Françesko Xhaja
Born (1993-08-09) August 9, 1993
Albania
Other namesSmile
NationalityItalian
Height194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight102 kg (225 lb; 16.1 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach196 cm (77 in)
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofVenice, Italy
TeamSB Gym
Years active2014–present
Kickboxing record
Total24
Wins18
By knockout5
Losses6
By knockout3

Françesko Xhaja (born August 9, 1993) is an Albanian-born Italian kickboxer, currently competing in the light heavyweight division of ONE Championship. As of March 2023, he is ranked as the tenth best heavyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.[1]

Professional kickboxing career

Early career

Xhaja faced Jan Beljajev at Number One Fight Show: Season 10 on September 22, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[2] Xhaja next faced Mladen Kujundžić at Ultimate Fight Night on November 17, 2018.[3] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[4]

Xhaja challenged Guto Inocente for the WGP Kickboxing Super heavyweight (+94kg) title at WGP Kickboxing #55 on June 15, 2019.[5] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[6]

Xhaja faced Igor Darmeshkin in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Tatneft Cup heavyweight tournament, which took place on July 19, 2019.[7] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra round was contested.[8] Xhaja was able to stop Mathieu Kongolo in the second round on October 4, 2019, which earned him a place in the tournament finals,[9] which took place on December 15, 2019, opposite Petr Romankevich. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, after an extension round was fought.

Xhaja faced Strahinja Mitrić at Megdan 8: New Winners on December 18, 2020. He won the fight by split decision.[10] Xhaja next faced Cyril Cereyon at Ultimate Fight Night on January 17, 2021.[11] He won the fight by unanimous decision. Xhaja then faced Ahmed Krnjić at Senshi 9 on July 10, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, after an extra round was contested.[12]

ONE Championship

Xhaja faced Rade Opačić at ONE: Only the Brave on January 28, 2023, in his promotion debut with ONE Championship.[13] He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[14]

Xhaja faced Andrei Stoica at ONE Fight Night 7 on February 24, 2023. He won the fight by split decision.[15][16]

Xhaja challenged Roman Kryklia for the ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Fight Night 12 on July 14, 2023.[17]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Tatneft Cup
    • 2019 Tatneft Cup Heavyweight Tournament Runner-up
  • Megdan Fighting
    • 2020 Megdan K-1 Heavyweight (+93 kg) Championship

Fight record

Kickboxing record
18 Wins (5 (T)KO's), 6 Losses, 0 Draws, 0 No Contests
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2023-02-24WinRomania Andrei StoicaONE Fight Night 7Bangkok, ThailandDecision (Split)33:00
2022-01-28LossSerbia Rade OpačićONE: Only the BraveKallang, SingaporeTKO (3 knockdown rule)22:00
2021-07-10WinBosnia and Herzegovina Ahmed KrnjićSenshi 9Varna, BulgariaExt. R. Decision (Unanimous)43:00
2021-01-17WinFrance Cyril CereyonUltimate Fight NightBrest, FranceDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2020-12-18WinSerbia Strahinja MitrićMegdan 8: New WinnersSremska Mitrovica, SerbiaDecision (Split)33:00
Wins the Megdan K-1 Heavyweight (+93 kg) title.
2019-12-15LossBelarus Petr RomankevichTatneft Cup, Tournament FinalKazan, RussiaExt. R. Decision (Unanimous)33:00
For the Tatneft Cup Heavyweight (+90kg) Tournament title.
2019-10-04WinBelgium Mathieu KongoloTatneft Cup, Tournament SemifinalKazan, RussiaTKO (Retirement)21:28
2019-07-19WinRussia Igor DarmeshkinTatneft Cup, Tournament QuarterfinalKazan, RussiaExt. R. Decision (Unanimous)43:00
2019-06-15LossBrazil Guto InocenteWGP Kickboxing #55Brasilia, BrazilDecision (Unanimous)53:00
For the WGP Kickboxing Super heavyweight (+94kg) title.
2019-04-26WinChina Liu WeiTatneft Cup, Tournament Round of 16Kazan, RussiaKO (Head kick)10:05
2019-03-16WinFrance Pascal TouréPower TrophyOrange, FranceTKO2
2018-11-17WinCroatia Mladen KujundžićUltimate Fight NightKoper, SloveniaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2018-09-22WinEstonia Jan BeljajevNumber One Fight Show: Season 10Tallinn, EstoniaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2018-05-11WinFrance Karim ZeghadUltimate Fight NightLe Beausset, FranceDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2018-03-17WinMorocco Hassen OtmanPower Trophy 2018Orange, FranceDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2017-11-11LossCzech Republic David VinšNight of Warriors 12Liberec, Czech RepublicKO (Left straight)31:43
2017-01-14WinItaly Alessandro LamonicaThe Night of Kick and Punch 6Milan, ItalyDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2016-04-16WinItaly Danilo CodaSacile in FightItalyTKO (Retirement)
2015-03-28LossMoldova Pavel VoroninKombat League, Tournament SemifinalVerona, ItalyKO (Left hook)1
2014-06-17WinItaly Nico ZerbinSpinea, ItalyTKO2
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rankings March 2023". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Francesco Xhaja ce l'ha fatta ancora una volta. Il kickboxer di Sacile". ilgazzettino.it. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Riječki kickboksač Kujundžić ovog mjeseca bori se u Kopru protiv Xhaje". fiuman.hr. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "(VIDEO) Mladen Kujundžić vs. Francesco Xhaja". fight.hr. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "WGP Kickboxing 55 Guto Inocente vs Francesko Xhaja returns tonight". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Guto Inocente vence albanês Francesco Xhaja no WGP 55". superlutas.com.br. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Пять российских бойцов выступят в четвертьфинале чемпионата мира «Бои по правилам ТНА»". news.sportbox.ru. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Россияне претендуют на выход в полуфинал чемпионата мира "Бои по правилам ТНА"". utro.ru. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Kickboxing Finale mondiale per Francesko". ilgazzettino.it. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Due match e due vittorie per Franko Xhaja". ilgazzettino.it. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ultimate Fight Night : Xhaja, un gros client pour Cereyon". lidf.press. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Francesko Xhaja defeats Ahmed Krnjic at SENSHI 9". boec.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  13. ↑ De Rozario, James. ""We will see in the ring who is going to be KO'd" - Francesko Xhaja thinks he will stop Rade Opacic's knockout streak". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "(VIDEO) Rade Opačić još jednom fantastičan, Albanac je izdržao samo rundu i pol". fightsite.hr. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Francesko Xhaja fiton në "One Championship"". tvklan.al. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Kickboxeri Francesko Xhaja fiton në "One Championship", mund rumunin (VIDEO)". kohajone.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  17. ↑ Pico, Borna (1 June 2023). "Roman Kryklia Set to Defend ONE Light Heavyweight Title Against Françesko Xhaja on July 14". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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