Mike Zambidis
Encyclopedia
"Iron" Mike Zambidis is a professional Greek
kickboxer and martial artist. He is a 15 time World Champion, and is the current W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" super-welterweight
kickboxing
oriental rules world champion also competing in the K-1 MAX
.
, Kickboxing
, Boxing
and Muay Thai
. He started competing professionally in 2000, scoring a string of victories over notable opponents. So far, the majority of his wins have been knock-outs. He has been technically knocked out twice himself early in his career due to cuts, but since 2002, his only technical knock-out defeat was in 2008 against Andy Souwer
in an extra round.
Zambidis has defeated notable kickboxer Jenk Behic twice, Gurkan Ozkan twice, Wanlop Sosathopan, Bakari Tounkara, Matteo Sciacca, Petr Polak. In 2002, he knocked out the strong and experienced Dutch-Morrocan Hassan Kassrioui.
In 2003, promoter Tarik Solak arranged Zambidis' debut fight in Japan
against 2002 World K-1 Max
Champion Albert Kraus
, whom he knocked out in the 2nd round. In April 2005, Zambidis knocked out with a right hook the popular Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
, in front of thousands of the Japanese kickboxer's fans. Zambidis" weakness seems to be receiving low kicks, as was seen in his 2006 defeat by Japanese Yoshihiro Sato
, who, despite getting hurt by Zambidis' punches, managed to land many kicks and knees which racked up enough points to "secure a unanimous decision." Zambidis is a 4 time national champion in kickboxing as well as holding a large number of international titles.
In addition to his many outstanding fights, the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 match on October the 3rd, 2010 against Chahid Oulad El Hadj
was notable as being not only one of the most exciting of his career but as stated by ring side commentators "Sugar" Ray Sefo
and Michael "The Voice" Schiavello one by which a standard was set for other K-1 fights. However he didn't make it to the final as he lost to Giorgio Petrosyan
after decision where the knock down Zambidis did to Petrosyan was not counted by the judges (and was controversially ruled a slip) which resulted in a Petrosyan victory
He fought a rubber match (both having won 1 match apiece) with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr
in May 2011. Zambidis lost by Tko( 3 knockdowns) in round 1
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
kickboxer and martial artist. He is a 15 time World Champion, and is the current W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" super-welterweight
Light middleweight
Light Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds ....
kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
oriental rules world champion also competing in the K-1 MAX
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
.
Biography and career
Mike Zambidis started training in martial arts before he was nine years old with his brother Spiros Zambidis and his best friend Lazaros Filipas. He has trained in ShotokanShotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
, Kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
. He started competing professionally in 2000, scoring a string of victories over notable opponents. So far, the majority of his wins have been knock-outs. He has been technically knocked out twice himself early in his career due to cuts, but since 2002, his only technical knock-out defeat was in 2008 against Andy Souwer
Andy Souwer
Andreas "Andy" Souwer is a Dutch welterweight shoot boxer. He is two time K-1 World MAX champion as well as a three time Shootboxing World tournament champion, fighting out of Mejiro Gym, Amsterdam, Netherlands....
in an extra round.
Zambidis has defeated notable kickboxer Jenk Behic twice, Gurkan Ozkan twice, Wanlop Sosathopan, Bakari Tounkara, Matteo Sciacca, Petr Polak. In 2002, he knocked out the strong and experienced Dutch-Morrocan Hassan Kassrioui.
In 2003, promoter Tarik Solak arranged Zambidis' debut fight in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
against 2002 World K-1 Max
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
Champion Albert Kraus
Albert Kraus
Albert “The Hurricane” Kraus is a Dutch welterweight kickboxer. He was the first K-1 World MAX 2002 champion and has also held four separate world titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai...
, whom he knocked out in the 2nd round. In April 2005, Zambidis knocked out with a right hook the popular Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
Norifumi Yamamoto
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona...
, in front of thousands of the Japanese kickboxer's fans. Zambidis" weakness seems to be receiving low kicks, as was seen in his 2006 defeat by Japanese Yoshihiro Sato
Yoshihiro Sato
is a Japanese kickboxer competing in K-1 at middleweight . He is the former world champion of Muay Thai in WKA and WPKC, and he won the Japanese national tournament of K-1 twice in 2006 and 2007. His official nickname is "Mugen Sniper" which means Infinite Sniper.- Amateur era :He was born in...
, who, despite getting hurt by Zambidis' punches, managed to land many kicks and knees which racked up enough points to "secure a unanimous decision." Zambidis is a 4 time national champion in kickboxing as well as holding a large number of international titles.
In addition to his many outstanding fights, the K-1 World MAX 2010 Final 16 match on October the 3rd, 2010 against Chahid Oulad El Hadj
Chahid Oulad El Hadj
Chahid "The Pitbull" Oulad El Hadj is a Moroccan-Dutch welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer, fighting out of Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands....
was notable as being not only one of the most exciting of his career but as stated by ring side commentators "Sugar" Ray Sefo
Ray Sefo
"Sugar" Ray Sefo is a New Zealand kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. He is five time Muay Thai World champion and eight time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant, currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada and training with Xtreme Couture.He holds notable wins in the K-1 over...
and Michael "The Voice" Schiavello one by which a standard was set for other K-1 fights. However he didn't make it to the final as he lost to Giorgio Petrosyan
Giorgio Petrosyan
Gevorg "Giorgio" Petrosyan is an Armenian-Italian welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Satori Gladiatorium in Gorizia, Italy. He is the two time K-1 World MAX champion and WKN Intercontinental Middleweight Muay Thai champion....
after decision where the knock down Zambidis did to Petrosyan was not counted by the judges (and was controversially ruled a slip) which resulted in a Petrosyan victory
He fought a rubber match (both having won 1 match apiece) with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr
John Wayne Parr
John Wayne "The Gunslinger" Parr , also known as JWP, is an Australian middleweight kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Boonchu Gym in Gold Coast, Queensland. He is a 8 time World Champion and runner up in The Contender Asia....
in May 2011. Zambidis lost by Tko( 3 knockdowns) in round 1
Titles
- 2011 W5 World Grand Prix KO World Champion -71 kg
- 2011 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (4th title defence)
- 2010 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
- 2009 World PROFI World Champion (1st title defence)
- 2008 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (3rd title defence)
- 2008 A-1 Combat Cup Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2006 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (2nd title defence)
- 2005 World PROFI World Champion
- 2005 W.K.B.F. Super Welterweight World Champion
- 2005 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg (1st title defence)
- 2004 A-1 World Combat Cup Champion -76 kg
- 2003 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -70 kg
- 2002 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (4th title defence)
- 2002 K-1 World Max Oceania Champion
- 2002 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Thai Boxing Tournament Champion
- 2001 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion (3 title defences that year)
- 2000 W.O.K.A Super Welterweight World Champion
- 1998 World PROFI Europe Champion
- 1997 I.S.K.A.International Sport Karate AssociationThe International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
Balkan Champion - 1996/1998/1999/2000 Greek Boxing Champion
Kickboxing record
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