Mike Zambidis Youtube Videos
Mike Zambidis Bio
Michalis "Mike" Zambidis (Greek: Μιχάλης Ζαμπίδης; born July 15, 1980) 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.
Biography and career [edit]
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 Shotokan, Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai and Pankration. 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 after 2002, his next technical knock-out defeat came 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-Moroccan 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 one of the most exciting of his career. In addition, as stated by ring side commentators "Sugar" Ray Sefo and Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, this contest was one by which a standard was set for other K-1 fights. However, Zambidis did not make it to the final as he lost to Giorgio Petrosyan by unanimous decision, as the knock down he did to Petrosyan was not counted by the judges (and was controversially ruled a slip).
Zambidis fought a rubber match (both having won 1 match apiece) with Australian Muay Thai champion John Wayne Parr in May 2011. He lost by TKO (three knockdowns) in round 1.
He defeated Reece McAllister by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals of the K-1 World MAX 2012 World Championship Tournament Final in Athens, Greece on December 15, 2012. He was then battered into submission by the eventual champion Murthel Groenhart in the semis. The much larger Groenhart ruthlessly trashed Zambidis with knees and punches, forcing his corner to stop the fight at the end of round two.
He was expected to compete in a four man tournament in Russia on May 25, 2013, facing Dzhabar Askerov in the semi-finals. However, he was replaced by Enriko Gogokhia.
Titles [edit]
- 2012 K-1 World MAX 3rd Place
- 2012 W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" Oriental Rules Super Welterweight World Champion -71 kg (5th title defence)
- 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. Balkan Champion
- 1996/1998/1999/2000 Greek Boxing Champion
