Kunlun Fight has announced 13 fights for its upcoming event in Beijing, China, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24. Kunlun Fight 53 features many of the promotion’s top stars in the inaugural event in the newly constructed Kunlun Fight World Kickboxing Culture Center.
The first quarterfinal features the world’s top pound-for-pound kickboxer, Sittichai Sitsongpeenong. The 2015 Combat Press Kickboxing Fighter of the Year returns to the promotion after putting on a nearly flawless performance against short-notice opponent Diogo Neves in the round of 16 at Kunlun Fight 50. Sittichai meets Superbon Banchamek in a rematch of their 2015 Kunlun Fight middleweight tournament semifinal bout, which took place in January. Sittichai stopped Superbon in the first round on his path to winning the tournament over top-10 kickboxer-turned-boxer Enriko Gogokhia. Sittichai has won seven fights in 2016 and defeated many of the world’s top lightweights, including Robin van Roosmalen, Marat Grigorian, Davit Kiria and Mohammed Mezouari. Superbon has won four fights with the promotion in 2016. He earned his place in the 70-kilogram tournament quarterfinals with a second-round knockout of Khayal Dzhaniev at Kunlun Fight 48.
The second quarterfinal match-up features former multiple-time Rajadamnern stadium champion Jomthong Chuwattana and Chinese prospect Tian Xin. Jomthong sits just outside the top 10 despite holding past wins over Kaew Weerasakreck (Fairtex), Qiu Jianliang and many other top fighters. He has an opportunity to break into the top 10 if he navigates the tournament field and wins. Xin earned his spot in the tournament quarterfinals with his upset victory over multiple-time Muay Thai champion Andrei Kulebin.
Thongchai Banchamek vs. Nurla Mulali
MMA: Zhang Lipeng vs. Beibit Nazarov
Wu Xuesong vs. Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima
Perviz Abdullayev vs. Zhang Yang
MMA: Wu Haotian vs. Jose Ruelas
Albert Kraus vs. Ma Shuo
MMA: Zhang Weili vs. Maria De Souza
Brad Riddell vs. Zheng Zhaoyu
Khayal Dzhaniev vs. Kong Lingfeng
Sittichai Sitsongpeenong vs. Superbon Banchamek – 70-kilogram tournament quarterfinal
Jomthong Chuwattana vs. Tian Xin – 70-kilogram tournament quartefinal