Italy’s most ambitious young striking promotion closes its debut season this Saturday. On Sep. 19, the Centro Pavesi in Milan hosts PURE Ascension, the grand finale of PURE Fighting’s 2026 campaign, where five Pure Challenge finals will crown the promotion’s first-ever champions across Muay Thai and kickboxing.
Founded by manager and former fighter Edoardo Bogino under the banner “The future of combat is PURE,” the promotion has spent its first year building something rare in the Italian scene: a structured, meritocratic platform designed to turn talented strikers into professional fighters. PURE is exclusively dedicated to Muay Thai and kickboxing, and its signature format, the Pure Challenge, is a season-long tournament across five weight classes, two in Muay Thai and three in kickboxing. In each division, a top seed is fast-tracked to the final, while four challengers fight through the quarterfinals and semifinals to earn the final spot.
A Three-Stop Season
For international readers new to the project, PURE Ascension is not a standalone card but the payoff of a three-event arc, all staged at the Centro Pavesi. The journey opened on April 18 with PURE Origin, the inaugural event that launched the qualifiers. PURE Dominion followed on June 21, featuring the semifinals and a handful of superfights to set the final brackets. Saturday closes the loop: 10 athletes, five finals and one belt per division.
Taste of the Future Opens the Night
Before the title bouts, the Taste of the Future undercard delivers six matchups blending prospects, ring veterans and familiar PURE names, highlighted by the experience of Hakim Bah and Taras Hnatchuck. Ring announcer Arianna Asaro returns to guide the broadcast, a role now closely tied to the PURE brand.
The Five Pure Challenge Finals
Featherweight Muay Thai: A genuinely international final pits Spanish-Moroccan finalist Yassin El Khoulati against Mongolian striker Tenuun Gantushig, who is based in Lombardy and reached the final as one of the standout risers in his bracket.
Women’s Bantamweight Kickboxing: A high-level technical duel between Alessandra Manenti and Luciana Germano. A former model turned respected veteran, the Sicilian Germano holds the ISKA European title and the FIGHT1 Italian title at 55 kg. She returns to the ring after maternity leave, intent on reclaiming her place at the top.
Super Lightweight Muay Thai: Rising national talent Luca Carlini takes on the hardest possible test in top seed Oscar Cambiaghi, who earned his direct route to the final as the division’s No. 1 seed.
Super Welterweight Kickboxing: Italy’s Davide Lombardi faces France’s Guerric Billet, a WAKO Pro world champion and multiple-time ISKA titleholder whose international pedigree makes this one of the card’s most dangerous pairings.
Featherweight Kickboxing: The closing final is also the marquee bout. Gabin Kamdoum challenges top seed Luca Cecchetti, one of the most decorated names in Italian kickboxing. “The Sniper,” a southpaw from Meda fighting out of Angelo Valente’s Kick and Punch team, has piled up more than 45 career wins and has held WAKO Pro world titles in two weight classes, including three featherweight reigns and the WAKO Pro K-1 bantamweight crown. He enters as the clear favorite, but also as the man Kamdoum most wants to beat.
Fight Card at a Glance
Pure Challenge Finals
Featherweight Muay Thai: Yassin El Khoulati vs. Tenuun Gantushig
Women’s Bantamweight Kickboxing: Alessandra Manenti vs. Luciana Germano
Super Lightweight Muay Thai: Luca Carlini vs. Oscar Cambiaghi
Super Welterweight Kickboxing: Davide Lombardi vs. Guerric Billet
Featherweight Kickboxing: Gabin Kamdoum vs. Luca Cecchetti
Taste of the Future Undercard
Six bouts featuring prospects and veterans, led by Hakim Bah and Taras Hnatchuck.
Event Info
Venue: Centro Pavesi, Milan, Italy
Date: Saturday, Sep. 19, 2026
Doors: 5:30 p.m. local time
First bout: 6 p.m. local time
Host: Arianna Asaro