As kickboxing continues to grow on a global scale with promotions like GLORY, K-1, ONE Championship, and more, fighters are constantly jockeying for position in the media's eyes, and rankings. Every month, the Beyond Kickboxing board will compile kickboxing rankings for each weight class from Heavyweight to Flyweight, as well as the pound-for-pound rankings for both men and women.
No fighter in the top 10 at Heavyweight (+95 KG), and Middleweight (-85 KG) has been active this month.
POUND-FOR-POUND MEN
Toki Tamaru (3) returned to the -53 kg division where he was previously ranked. He knocked out Hyeonwoo Jung with a body kick in the first round. His next challenge will be Shiro for his RISE Bantamweight (-55 kg) world title in September.
Kazuki Osaki (5) defeated Jin Mandokoro by unanimous decision to defend his RISE -53 kg title. While nothing concrete, Osaki expressed his intention to compete in ONE Championship.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-95 KG)
Donegi Abena (3-1) dominated the GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix in a career-best performance. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Ștefan Lătescu (4 to 5) via third-round technical knockout with low kicks. In the semifinals, he knocked out Tarik Khbabez (2 to 4) in the second round with low kicks again, and in the final, he stopped Bahram Rajabzadeh (NR to 2) on his feet in the first round with punches.
Sergej Maslobojev (1 to 3) defeated Bogdan Stoica by first TKO in the quarterfinals of the GLORY Grand Prix. He then refused to continue fighting during the semifinals against Bahram Rajabzadeh (NR to 2) following a headbutt that opened a massive cut.
Tarik Khbabez (2 to 4) defeated Pascal Touré by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals of the GLORY Grand Prix. He then lost to Donegi Abena (3 to 1) by second-round knockout due to low kicks.
Ibrahim El Bouni (5 to 6) was stopped on his feet in the first round following a flying knee landed by Bahram Rajabzadeh (NR to 2) in the quarterfinals of the GLORY Grand Prix. Rajabzadeh then defeated Sergej Maslobojev (1 to 3) by technical knockout in the semifinals before losing by technical knockout to Donegi Abena (3 to 1) in the final.
Thian De Vries (7) stopped Yuri Ceita in 52 seconds.
WELTERWEIGHT (-77 KG)
Alim Nabiev (NR to 6) came back from 19 months of inactivity when he knocked out Konstantinos Makedoniadis.
LIGHTWEIGHT (-70 KG)
Sitthichai (5) defeated Masaaki Noiri by unanimous decision.
Kaito (8 to 7) knocked out former GLORY ranker Arman Hambaryan with a left hook in the second round.
Tawanchai (7 to 8) defeated Jo Nattawut by majority decision under Muay Thai rules to defend his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai title. This doesn't affect his ranking. A highly-contested decision, the two fighters are already scheduled to rematch at ONE 169 in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (-67.5 KG)
Chadd Collins (4) knocked out Rungkit Bor.Rungrot under Muay Thai rules to capture the WMO world title. This does't affect his ranking.
Petchtanong (NR to 5) returned from his year-long suspension and stopped Alaverdi Ramazanov in two rounds. The Thai struggled to find his rhythm at first but was able to open up in the second round, making Ramazanov quit.
FEATHERWEIGHT (-64 KG)
Kan Nakamura (7 to 6) stopped Thalisson Gomes Fereira, sending him down three times in the third round. Early in the fight, Nakamura broke his nose due to an accidental headbutt but persevered through the following onslaught of Fereira.
Zhang Jingtao (4 to 10) lost by decision to Sukprajob (NR to 9). The lack of depth of his resume and loss to a veteran has him dropping six spots.
Yuto Shinohara (10 to NR) is pushed out of the rankings.
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (-61 KG)
Taiga (6) defeated Daniel Puertas by unanimous decision.
Superlek (1) defeated Kongthoranee by unanimous decision under Muay Thai rules. This doesn’t affect his ranking.
BANTAMWEIGHT (-58 KG)
Ryusei (3) lost by unanimous decision to Taimu Hisai for the inaugural Knock Out 60 kg title. This doesn't affect his ranking.
Kaito Sakaguchi (5) won by unanimous decision against Lan Shanteng in a 60 kg catchweight bout. This doesn't affect his ranking.
Prajanchai (NR to 8) wins the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing title against Jonathan Di Bella in his second kickboxing fight ever. The Thai fighter looked outmatched early but was able to find his rhythm and wear down Di Bella with knees in the championship rounds. Despite the questionable decision, Prajanchai has now scored two major victories against Akram Hamidi and Jonathan Di Bella. He's in a prime position to climb the rankings provided ONE keeps him busy with quality opposition under kickboxing rules.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT (-55 KG)
Toki Tamaru (3) knocked out Hyeonwoo Jung in 30 seconds with a body kick at 53 kg. This doesn’t affect his ranking.
Shiro (5) won by unanimous decision against Christian Manzo. After the fight, RISE confirmed the rematch between Shiro and Toki Tamaru for September. Their first fight earlier this year ended in a no-contest, due to an accidental headbutt in the first round.
Akram Hamidi (8) knocked out Kongchai Chanaidonmuang in the first round under Muay Thai rules at 56.7 kg. This doesn't affect his ranking.
FLYWEIGHT (-53 KG)
Kazuki Osaki (1) defeated Jin Mandokoro (2) by unanimous decision to defend his RISE -53 kg title. He delivered an incredible performance in the championship rounds to defend his RISE Super Flyweight belt.
Toki Tamaru (NR to 8) returned to the 53 kg division, where he was previously ranked. He knocked out Hyeonwoo Jung with a body kick in the first round.
Yodsila Chor. Hapayak (9 to NR) is pushed out of the rankings after 16 months of inactivity.
WOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND
Martine Michieletto (NR to 6) successfully returned to kickboxing rules by defeating Eva Guillot.
Li Mingrui (6 to 10) loses four spots for lack of results against ranked competition.
WOMEN'S OPENWEIGHT (+59 KG)
Andreea Cebuc (9) defeated Marta Costa by unanimous decision.
Nina Van Dalum (4) defeated Angelique Mathea by decision to defend her Enfusion -61 kg title.
Ibtissam Kassrioui (6) defeated Jaleesa Alfons by unanimous decision.
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (-57.5 KG)
Eva Guillot (9) defeated Celia Schroeder by decision. The same month she lost by unanimous decision to Martine Michieletto (NR to 1) who previously was ranked No. 1 in the division and came back to kickboxing rules after two years.
WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT (-50.0 KG)
Lucia Apdelgarim (6) lost by split decision to NANA in a 53 kg catchweight bout. This doesn't affect her ranking.
Panchan Rina (7) defeated Ayelen Gonzalez by unanimous decision.
WOMEN'S ATOMWEIGHT (-47.0 KG)
Koto Hiraoka (7) defeated Su Yun-Ko by unanimous decision.
