Murat Direkci
Encyclopedia
Murat Direkçi is a Turkish
-Belgian welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium
. He is a former 2 time It's Showtime 70MAX Champion.
as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya
, Derebucak
, Turkey
. His sister Nuray passed away 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, Direkçi 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.
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 first ever It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Armenian 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.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
-Belgian welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He is a former 2 time It's Showtime 70MAX Champion.
Early life
Direkçi was born in Antwerp, BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
, Derebucak
Derebucak
Derebucak is a town and district of Konya Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 19,053 of which 5,072 live in the town of Derebucak.-External links:* *...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. His sister Nuray passed away 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, Direkçi studied at technical school with the intention of becoming an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
. After a short while, he found a job as a doorman
Doorman
A doorman, also known as doorkeeper, is someone who is posted at, and often guards, a door, or by extension another entrance A doorman, also known as doorkeeper, is someone who is posted at, and often guards, a door, or by extension another entrance A doorman, also known as doorkeeper, is someone...
at a nightclub in Antwerp, however, and took up this career.
Career
Direkçi began training in martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
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
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....
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 made his K-1
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...
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
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...
at the K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and shocked the world by knocking Kraus out in the first round. After winning two more fights in K-1, over Joerie Mes
Joerie Mes
Joerie "The Shark" Mes is a Dutch former welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam. He is former Dutch and European Muay Thai champion who later competed in K-1 MAX. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest combination specialists in kickboxing history.-Biography and...
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
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...
via decision.
On February 8, 2009, he became the first ever It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Armenian Gago Drago
Gago Drago
Gago Drago is an Armenian-Dutch welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Alkmaar, Netherlands. He is known for his punch combinations and unpredictable kicking techniques and highly aggressive fighting style...
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
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....
at It's Showtime 2009 Lommel in October 2009, before losing it to Congolese Muay Thai fighter Chris Ngimbi
Chris Ngimbi
Chris "The African Warrior" Ngimbi is a Congolese-Dutch Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of the Siam Gym in Valkenswaard, Netherlands for Black Label...
at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It’s Showtime Athens in December 2010.
Titles
- 2009-10 It's Showtime 70MAX Champion (2 title defences)
- 2003 W.F.C.A. Thai-Boxing World Champion -70 kg
- 2003 Kick-Boxing European Champion
- Belgium Champion (7 Times)
Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing Record | |
|---|---|
Legend: |
|
See also
- List of K-1 events
- List of It's Showtime champions
- List of male kickboxers
- List of male mixed martial artists
- List of kickboxing organizations