Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
The UAM Fight Night K1 Pro, hosted in Abu Dhabi's Mudabala Dome at Al Jazira Club, concluded with a thrilling display of martial prowess as champions from across the globe vied for supremacy.
Among the distinguished outcomes, Portuguese champion André Santos successfully defended his welterweight world title for the fourth time in a riveting match against Spanish contender Khyzer Nawaz.
This hallmark event, organised by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation (UAEMKF) in collaboration with the World Association of Kickboxing Professionals (WAKO PRO), marked the commencement of the season. It featured 30 athletes representing 20 countries, competing in various weight categories and demonstrating the universal appeal and competitive spirit of kickboxing.
In a standout battle, Brazilian Gustavo Jones secured a knockout victory over UAE's Ilyas Habibali in the super-middleweight category.
There was also double delight for UAE when Mohamed Touizi defeated Spanish opponent Ahmed Rehouni, and Ibraheem Bilal secured a victory over Portuguese Leonardo Miranda after an excellent performance in three rounds, drawing cheers from the attending audience at Mudabala Dome.
Spanish fighter Aitor Currito won against Moroccan Anass Ahmidouch, Chinese Xiaokaiti Abulaike defeated Iranian Reza Ahmadnezhad, French Nasser Boungab won against Italian Daniele Iodice, Canadian Oliver Langlois defeated Tunisian Mohamed Tarabelsi, Brazilian Denis Da Silva won against French Velay Anthony, Austrian Ivan Zareva defeated Emirati Ymad Youcef, Moroccan Hamza Rachid won against Latvian opponent Alexander Cherkesov, and Bahraini Khudoiberdiev Khaiam defeated Egyptian Ahmed Tantawy.
A remarkable attendance and fantastic atmosphere were witnessed at Mudhala Dome. 🙌
— UAE Muay Thai & Kickboxing Federation (@uaemkfed) February 25, 2024
The fights were on point, and the champions displayed high skills in the UAM Fight Night K1 Pro. 🥊#UAMFightNight #K1Pro #UAEMKFed #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/Ix4xAMsjWE
In women's matches, Liorens Aurore representing France, won against Czech Sarka Melinova in the middleweight category, Austrian Stella Hemetsberger defeated Portuguese Debora Evora in the featherweight category, and Turkish Sevgi Doğan defeated Japanese Mayu Aoki to claim the championship shield in the bantamweight category.
Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, President of the Asian and Arab Muay Thai Federation and the UAEMKF, thanked the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
"This championship not only highlights the elite talent within professional kickboxing but also underscores Abu Dhabi's burgeoning status as a global sports capital," Al Neyadi remarked, praising the event's role in showcasing top-tier athletic prowess and fostering international sportsmanship. Donato Milano, Vice President of WAKO PRO, lauded the organisation and electrifying atmosphere of the event.
"The Professional Kickboxing Championship in Abu Dhabi has set a new benchmark for excellence in the sport, thanks to its world-class competitors and the passionate audience that it attracts," Milano noted.
The success of the championship was amplified by the contributions of key figures in the sports community, including Tariq Al Meheiri, Carlos Ramjanali, Hassan Al Hilali, and Nasser Khamis Al Marri, among others.