As the leaves turn and the global fight calendar pushes relentlessly forward, September 2025 has once again provided a stark reminder of the unpredictable, thrilling nature of kickboxing. From the venerable stages of GLORY and K-1 to the rapidly expanding empire of ONE Championship and the spirited arenas of RISE, fighters across every weight class are locked in a relentless pursuit of supremacy. This month`s rankings update from Beyond Kickboxing offers a crucial snapshot of who`s rising, who`s defending, and who, perhaps, is contemplating a different path.
- The Elite`s Dance: Pound-for-Pound Shifts and Heavyweight Thunder
- Welterweight Reigns and Rising Stars: A Month of Dominance and Determination
- Across the Scales: Lightweights to Flyweights in Fierce Contention
- The Ascent of Women in Kickboxing: Champions and Farewell
- Beyond the Ropes: The Broader Kickboxing Ecosystem
The Elite`s Dance: Pound-for-Pound Shifts and Heavyweight Thunder
The coveted Pound-for-Pound (P4P) Men`s rankings witnessed significant movement, particularly with the entry of Michael Boapeah. Climbing to the 10th spot, Boapeah`s consistent improvement and two hard-fought GLORY title challenges against Donovan Wisse highlight a fighter steadily carving his name into the sport`s elite. Conversely, the rankings bid farewell to Toki Tamaru, whose year-long absence from kickboxing, punctuated by a debut in mixed martial arts, underscores the magnetic pull of MMA for many combat sports athletes. It seems the lure of the cage can be stronger than the call of the ring for some.
In the colossal Heavyweight (+95 kg) division, September delivered explosive finishes and decisive victories. Levi Rigters secured a highlight-reel knockout of Jamal Ben Saddik with a spinning back kick to the liver – a brutal yet beautiful display of precision and power in the sport`s heaviest class. Not to be outdone, Mory Kromah stopped Cristian Ristea via technical knockout, while Sofian Laidouni and Rade Opacic added unanimous decision and low-kick TKO victories to their records, respectively. The heavyweights, as always, brought the thunder.
Welterweight Reigns and Rising Stars: A Month of Dominance and Determination
The Welterweight (-77 kg) division saw a historic defense as Chico Kwasi successfully retained his GLORY title for the fourth time against Mehdi Ait El Hadj, setting a new divisional record. This kind of sustained dominance is a testament to unwavering skill and consistent performance. Meanwhile, Regian Eersel continued his reign of terror under Muay Thai rules, defending his ONE title with a first-round knockout. While his kickboxing ranking remains unaffected by his Muay Thai exploits, it’s clear Eersel remains a formidable force across disciplines, a true multi-tool combat athlete.
The Light Heavyweight (-95 kg) division offered a mix of triumph and tribulation. Thian De Vries delivered a swift first-round knockout in an open-finger gloves match. However, the cost of victory was steep, as news surfaced that De Vries sustained a broken hand, potentially sidelining him for months and jeopardizing an anticipated bout. It`s a cruel twist of fate, a reminder that even in victory, fighters often pay a heavy price for their craft. One might even say winning is sometimes… painful.
Across the Scales: Lightweights to Flyweights in Fierce Contention
The myriad of lighter weight classes showcased the depth of talent globally. In Lightweight (-71 kg), Mohammad Siasarani secured a decisive unanimous decision. The Super Featherweight (-67.5 kg) division was particularly active, with Chadd Collins successfully defending his RISE 65kg world title in a split decision thriller against Kento Haraguchi, before quickly adding another Muay Thai victory to his name. This relentless schedule truly separates the champions from the contenders.
Further down the scale, the theme of activity, or lack thereof, significantly impacted rankings. Several fighters, including Achraf Aasila (Super Bantamweight), Yuki Egawa (Super Bantamweight), Taito Gunji (Bantamweight), and Toki Tamaru (Super Flyweight), exited the rankings due to inactivity or a shift to other combat sports. This “use it or lose it” philosophy keeps the competitive fires burning brightly. New blood like Panuwat and Hyuma Hitachi (Super Bantamweight), and legendary Sam-A (Bantamweight) re-entered or made their mark, ensuring the divisions remain fresh and challenging. Standouts like Shiro in Super Flyweight (-55 kg) delivered a dominant title defense with multiple knockdowns, while Kazuki Osaki, Ryu Hanaoka, and Ryujin Nasukawa provided fireworks in the Flyweight (-53 kg) division, often under open-finger glove rules, signifying the sport`s embrace of varied combat formats.
The Ascent of Women in Kickboxing: Champions and Farewell
The women`s divisions continued their upward trajectory, showcasing impressive skill and grit. Débora Evora maintained her dominance in Women`s Bantamweight (-57.5 kg) with a unanimous decision win, while Darya Kuvakina captured the WKF World title with a spectacular spinning back kick knockdown in the fifth round – a highlight-reel moment if there ever was one. In Women`s Flyweight (-53.5 kg), Sofia Tsolakidou seized the Krush -52kg title, marking a significant step in her career.
Perhaps one of the most poignant notes in September`s update came from the Women`s Atomweight (-47.0 kg) division. Panchan Rina, a prominent figure in the sport, delivered a final, emphatic knee-to-the-body knockout win before announcing her retirement from kickboxing. It`s a bittersweet moment, as the sport bids farewell to a champion who exited on her own terms, with a final, definitive statement. Her legacy, however, remains firmly etched in the history books.
Beyond the Ropes: The Broader Kickboxing Ecosystem
September`s rankings update isn`t just about who won or lost; it`s a reflection of a thriving, dynamic sport. The month also brought news of significant developments outside the immediate ring action. The signing of undefeated SENSHI Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Samet Agdeve (17-0) by ONE Championship signals the continued scouting and integration of top talent into major promotions. Furthermore, Netflix`s announcement of “Physical: Asia,” featuring kickboxing star Superbon alongside mainstream names like Manny Pacquiao and Robert Whittaker, is a powerful indicator of kickboxing`s growing crossover appeal and its increasing presence in popular culture. The sport is undeniably reaching new audiences, proving that the art of striking is compelling television.
In essence, September 2025 painted a vibrant picture of global kickboxing: a competitive arena where champions cement their legacies, rising stars emerge, and the very fabric of the sport is continuously reshaped by both athletic performance and strategic career decisions. The rankings are merely the scoreboard, but the stories behind them are what truly captivate.
