Murat Direkci
BornMurat Direkci
(1979-07-17) July 17, 1979
Antwerp, Belgium
NationalityBelgium Belgian
Turkey Turkish
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)
DivisionMiddleweight, Super Middleweight
StyleKickboxing, Muay Thai
TeamUniversal Gym
Kickboxing record
Total88
Wins69
By knockout57
Losses17
By knockout4
Draws2
Last updated on: September 27, 2020

Murat Direkci (born 17 July 1975[1] in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian-Turkish middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium.

Early life

Direkci was born in Antwerp, Belgium as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya, Derebucak, Turkey. His sister Nuray died at the age of 4 due to a brain tumor, and his brother Ercan died in 2004 as a result of a traffic accident at 29. After completing his school education, Direkci studied at technical school with the intention of becoming an electrician. After a short while, he found a job as a doorman at a nightclub in Antwerp, however, and took up this career.

Career

Direkci began training in martial arts at the age of 15 and was originally trained by Jan Gooyvaers. In 1999, he began training under Jan Pasztjerik.

After becoming the Belgian, European and World champion in kickboxing and muay Thai, he made his K-1 debut against Fikri Tijarti at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam in May 2006, winning by technical knockout in round 3. In February the following year, he faced former K-1 world champion Albert Kraus at the K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament in Tokyo and shocked the world by knocking Kraus out in the first round. After winning two more fights in K-1, over Joerie Mes and Satoruvaschicoba, he took part in the final 16 of the 2008 K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in April 2008 but lost to Yoshihiro Sato via decision.

On February 8, 2009, he became the It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Gago Drago via technical knockout at Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 in his hometown of Antwerp. He made his first defence of the title against Morocco's Chahid Oulad El Hadj at It's Showtime 2009 Lommel in October 2009, before losing it to Congolese Muay Thai fighter Chris Ngimbi at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens in December 2010.

Direkci lost a decision to Robin van Roosmalen at It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden on January 28, 2012. Following the fight, he announced his retirement.[2]

He would then come out of retirement, however, to face Nieky Holzken at Glory 2: Brussels on October 6, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. He apparently decided that he will no longer cut weight for his fights and will fight Holzken at 78 kg as opposed to his usual division of 70 kg.[3] He lost via TKO due to a cut in the second round.[4]

He lost to Canadian prospect Joseph Valtellini via TKO due to corner stoppage in round two at Glory 6: Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on April 6, 2013.[5][6][7]

In July 2019, Enfusion announced Murat would return after a six year hiatus.[8] Two weeks later, they announced Hafid El Boustati as his opponent.[9] The two of them met during Enfusion 90, with El Boustati winning a split decision.[10]

Titles

  • 2009–10 It's Showtime 70MAX Champion (1 title defence)
  • 2003 World Full Contact Association (W.F.C.A.) Thai-Boxing World Champion -70 kg
  • 2003 Kick-Boxing European Champion
  • Belgium Champion (7 Times)

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record
68 Wins (57 (T)KO's, 11 decisions), 17 Losses, 2 Draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2019-11-02LossMorocco Hafid El BoustatiEnfusion Live 90Antwerp, BelgiumDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2013-04-06LossCanada Joseph ValtelliniGlory 6: IstanbulIstanbul, TurkeyTKO (corner stoppage)2
2012-10-06LossNetherlands Nieky HolzkenGlory 2: BrusselsBrussels, BelgiumTKO (cut)2
2012-01-28LossNetherlands Robin van RoosmalenIt's Showtime 2012 in LeeuwardenAmsterdam, NetherlandsDecision (Majority)33:00
2011-09-24LossDemocratic Republic of the Congo Chris NgimbiBFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX", Quarter FinalsBrussels, BelgiumDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2010-12-11LossDemocratic Republic of the Congo Chris NgimbiYiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime AthensAthens, GreeceDecision (5-0)53:00
Loses his It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2010-10-10WinGermany Enriko KehlMix Fight Gala 10Darmstadt, GermanyTKO12:37
2010-05-29LossUkraine Artur KyshenkoIt's Showtime 2010 AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsDecision (4-1)33:00
2009-11-21WinNetherlands William DienderIt's Showtime 2009 BarneveldBarneveld, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2009-10-24WinMorocco Chahid Oulad El HadjIt's Showtime 2009 LommelLommel, BelgiumTKO (Doctor Stoppage, Cut)1
Retains It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2009-05-16WinNetherlands Brian Lo-A-NjoeIt's Showtime 2009 AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsTKO (Referee Stoppage)2N/A
2009-02-08WinArmenia Gago DragoFights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009Antwerp, BelgiumTKO (Referee Stoppage)12:23
Wins inaugural It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2008-11-29WinNetherlands Perry UbedaIt's Showtime 2008 EindhovenEindhoven, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2008-10-05LossMorocco Tarik El IdrissiTough Is Not EnoughRotterdam, NetherlandsTKO (Doctor Stoppage)2
Fight was for W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" K-1 Rules super welterweight title -70 kg.
2008-05-24LossMorocco Chahid Oulad El HadjGentleman Promotions FightnightTilburg, NetherlandsTKO (Referee Stoppage)3
2008-04-09LossJapan Yoshihiro SatoK-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16Hiroshima, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8.
2008-03-15DrawMorocco Faldir ChahbariIt's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2008, Super Fight's-Hertogenbosch, NetherlandsDecision Draw33:00
2007-10-03WinJapan SatoruvashicobaK-1 World MAX 2007 Final, Reserve FightTokyo, JapanKO (Left Hook)20:39
2007-06-23WinNetherlands Joerie MesK-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsTKO (Doctor Stoppage)11:40
2007-03-24DrawMorocco Salah Edine Ait NaceurIt's Showtime Trophy 2007, Super FightLommel, BelgiumDecision Draw33:00
2007-02-05WinNetherlands Albert KrausK-1 World MAX 2007 Japan TournamentTokyo, JapanKO (Left Hook)11:27
2006-11-12WinNetherlands Ray Staring2H2H AhoyRotterdam, NetherlandsTKO (Doctor Stoppage)
2006-05-13WinMorocco Fikri TijartiK-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsTKO (Referee Stoppage)32:10
2006-02-03WinMorocco Abdil BoukariWFCA GalaRoosendaal, NetherlandsDecision53:00
2005-11-13LossMorocco Faldir ChahbariWFCA Thai-Kickbox GalaNijmegen, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Fight was for W.F.C.A. Thai-boxing junior middleweight European title -69.85 kg.
2005-09-25WinHungary Roland VörösThaiboxing Gala, ArenahalDeurne, BelgiumTKO2
2005-06-12LossArmenia Gago DragoIt's Showtime 2005 AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)53:00
2005-04-30WinNetherlands Melvin RozenbladQueens Fight NightEindhoven, NetherlandsKO
2004-02-28WinHungary Janos SzenasiThaiboxing GalaMons, BelgiumDecision (Unanimous)53:00
2004-01-12WinBelgium Nadir LarechtFights at the Border IIILommel, BelgiumKO1
2003-10-18WinEngland Anthony BassnettGala in DeurneDeurne, BelgiumTKO3
Wins W.F.C.A. Thai-Boxing World title -70kg.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fighter Profile
  2. ↑ Van Roosmalen wins close decision over Murat Direkci at It's Showtime 55
  3. ↑ "Glory 2: Brussels final fight card for this Saturday". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  4. ↑ Glory 2: Brussels live results
  5. ↑ GLORY 6 Poster/Fighters Expected to Participate
  6. ↑ Updated GLORY 6 Istanbul Fight Card For Saturday, April 6
  7. ↑ GLORY 6 Istanbul: Daniel Ghita vs. Gokhan Saki, Live Results
  8. ↑ "Former Champion Returning in November". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Direkci - El Boustati Set for November". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Kickboxing Results: Enfusion #90 Antwerp". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
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