Top Chinese kickboxing promotion Kunlun Fight announced its next event, Kunlun Fight 69, which takes place from Guiyang, China on Sunday, Feb. 4.
The 2017 64-man Clash of Titans 70-kilogram semifinals features top-10 kickboxers Superbon Banchamek and Marat Grigorian against Sergei Kuliaba and Dzianis Zuev, respectively. The 2016 tournament champion Superbon returns to the ring for the first time since his monumental upset against Endy Semeleer in the finals of the eight-man, one-night 72-kilogram tournament at Enfusion Live 59 in December. Prior to the defeat, Superbon was victorious in 14 straight fights including big wins over Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, Davit Kiria, Mohamed Khamal and Jomthong Chuwattana. Kuliaba recently fell short against multiple-time K-1 world MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek, however. The Ukrainian kickboxer has defeated Tia Xin, Victor Nagbe, Andrei Kulebin and Nikola Cimesa.
On the other side of the bracket, former K-1 70-kilogram champion Marat Grigorian takes on 2014 Kunlun Fight tournament champion Dzianis Zuev. Grigorian put forth a solid 2017 campaign with knockout victories over Jomthong Chuwattana, Antonio Gomez and Anton Petrov. The two-time GLORY title challenger moved into the final four with a decision victory over top-10 foe Mohamed Mezouari. Belarus’s Zuev has won five straight since a decision loss to Mezouari last January.
Two of the world’s most recognized Muay Thai fighters, Buakaw Banchamek and Yodsanklai Fairtex, make their return to Kunlun Fight. Yodsanklai returns to the promotion following a brief retirement due to nagging injuries. Yodsanklai brings his 26-fight winning streak into his return against former K-1 MAX champion Enriko Kehl. Buakaw takes on China’s Hu Yafei. The former two-time K-1 MAX champion and Kunlun Fight Muay Thai champion has won six straight.
The super heavyweight tournament continues when top-10 heavyweight Roman Kryklia meets Brazilian champion Felipe Micheletti and China’s Asihati takes on Iraj Azizpour.
Elsewhere on the card, top female fighters rematch when China’s Wang Kehan meets France’s Laetitita Madjene, 2017 Kunlun Fight 75-kilogram tourney champ Vitaly Gurkov takes on 2016 titleholder Zhang Yang, and Andrei Kulebin meets Gu Hui.
MMA: Zhang Meixuan vs. Oscar Suarez – for bantamweight title
Seksan Somai vs. Wang Wenfeng
Vitaly Gurkov vs. Zhang Yang
Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Enriko Kehl
Felipe Micheletti vs. Roman Kryklia – super heavyweight tournament semifinal
Asihati vs. Iraj Azizpour – super heavyweight tournament semifinal
Takuya Imamura vs. Kong Lingfeng – lightweight tournament reserve
Superbon Banchamek vs. Sergii Kuliaba – lightweight tournament semifinal
Marat Grigorian vs. Dzianis Zuev – lightweight tournament semifinal
Andrei Kulebin vs. Gu Hui
Laetitita Madjene vs. Wang Kehan