Kazakhstan will as you know be the host of the 6th World Championship in weight categories. (Known as the World Cup from earlier year) As a host you will not only be in the line for great expectations in terms of the organizational part, and the termination of this great tournament -but also prepare the strongest team of fighters to meet the challengers from all around the world… (not official poster)
The history of the World Championship i Weight-categories WCW, known as the World Cup WC, was first time held in Japan, Chiba in 1997, and like the World Championship held from the that point every 4th year.
- 1997, Chiba, Japan
- 2001, Budapest, Hungary
- 2005, Osaka, Japan
- 2009, St.petersburg, Russia
- 2013, Vilnius, Lithuania
- 2017, Astana, Kazakhstan.
As we can see, strong full contact nations, some of the very strongest has been the one hosting the World Cup, and this year no exceptions. The nations that organize the Tournament do have more places to fill, like the EC for an example. Since the first time Kazakhstan reach the podium in the 3rd World Cup, with a great 2nd place (Alexei Leonov) they have manage to reach the podium each time since. In Russia the manage to win two categories (Dmitriy Moiseev LW and Mariya Gridneva LW), and a third place (Alexei Leonov) In 2013, One 1st place (Dmitriy Moiseev LW) and a 2nd place (Mariya Gridneva LW)
Kazakhstan did a very strong impression last year, 2016. Several remarkable achievements through the year. First out, The Diamond Cup, Belgium. In the light weight division it was double up, first and second place with Yerkebulan Beysembayev and Alisher Akhmetzhan. The showed very strong and high pace technical fighting, and Yerkebulan Beysembayev also did get the Technical award.
In May Ilya Yakovlev, elite fighter of Kazakhstan taking the Wold Fighting Kyokushin Champion belt fight against Arthur Tilov, IFK Russia. These two fighters has fought before, and in a very even battle home fighter Tilov was named as the winner. This time Yakovlev put o the pressure from start, and after five rounds without backing off, he was the winner. This was a heavy title and a strong message. Only two weeks after this, he advanced in a very hard Russian Open, and ended at 6th place.
In September, the 16th Asian Open was held in Korea. Kazakhstan was dominating the podium with several victories and other places at the podium. Maybe this was not the biggest surprise, but bigger thing was yet to come..
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The most merited and profiled fighters from Kazakhstan was early announced in the British Open. Celebrating that it was 40 years since the first edition, the IFK was promoting heavily, and the results was one of if not the strongest British Open ever. The team from Kazakhstan was reduced before the tournament, and the Russian IFK was sailing up as the clear favorite. The results after a long day was no other than impressive: Vladimir Artyushin went through a superb heavyweight division, passing WC,EC and open Champions on his way to reach the 1st place.
In the lightweight division Dmitriy Moiseev also did his things impressive. Also he advanced in the tournament and also he reached the final. Loosing the final to top Russian WKO fighter Khasay Magomedov after a hard final. The level sky high, and for the first time in the history no fighter from the Great Britain was able to reach the podium in the men`s divisions. Dmitriy Moiseev not only the reign World Cup Champion – but double champion!
Now the time has come for the fighters of Kazakhstan to fight on home soil. And everybody knows that this will add even more spirit to the home-fighters!
click for video of the Kazakhstan`s national team training for the 6th World Championship!
