On Sunday, July 31, Kunlun Fight returned to Jining, China for Kunlun Fight 48.
In the main event of the evening, the Kunlun Fight 80-kilogram champion Artur Kyshenko moved up in weight to face top-five middleweight Alex Pereira. Kyshenko had won 12 straight fights with wins over top-10 opponents Murthel Groenhart, Hicham El Gaoui and Bai Jinbin. Pereira had won three straight including a decision victory over top-10 middleweight Israel Adensanya.
In the co-main event, popular Chinese fighter Nurla Mulali returned to face MMA and kickboxing veteran Vuyisile Colossa. Nurla defeated Phuket Top Team’s Hussein Al Mansouri in his most recent outing at Kunlun Fight 45. Colossa fell short in his last two outings at Kunlun Fight 44 and Kunlun Fight 45.
The event marked the beginning of the Kunlun Fight World MAX 70-kilogram tournament final 16 with a battle of top lightweights Superbon Banchamek and Khayal Dzhaniev in the first quarterfinal bout. In addition to the 70-kilogram tournament, the event featured the beginning of the eight-man, 100-kilogram tournament and the 16-man, 65-kilogram tournament.
The event aired live at 4 a.m. ET on JiangsuTV.
Artur Kyshenko def. Alex Pereira by TKO (punches). Round 2
Superbon Banchamek def. Khayal Dzhaniev by TKO (right head kick). Round 2 – World MAX 70-kilogram championship tournament
MMA: Xiong Jingnan def. Mona Samir by TKO (ground and pound). Round 1
Asihati def. Tofan Pirani by knockout (right hand). Round 1 – 100-kilogram tournament quarterfinal
Andrey Gerasimchuk def. Bruno Susano by decision – 100-kilogram tournament quarterfinal
Zhang Chunyu def. Zhao Yan by extra round decision
Vuyisile Colossa def. Nurla Mulali by extra round decision
Abdallah Ezbiri def. Isaac Araya by decision – 65-kilogram tournament opening round
Meng Guodong def. Khufenia Giorgi by decision – 65-kilogram tournament opening round
Kim Minsoo def. Massaro Glunder by unanimous decision – 65-kilogram tournament opening round
Maxim Maruha def. Zhang Jinglei by decision – 65-kilogram tournament opening round