Wei Rui, a top Chinese striker and K-1 World Champion, has signed with ONE Championship. With a record of 69-3, Rui is hailed as one of China’s finest kickboxers. His debut date with ONE Championship is still pending, aiming for a return in April or May.
Wei Rui
Rui is known for his success in various promotions including K-1, Wu Lin Feng, and Glory of Heroes, all across the kickboxing world. Now, he has joined ONE Championship. Wei Rui’s signing boosts the bantamweight kickboxing division ruled by two-sport champion, Jonathan Haggerty.
Starting his career in China’s sanda scene and securing multiple titles, Wei shifted to kickboxing to face globally respected strikers. Making his professional debut in 2013, he quickly dominated in Chinese kickboxing. Next, he achieved a significant milestone by winning the K-1 World Grand Prix Lightweight Championship in February 2017, thus becoming the first Chinese K-1 World Champion.
In 2017, he defeated future Glory Featherweight Champion Petchpanomrung Kiatmuu9. In the K-1 Lightweight Grand Prix, he faced Daizo Sasaki in the quarterfinals, securing a knockout victory. He then won against Cristian Spetcu by unanimous decision in the semifinals and triumphed over Ren Hiramoto by split decision in the finals.
Four months later, Rui successfully defended his title with a majority decision win against Kongnapa Weerasakreck. Also in 2017 alone, he earned wins against Thanonchai Thanakorngym, Narongwut Kaeongam, and Jesus Romero, to round out the year with a perfect 8-0 record.
In 2020, he earned the Male Fighter of the Year Award from Combat Press. That year, Wei Rui was able to go a perfect 7-0 plus earned the WLF King’s Super Cup Championship.
While speaking to ONE in an interview, the Chinese-born athlete said:
“I have competed in many domestic and overseas events. Despite the success and recognition I have achieved in China, I am still looking for opportunities to compete with the best fighters on the best platform. ONE Championship is the best combat sports promotion. It’s the right platform for me.”
Despite a loss in March 2018, Wei has since been on a 20-fight winning streak, leading to his move to ONE Championship. He’s set to fight in the bantamweight kickboxing division, currently led by “The General” Haggerty.