According to sources close to the situation, Kunlun Fight are in negotiations to resign Serginho Kanters on a five-fight contract and the fighter is rumoured to included in the 75kg Kunlun tournament for 2017.
The winner of the 2016 75kg Kunlun tournament was Chinese kickboxer, Zheng Zhaoyu who, defeated Zhang Yang at Kunlun Fight 47.
Although the tournament was predominately made up of Chinese fighters, WMC super-middleweight champion, Alim Nabiev also featured but lost in the quarter-finals to Portuguese kickboxer, Diogo Calado.
Calado would lose in the semi-final to eventual runner-up, Yang, by decision and in 2017 there are strong rumours that Kunlun are looking to add a greater volume of European based kickboxers to their roster.
China’s influence on world kickboxing has exponentially grown over the last couple of years, with Kunlun leading the way for Chinese promotions, by regularly hosting international kickboxing events featuring: Artur Kyshencko who, beat Murthel Groenhart by decision, in their rematch at Kunlun Fight 43; and GLORY heavyweight champion, Rico Verhoeven who, shockingly lost to, Andrey Gerasimchuk at Kunlun Fight 15.
With recent reports of Cedric Manhoef on the verge of resigning for Kunlun Fight and Enfusion Live champion, Tayfun Ozcan expressing his desire to fight again for China’s biggest combat sports promotion, against Superbon, Kunlun’s growing role in the resurgence of world kickboxing is certainly opening new doors for kickboxers around the world.
MMA Plus will continue to monitor the situation and report again on Kanters et al signing new contracts with Kunlun Fight in due course.
