of Fair Fight.
Sergey Ponomarev is a Russian kickboxer. He is ranked as the second best middleweight in the world by Combat Press as of September 2022, and fifth best by Beyond Kick as of October 2022.
Mamuka Usubyan is a Russian Armenian professional boxer and kickboxer, and the current Fair Fight lightweight champion. As of May 2022 he was the #10 ranked lightweight in the world by Combat Press.
Nikita Kozlov is a Russian kickboxer, currently competing in the light heavyweight division of RCC Fair Fight. As of October 2022, he is ranked as the seventh best light heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kickboxing, and fifth best by Combat Press.
Constantin Rusu is a Moldovan kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight division of ONE Championship. He is the former KOK and FEA welterweight champion. A professional competitor since 2016, Rusu has also competed for Colosseum Tournament and Dynamite Fighting Show in Romania.
Valeriy Bizyaev is a Russian kickboxer. As of April 2023, he is ranked as the tenth best light heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.
Kiamran Rashidovich Nabati is a Russian kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter, currently competing in the featherweight division of RCC Fair Fight, where he is the incumbent champion.
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